Import customer and supplier contacts from Outlook, Excel, or Gmail

You can import customer and supplier contacts into QuickBooks Online using Excel (CSV or XLSX) files. While direct imports from Outlook or Gmail aren’t supported, you can export your contacts from those programs into an Excel file first and then import them into QuickBooks.

Before you start

• File size: Keep imports under 1,000 rows or 2MB. If your list is larger, split it into multiple files and import them separately.
• Email addresses: The import supports only one email address per contact. You can manually add additional emails after the import.
• Duplicate entries: If you need to re-import a file, QuickBooks does not overwrite existing entries. It adds new contacts, which may create duplicates. Delete the incorrect contacts before re-importing, or merge them individually after importing.
• Sub-customers: QuickBooks Online does not import sub-customer relationships during the import process. Import all customers as if they are top-level (parent) accounts first. After the import is complete, you can edit the records to re-establish the sub-customer relationships.

Steps to import contacts

1. In QuickBooks Online, go to Settings (the gear icon) and select Import Data.
2. Select Customers or Suppliers.
3. Select Browse to upload your Excel file, then select Open.
4. Map your data fields: Match the columns in your file (e.g., Name, Email) to the corresponding QuickBooks fields on the screen.
5. Select Import.

If you encounter errors, review the details on the import screen to see which rows need correction. You can fix the data in your Excel file and try importing again.