Upload a CSV file to add contacts to your ContactMonkey Directory. This is the quickest manual method for getting your contact list into ContactMonkey.
Before You BeginFdir
Please ensure you have read this article.
IT Effort Required: None
You can upload CSV files yourself without IT support.
Permissions Required: Owner or Admin only
Managers and Basic Users cannot upload CSV files.
Required Fields:
Your CSV must include at least one of these identifiers for each contact:
- Email address
- Phone number
These serve as unique identifiers in ContactMonkey. Click here to learn more about file headers and field mapping.
How to Upload a CSV
Step 1: Access the Directory
- Click Directory at the top of your dashboard
- Click Sources
Step 2: Choose Your Upload Method
You have two options:
Option A: Use the Sample CSV
- Click the cloud icon in the Upload a CSV tile
- A sample CSV will download to your device
- Fill in your contact data following its format
- Upload your completed file
Option B: Use Your Own CSV
- Prepare your CSV with the correct column headers (see table below)
- Click Upload a file
- Select your CSV file
Step 3: Import Contacts
- After uploading, you'll see a preview screen showing how many contacts will be imported
- Click Import x Contacts to add them to your Directory
Note: When uploading multiple CSV files, each source entry displays the number of unique contacts in that file — duplicate contacts shared across files are not counted twice. Deduplication is based on each file's upload date.
Why does my CSV source show 0 or fewer contacts than expected?
This is expected de-duplication behavior, not a failed upload. If you already have existing contacts with the same email addresses, the new source will not add those contacts again to its count. ContactMonkey de-duplicates by email address, so contacts that already exist are not re-added or double-counted.
If every email in your new CSV already exists in your Directory, the new source can correctly show a count of 0. This does not mean the upload failed.
What still happens on import: Any extra fields associated with those existing contacts in your new CSV are added to their records. So even when the contact count shows 0, the upload can still enrich your existing contacts with new field data.
Note: A blank cell in your new CSV does not clear an existing value — blank cells are treated as
no update. To change a field, enter a new value in that column.
Working with Multiple CSV Files
You can upload multiple CSV files to your Directory. Here's how ContactMonkey handles overlapping contacts:
Scenario 1: Partial Deletion
- Source File A and Source File B both include John Smith
- You delete Source File A
- Result: John Smith remains in the Directory because he's still in Source File B
Scenario 2: Complete Deletion
- Source File A and Source File B both include John Smith
- You delete both Source File A and Source File B
- Result: John Smith is removed from the Directory
Updating Existing Contacts with a CSV
When you upload a CSV that includes contacts already in your Directory, ContactMonkey updates their records with any new values provided. However, if a field is left blank in the new CSV, ContactMonkey will not clear the existing value — blank cells are treated as no update, so the previously stored value remains unchanged.
Example: John Smith's contact record has his department listed as "Marketing." You upload a new CSV that includes John but leaves the Department column blank. After the upload, John's department will still show "Marketing" — ContactMonkey ignores the blank cell rather than overwriting the existing value. To update a field, you must enter a new value in that column.
Deleting a CSV Source and Its Contacts
To completely remove a CSV file and all associated contacts:
- Click Directory at the top of your dashboard
- Click Sources
- Click Delete next to the file you want to remove
- Check the box "Permanently delete all contacts from [FILE NAME].csv"
- Click Delete to confirm
Important: If the "permanently delete" box is checked, contacts from that file will be removed even if they appear in other source files.