Bulk importing is the fastest way to onboard or migrate large sets of Contacts and Contact Groups into BoldDesk. This guide explains what file formats are supported, the import size limits, how to format multi-value fields (such as tags and groups), and what to expect after an import is submitted—including duplicate handling, queued processing, and how to review or fix failed rows. Use this workflow when you need to create or update many records at once while keeping your contact data structured and consistent.

BoldDesk supports bulk creation of Contacts and Contact Groups by importing .xls, .xlsx, or .csv files.

Import limits and file rules

• Maximum file size: 5 MB
• Maximum records per file: 2000
• Supported formats: .xls, .xlsx, .csv
• Multi-value separator: use || to separate multiple values for:
  • Tags
  • Contact groups
  • Domain
  • Multi-selection custom fields

Roles and access

• Who can run imports: Users who can access Admin > General > Import Data.
• Who can view import results: Users who can access the Import Data page and the import list.

Import Contacts

Navigation path

Admin > General > Import Data > Modules: Contacts

Import procedure

1. Open Admin and select Import Data under General.

2. In Modules, select Contacts.

   

3. Choose how BoldDesk handles duplicates:

   • Skip duplicate records
   • Overwrite duplicate records

4. (Optional) Enable Send verification email to email newly added users for account verification.

   

5. Select the import file and select Next.

   

6. Map each source column to a BoldDesk contact field.

   • Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required and must be mapped.

     

7. Select Next to review the mapping summary.

   

8. If the mapping is correct, select Import.

   • BoldDesk queues the request and processes the import asynchronously.

   • BoldDesk emails the import status after completion.

     

   • You can stop the queued/running job using Cancel Import.

     

Import results (View Details)

After completion, open the import entry and select View Details to see record outcomes:

• Added: Newly created records

• Updated: Modified records

• Skipped: Not imported due to duplication handling

• Failed: Not imported due to invalid values

  

Re-importing failed records

BoldDesk provides a list of failed records with failure reasons. You can:

1. Download the failed records.

2. Correct the values.

3. Upload the corrected file again.

   

Custom fields

Contacts imports can include custom fields along with standard contact fields.

Import Contact Groups

Navigation path

Admin > General > Import Data > Modules: Contact Groups

Import procedure

1. Open Admin and select Import Data under General.

2. In Modules, select Contact Groups.

3. Complete the remaining steps using the same workflow as Import Contacts (Steps 3–11):

   • Duplicate handling (Skip/Overwrite)
   • File upload
   • Field mapping (required fields must be mapped)
   • Review summary
   • Import (queued processing + email notification)
   • View Details (Added/Updated/Skipped/Failed)
   • Download and re-import failed records after correction
   

Custom fields

Contact group imports can include custom field headers in the template that match Contact Group custom fields already created in BoldDesk, and BoldDesk imports those custom field values during the Contact Group import.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can BoldDesk import both contacts and contact groups?
   Yes. The Modules selector supports Contacts and Contact Groups.

2. What file types are supported for import?
   .xls, .xlsx, and .csv.

3. What is the maximum import size?
   Up to 5 MB and 2000 records per file.

4. How do I import multiple tags or contact groups for a contact?
   Separate multiple values in the same cell with ||.

5. What does “Overwrite duplicates” do during imports?
   It updates existing duplicate records instead of skipping them (exact duplicate match criteria is not specified in the provided source).

6. Does “Send verification email” apply to Contact Groups imports?
   No. The Send verification email option does not apply to the Contact Groups module.

7. Can I stop an import after starting it?
   Yes. Select Cancel Import.