> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.sipgate.de/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.sipgate.de/cloud-telefonanlage/en/account-management/kontakte-verwalten/wie-importiere-oder-exportiere-ich-kontakte-aus-csv-dateien.md).

# How do I import or export contacts from CSV files?

This is how you import and export contacts via CSV file in sipgate - including Outlook import and CSV format requirements.

Besides creating, editing, and directly adding contacts from the event list, it is also possible to import contacts as a .csv or .txt file in UTF-8 (Unicode) format or export them from your sipgate account.

#### Import contacts from Outlook to sipgate

First export your Outlook contacts as a CSV file. To do this, open Outlook, go to your contacts there, and select at the top via the START → MANAGE CONTACTS → EXPORT CONTACTS menu.

As soon as your file is ready for import, log in to your sipgate account and go to **My sipgate**. Click on **Contacts** and then on **Import**.

Now choose how you would like to import the contacts.

For a .csv or txt file, click on **Upload CSV file**. You will then be asked to select the file and must decide whether it should be private (visible only to you) or shared (visible to everyone).

Once you have selected everything, click on **Upload file.** After you have uploaded the file, you will be asked to map the records and save the mapping.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Tip:** You should not port more than 2500 contacts at a time. Better several 2000-2500 batches if you have larger numbers of contacts. With more than 2500 contacts, possibly only the first approx. 2500-2800 will be imported.
{% endhint %}

The CSV file should be created as follows:

{% code title="CSV example" %}

```csv
"First Name","Middle Name","Last Name","Birthday","Notes","E-mail Address","E-mail 2 Address","E-mail 3 Address","Primary Phone","Home Phone","Home Phone 2","Mobile Phone","Home Address","Company Main Phone","Business Phone","Business Phone 2","Assistant's Phone","Company","Job Title","Business Address","Other Phone","Other Address","Car Phone","Radio Phone", "Max","JR","Mustermann",01/01/70,"Sample contact","max_mustermann@domain.tld","mmustermann@job.tld",,"+4930123456789",,,,"Hauptstr. 3,10553 Berlin",,,,,"Mustermann AG","CEO",,,,,
```

{% endcode %}

Most programs such as Microsoft Excel allow you to save files as a CSV file. As a rule, the file is automatically in UTF-8, plain text format. To make sure that the file is saved as a .csv or .txt file in UTF-8 format, follow the instructions for [Mac OS](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4719495807133-Wie-bereite-ich-den-CSV-Kontaktimport-f%C3%BCr-MacOS-vor) and [Windows](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4719518065693-Wie-bereite-ich-den-CSV-Kontaktimport-f%C3%BCr-Windows-vor) there.

#### exporting sipgate contacts

→ Log in to your sipgate account and go to **My sipgate**.

→ Click there on **Contacts** and then on **export.**

→ Now replace the semicolon ";" in the created CSV file with a "," comma.

→ Save the changes.

→ Finally, you can import the CSV file into Outlook.


---

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