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

In addition to 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 at the top use the menu START → MANAGE CONTACTS → EXPORT CONTACTS.

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 all users).

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

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Tip:** No more than 2500 contacts should be transferred at once. Preferably use several packages of 2000-2500 if you have larger numbers of contacts. With more than 2500 contacts, only the first approx. 2500-2800 may 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",,,,"Main Street 3,10553 Berlin",,,,,"Mustermann AG","CEO",,,,,
```

{% endcode %}

Most programs such as Microsoft Excel allow you to save files as CSV files. 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.

#### Export sipgate contacts

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

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

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

→ Save the changes.

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


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