Import Your Gmail Contacts From a CSV File

Sync multiple address books or migrate contacts

Importing Gmail contacts from another account or restoring your contacts from a backup CSV (comma-separated value) file is easy. Here's how.

You also can restore a previous state of your Gmail contacts from automatic Google backups.

  1. Navigate to Google Contacts.

    The Google Contacts screen
  2. Select Import from the left panel.

    Google Contacts with Import highlighted
  3. Press Select file and choose the google.csv file you want to import or restore.

    Gmail Import dialog with Select File annotated
  4. Click Import.

    Google Contacts import dialog with "Import" highlighted

    In the process, Gmail automatically detects and merges duplicates email addresses, but not names. If a contact has been updated, Gmail adds the new information but doesn't delete the old.

  5. If you change your mind, select Undo from the dialog box that appears.

    A screenshot of Gmail with the Undo button highlighted
Was this page helpful?