Summary
Importing contacts to Wati involves several steps, including clicking the "Import" button, browsing and uploading a CSV file, mapping columns, and confirming the import. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of importing contacts to Wati.
Instructions
Importing contacts to Wati
Prefer a visual walkthrough? Watch our video guide on how to import contacts in Wati:
Follow these steps to import your contacts to Wati:
1. Log into your Wati account.
2. Go to Contacts and click the Import button to import contacts into Wati.
3. Browse and upload a CSV file to begin the import process.
4. The next step is to map the columns in the uploaded CSV file.
Map the mandatory "Name" and "Phone" columns first, then the optional columns using the dropdown's search feature.
5. Once all required columns have been mapped, click the Confirm Import button.
6. Verify that your contacts are successfully imported by checking the Wati interface.
Tip: To ensure a successful contact import, please ensure your CSV file follows the correct format as shown below. The country code and phone number should be in their respective columns.
Contact import checklist
If you encounter errors while importing contacts, review this checklist before uploading your file. These checks follow the most common issues new customers face during contact imports.
1. Verify the column structure
Before importing your contact file, make sure the spreadsheet uses the required column names and order.
The default column names are fixed values and must always be written in English. Do not translate, localize, or rename them based on the language of your spreadsheet or question.
The column names must match the following values exactly, including capitalization:
NameCountryCodePhone
Do not add spaces before or after the column names.
Do not use translated versions of the column names. For example, do not replace
Name,CountryCode, orPhonewith their equivalents in another language.Do not omit, rename, or change the spelling or capitalization of any of these column names.
The columns must appear in this exact order:
Name → CountryCode → Phone
2. Check phone number formatting
CountryCode and Phone are in separate columns.
Phone numbers do not contain spaces or dashes.
CountryCode should only contain the code without the + sign.
The country code should not be duplicated in the Phone field. For example, for an India phone number where the country code is 91:
+919876543210 ❌ (country code included in the Phone field)
+91 ❌ (+ sign included in the CountryCode field)
91 ✅ (correct format for CountryCode field)
9876543210 ✅ (correct format for Phone field)
In this case, 91 should be placed in the CountryCode column, and 9876543210 should be placed in the Phone column.
3. Check for duplicate data
The file does not contain duplicate contacts or duplicate phone numbers.
4. Check the spreadsheet content and size
Cells should not contain formulas. If your spreadsheet uses formulas, convert the results to plain text values before importing the file.
Remove all empty cells to avoid import errors.
Ensure the CSV file size is 1 MB or smaller before uploading the contacts file.
Example of correct CSV format
852 is the country code
64318721 is the phone number
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Importing Contacts
1. What file format can I use to import contacts into Wati?
You can import contacts to Wati using a CSV file.
2. Which columns are mandatory when importing contacts to Wati?
The mandatory columns are Name and Phone. Optional columns can also be mapped using the dropdown's search feature.
3. What are the fixed default column names for a Wati contact import?
The fixed default column names are Name, CountryCode, and Phone. These values must always be written in English, must match exactly including capitalization, and must not be translated, renamed, or changed.
4. What is the required order of the default contact columns?
The default contact columns must appear in this exact order: Name → CountryCode → Phone.
Phone Number Formatting
5. How should CountryCode and Phone be formatted in a contact import file?
CountryCode and Phone must be in separate columns. The CountryCode column must contain only the country code without the + sign, while the Phone column must contain the phone number without the country code.
6. Can phone numbers contain spaces or dashes?
No. Phone numbers in the Phone column must not contain spaces or dashes.
7. Can the country code be included in the Phone column?
No. The country code must not be duplicated in the Phone column. For example, for an India phone number, 91 should be in the CountryCode column and 9876543210 should be in the Phone column.
CSV File Requirements
8. What checks should I perform before importing contacts?
Before importing contacts, make sure that:
The CSV file uses the fixed default column names
Name,CountryCode, andPhonein the exact order.The file does not contain duplicate contacts or duplicate phone numbers.
Cells do not contain formulas. Formula results must be converted to plain text values before importing.
Empty cells are removed to avoid import errors.
The CSV file size is 1 MB or smaller.