How could I import account data into Dynamics CRM?

Yves Munger 0 Reputation points
2026-08-25T17:28:28.6666667+00:00

I have a list of accounts to create and I have the information available in a CSV file. How can I do a mass upload of these new accounts in Dynamics CRM?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Development | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-25T17:28:45.6066667+00:00

    Use the Import Data Wizard for a CSV-based mass upload of accounts.

    1. Prepare the CSV file.
      • Ensure the file is in a supported format such as .csv.
      • Include the required account data and make sure each source column can be mapped to a Dynamics CRM field.
      • Unmapped columns are not imported.
    2. Open the import experience.
      • In Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises), go to Settings > Data Management > Imports.
      • Select Import Data > Import Data.
    3. Upload the CSV file.
      • Browse to the saved file, select it, then select Open and Next.
      • Only one file can be imported at a time unless multiple files are packaged into a single .zip file.
    4. Verify delimiter settings.
      • For CSV files, confirm the field and data delimiters are correct.
      • Default field delimiter: comma ,
      • Other supported field delimiters: colon :, semicolon ;, tab
      • Default data delimiter: double quotation mark "
      • Other supported data delimiters: single quotation mark ', or None
    5. Choose mapping.
      • Select Default (Automatic Mapping) to let the wizard map columns automatically.
      • Automatic mapping works best when the file name exactly matches the record type display name and the CSV column headings exactly match the field display names.
      • If some fields are not mapped automatically, map them manually.
    6. Complete the import and review results.
      • Imports run in the background.
      • After completion, review which records were imported successfully, failed, or were partially imported.
      • Failed records can be exported, corrected, and imported again.

    Useful limits and recommendations:

    • For the Import Data Wizard, the maximum file size is 8 MB for CSV and other non-zip formats, and 32 MB for .zip files.
    • Recommended import size is 20,000 rows or fewer.
    • For larger volumes, a programmatic import approach is recommended.
    • Duplicate detection can be enabled to help prevent importing duplicate account records.
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  2. Ivory 1,155 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-08-25T18:31:09.1266667+00:00

    Hi Yves,

    You can do so by using the Import Data Wizard following the guidance in this article: Import accounts, leads, and more into Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises) | Microsoft Lea…

    However, please note for csv and the other file formats, the maximum file size allowed is 8 MB. The maximum file size allowed for .zip files is 32 MB.

    If you need to import a larger amount of data, check out the developer documentation, Import data for additional details.

    You can add multiple import files to a single .zip file, and then import the .zip file to bring in all the files at once. For example, if several salespeople enter leads from a tradeshow into different spreadsheets, you can gather them into one .zip file for import.

    Your import will fail if you're using a template that you exported from Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises) and then added a new column and are now importing the data back into Customer Engagement (on-premises)

    I hope this provides enough clarity and helps you stay inform with your current situation.

    However, you may want to consider posting your question in the Find Answers | Microsoft Dynamics 365 Community

    User's image

    That community is focused specifically on Dynamics 365 topics and includes many experienced users, Microsoft experts, and partners. As an Independent Advisor, my Dynamics 365 resources are somewhat limited, so I want to be careful not to provide guidance that may be incomplete. The Dynamics 365 Platform Community is often in the best position to offer more specialized recommendations and potential workarounds for complex scenarios.

    I hope this provides enough clarity and helps you stay inform with your current situation.

    Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.  

    If the answer is helpful, please click 'Yes' and kindly upvote it.

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