> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ochats.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ochats.io/module-tutorial/upload-contacts/how-to-upload-new-contacts-in-bulk.md).
# How to upload new contacts in bulk?
Import a full list of contacts at once via file upload instead of adding them one by one.
## Written Steps:
1. Go to **Contacts**
2. Select **Upload new contacts**
3. Select **Download Template File**
4. Open the Excel Template File and fill in all the information based on the example in the Template File. (*Always remember to insert country code in front of phone number*)
5. Save the Excel Template File.
6. Select **Import**
7. Upload the Excel Template File
8. Select **Upload**
## **Visual Steps**
Step 1 & 2
**Import Template Guide**
Download the template below and fill in one contact per row. The **first row is the header row — keep it and do not reorder the columns**. Columns are read by their position (A, B, C…), not by their header text. Leave a cell blank to skip that field.
**Columns**
| Col | Field | Required | What it is & possible values |
| ----- | ------------ | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **A** | `channel_id` | Yes | Which channel this contact belongs to. Use a single number:**1** — WhatsApp (incl. Cloud API)**2** — Facebook Messenger**3** — Instagram**4** — LINE**5** — Telegram**6** — Email**7** — WeChat |
| **B** | `sender_id` | No | **Leave this blank.** It's a technical ID the system fills in automatically when the contact first messages you on that channel. |
| **C** | `first_name` | Yes | Contact's first name. Free text. |
| **D** | `last_name` | No | Contact's last name. Free text. |
| **E** | `phone` | Recommended | Full international number, digits only, no `+` or spaces — e.g. `14155550123`. Used to match & update an existing contact. |
| **F** | `wa_id` | No | WhatsApp ID — usually the same digits as the phone number. Relevant only for WhatsApp (channel 1). |
| **G** | `email` | Recommended | Valid email address. Used together with phone to match & update an existing contact. |
| **H** | `tags` | No | Comma-separated labels, e.g. `vip,lead,newsletter`. |
| **I** | `address` | No | Postal / physical address. Free text. |
| **J** | `opt_in` | No | Messaging consent: **1** = opted in, **0** = not opted in. Defaults to not opted in if blank. |
| **K** | `image` | No | Public URL of the contact's avatar image. |
| **L** | `merge` | No | Internal merge flag. Leave blank unless instructed otherwise. |
Step 3
{% hint style="info" %}
**How matching works:** within your workspace, a row is matched to an existing contact by `email` *or* `phone`. If a match is found the contact is updated (blank cells are ignored, so they won't erase existing data); otherwise a new contact is created. Provide at least a phone number or email so duplicates aren't created.
{% endhint %}
