Do you have a contact CSV file that you are unable to import into Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019? If yes, then relax! In this tutorial, we are going to discuss why CSV file not importing to Outlook and how to fix this issue. So…here we go!

The best way to have everything under control is to have all our contacts within a CSV file. But, what if we cannot import this CSV to our favorite email client i.e., Microsoft Outlook?

cannot import csv to outlook

We know it’s annoying and the problem can be different for each of us. Some of the most common Outlook cannot import CSV issues are:

  • Nothing imported to Outlook from a contact CSV file
  • Getting CSV file format is not correct error while importing CSV to Outlook
  • Contacts information is missing after importing CSV to Outlook
  • Imported CSV contacts are not appearing in Outlook Contacts
  • Only a few CSV contacts are imported to Outlook but not all
Also read: How to import CSV Contacts to iCloud account

What Is Causing the CSV Import Problem in Outlook?

If you cannot import CSV file into Outlook or any similar issue then, there might be several reasons for the same. For example:

  • The CSV you are trying to import does not use CR+LF (Carriage Return + Line Feed) control characters to show the line breaks
  • You are trying to import a CSV file you have no permissions to open or the CSV is opened in some other program
  • Missing column headings in the first row of CSV or first row is replaced with something else
  • There’s no contact information in the CSV file you are trying to import in Outlook. In such a case, you will not get any contacts in the destination contact list
  • If your CSV has 100 contacts and you can import only the first 51 contacts then it means the problem is with 51st row. Try to remove this row and start importing CSV again to fix Outlook cannot import CSV issue
  • The CSV you are trying to import to Outlook contains poorly formatted data so first manage the contacts information properly in rows and columns then import CSV again to Outlook
  • Your Microsoft Outlook account is having some issues due to which you are not able to open .csv files in Outlook. Try to re-configure your account and start import process again
  • The CSV you are trying to import to Outlook is exported from some email client or devices and is not compatible with Outlook CSV

How Can I Fix Cannot Import CSV File into Outlook Issue?

As we know there might be several factors that might lead you to Outlook cannot import contacts CSV problem and all you have to do is make your CSV file Outlook compatible. Below is how this could be done:

If You Cannot Import CSV to Outlook for Windows

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  • Launch the software and click on the Browse button to add the contact CSV file you are unable to import to Outlook

Browse the contacts CSV file in Excel to vCard Converter

  • Preview CSV file contact information and check if the CSV is well-formatted and the first line is correct. If everything is fine with CSV, click Next

Preview of CSV contact information in the converter

  • Now, you need to map CSV columns with vCard columns to make CSV Outlook compatible. Click the Excel Fields section and choose a contact field

Select a CSV contact field in the Excel Fields section

  • Pick the respective contact field from vCard Fields section and repeat the step to map all CSV contact fields with vCard fields

Select the matching contact field in the vCard Fields section

  • Once CSV contacts mapped with vCard fields, hit the Next button to fix cannot import CSV into Outlook 2016 issue

CSV contact fields mapped with vCard fields

  • Choose vCard version 2.1 / 3.0 / 4.0 and check Create Single vCard option. Select a destination location to save the resultant file. Click Convert

Select vCard version and destination location and click Convert

  • The software will start converting CSV file to vCard and once conversion process gets done, it’s time to import CSV contacts to Outlook

CSV to vCard conversion completed

  • To do so, launch Outlook on your Windows machine and click on File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export

Import/Export option under File and Open and Export in Outlook

  • Highlight Import a vCard File (.vcf) option from Import and Export Wizard and click Next

Import a vCard File (.vcf) option in the Import and Export Wizard

  • Navigate to the location where you have saved the converted vCard, select it and click Open

Select the converted vCard file and click Open

  • vCard will start importing to Outlook and once done, open Outlook Contacts and you will see all imported contacts in your Outlook Contacts list

If You Cannot Import CSV to Mac Outlook

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  • Launch the software and click on Add File(s) button to add the contact CSV

Add File(s) button in the CSV to PST converter

  • Navigate and select the contact CSV file from the saved location. Click Next

Select the contacts CSV file from its saved location

  • Select PST as an export option as this will make your CSV file Mac Outlook compatible so that you won’t face issues like Outlook cannot import contacts CSV. Map CSV Fields with PST Fields

Select PST as the export option

  • Select a destination location to save the resultant PST and hit the Convert button

Select the destination for the PST file and click Convert

  • All CSV contacts will be converted into PST after a few minutes or seconds (depends upon the number of contacts in CSV)

CSV contacts converted into PST

  • Once the conversion is done, launch Microsoft Outlook in your Mac machine and now you have to import the converted PST to Outlook
  • Click on File >> Import

Import option under the File menu in Outlook for Mac

  • Select Outlook for Windows archive file (.pst) >> Continue

Select Outlook for Windows archive file (.pst) and click Continue

  • Locate the converted PST file on your Mac, and click Import
  • Once the import process is complete, click Finish

Locate the converted PST file and click Import in Outlook for Mac

  • Open Outlook Contacts and all the imported CSV contacts will be synced with your Outlook Contacts list automatically after this

CSV File Not Importing to Outlook issue fixed!

FAQs

Q. Why ❓ is CSV not importing?

A. The common reasons the CSV is not importing are: The first line of CSV is not labeled with contact field names or missing. Another cause is CSV is not compatible. Or, CSV is not formatted correctly.

Q. What is the Outlook CSV format?

A. Outlook CSV files are specially made to import into MS Outlook program and are highly compatible with Outlook. An Outlook CSV (Comma Separated Values) file is a special file that can be exported from Outlook or created in Excel.