Prepare your files
Create separate CSV files for each entity type:
companies.csv
people.csv
deals.csv
Each file needs column headers in the first row and must be under 30MB.
Import order matters:
Import companies first
Import people second (they'll auto-link to companies via email domain)
Import deals last (they can reference both companies and people)
Import process
Step 1: Upload your file
Navigate to Companies, People, or Deals. Click the three dots in the top right corner and select "Import CSV."
Upload your CSV file and confirm the basic info looks correct.
Step 2: Map your columns
Clarify automatically maps columns to existing fields when possible. Manually map any columns that weren't matched automatically.
If this is your first import:
Leave unmapped columns unselected to skip them
Create new fields during import if needed (all field types supported)
If you're adding to existing data:
Check "Unique" next to one or more fields (like Name or Email) to update existing records instead of creating duplicates
Example: Check "Unique" next to Email for people, or Name for companies
Step 3: Review and Fix validation errors
Review your data. The validation screen shows two sections:
"Needs review" - data with issues that need fixing
"Automatically mapped" - data ready to import (can still edit if needed)
Invalid values will prevent those rows from importing. Fix errors by editing values or choosing to skip them.
You can also create new options for select fields during this step.
Step 4: Complete import
Click "Import data" to start. You'll see progress in the sidebar.
When complete, you'll see a summary showing:
Successfully imported records
Failed rows (download CSV to fix and re-import)
All imported records will have an import label and appear in a new auto-generated list.
What happens during import
Automatic company-person linking:
People automatically link to companies based on email domain ([email protected] → acme.com)
If no company exists, Clarify creates one automatically
Updating existing records:
When unique field matching finds an existing record, only non-empty fields from your import are updated
Example: Importing a deal called "Microsoft" with only an amount field will update just the amount—other fields remain unchanged
If no match is found, a new record is created
Background processing:
Large imports run in the background
You can close your browser—progress shows in the sidebar when you return
Troubleshooting
Rows failed to import:
Download the failed rows CSV from the summary page
Fix the errors listed
Re-import the corrected file
Duplicate records created:
Use the "Unique" checkbox during field mapping to update existing records instead of creating new ones
Already have duplicates? See Merging records in Clarify
Find past imports:
View import history in Settings
Next steps
Need more detail? See the complete CSV import documentation for advanced features like creating custom fields, bulk-creating select options, and handling complex data validation scenarios.