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Outlook / Microsoft 365Close

How to import Outlook / Microsoft 365 into Close

7 of the 22 columns in an Outlook / Microsoft 365 export, mapped into 6 Close fields under Close's own names.

Download the Excel templateUse this template free

Free · 18 KB · Excel 365 or Google Sheets

Check your Outlook / Microsoft 365 export first

Built on Outlook / Microsoft 365’s export columnsChecked against Close’s import rulesUpdated October 3, 2026

One Outlook / Microsoft 365 row, through the templatecopied as it ischanged on the way1explained below
  • First Name, Last Name to Name1joinedDavid Garcia
  • E-mail Address to Emaillowercaseddavid.garcia@lumenlabs.example.com
  • Business Phone to Phone+44 161 496 0286
  • Job Title to TitleFinance Operations Lead
  • Company to CompanyLumen Labs
  • Notes to DescriptionPrefers calls before 10am.
Not imported: Mobile Phone, Home Phone, Business Street, Business City, Business State, Business Postal Code and 9 more. The template leaves these out; map any to a custom field in Operelio.

Where Outlook / Microsoft 365 and Close don’t line up

1

First Name and Last Name become one Name

Outlook / Microsoft 365 keeps First Name and Last Name apart, and Close has one Name field.

The template joins them, leaving out any that are empty.

ExportFirst Name David
Last Name Garcia
CloseDavid Garcia

Check your Outlook / Microsoft 365 export before you import it

Looks for the 7 columns this template reads, and what Close would skip.

Drop your Outlook / Microsoft 365 CSV here

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and results are counts only.

Outlook / Microsoft 365 to Close in three steps

Step 1Export from Outlook

In the new Outlook for Windows, select People, then Export contacts from the ribbon. Classic Outlook uses File, then Open & Export, then Import/Export.

  1. Select the People icon.
  2. Choose Manage contacts, then Export contacts.
  3. Pick All contacts or a folder, then select Export.
  4. The .csv file saves to your Downloads folder.
Microsoft: Export contacts from Outlook on the webMicrosoft: Import or export contacts in Outlook
Step 2Paste into the template
  1. Paste the export at A1 of Paste your export here.
  2. Start here checks all 7 columns were found.
  3. Save Close Contacts import as a CSV.

Works in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Google Sheets. Excel 2019 and older, Apple Numbers and LibreOffice can't run the formulas this file uses.

Just the 6 headers as a CSV

Step 3Import into Close
  1. Click your name at the top right and choose Import data.
  2. Upload a CSV or Excel file, or paste straight from a spreadsheet.
  3. Choose where each column goes, or check Skip to leave it out, and click Next.
  4. Choose a column to group rows into leads, such as Company.
  5. Set the duplicate matching and choose to add missing information, replace the lead or skip it, then start the import.
Close's importer, screen by screen

Operelio, with the same template

Fixes the capitals in names, formats phone numbers, removes duplicate and blank rows, which the Excel file leaves to you. On every plan. Email verification from Starter.

Use this template in Operelio

Questions

Where does Outlook / Microsoft 365's E-mail Address column go in Close?

To Email on the contact.

Does this create Leads or Contacts in Close?

Contacts, and Close keeps every contact inside a lead. When you import the file, Close asks for a column to group rows into leads, such as a company column if your file has one, and each contact lands on that lead. Contacts in the same group that share an email or phone are merged into one.

Duplicates and undoing an import: Close import questions.

Try this template free

Upload your Outlook / Microsoft 365 export and download a file Close can import. No credit card needed.

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