Which format is required for uploading an excel spreadsheet of contacts? I keep getting the following error message; The import file does not have the format that Dynamics 365 uses to map the data to Dynamics 365 fields. It is possible some hidden sheets

Question

Which format is required for uploading an excel spreadsheet of contacts? I keep getting the following error message; The import file does not have the format that Dynamics 365 uses to map the data to Dynamics 365 fields. It is possible some hidden sheets

Answer 1

Thanks for sharing the details, Charles! “The import file does not have the format that Dynamics 365 uses…” usually happens because:

• You uploaded a normal Excel .xlsx file (not allowed)
• Your spreadsheet contains hidden sheets
• Column names do not match expected field names
• The file was not created using the Dynamics 365 template

Dynamics 365 does NOT accept just any Excel file. It requires:

Preferred Format: .CSV (Comma-Separated Values)

This is the safest and most reliable way to import contacts.

Also Supported: .XML (Dynamics export template)

But only if it was generated by Dynamics 365 using Export to Excel → Static Worksheet.

NOT supported for import: .XLSX (regular Excel files)

Unless they were exported from Dynamics first.

Best regards,

Kimberly