How do I import contacts from a spreadsheet without scrambling names and phone numbers?

Start by making an unchanged copy of the spreadsheet and a separate working copy for import. Check that each row represents one person and that the first row contains clear column headings. Look for empty rows and columns that combine information—for example, a full name in one cell when the destination expects separate first- and last-name fields. Keep the original as a reference in case the imported result looks wrong.

Use the destination’s import instructions or field-mapping screen, if it provides one. Make a simple map before importing, such as:

• First name → Given name
• Last name → Family name
• Phone → Mobile or the appropriate phone field
• Email → Email address

The exact labels and available fields vary by address book, so check the destination rather than relying on similar-looking headings. For Google Contacts, its spreadsheet template uses headers to help map details; its instructions say to keep the header row and use one row per contact. That guidance describes Google’s importer, not every address book’s mapping rules. [S1]

It can happen if spreadsheet software treats a phone number as a number instead of a text value. Microsoft notes that Excel for the web can remove leading zeros when it interprets digit strings as numbers; formatting the relevant cells as Text before entering or pasting values retains those zeros. [S2]

Before exporting or importing, inspect several numbers in the working spreadsheet. If a number has already lost a zero, compare it with your original source rather than guessing what the missing digit should be.

Make a separate test file containing the header row and a few representative contacts. Include different name formats, a number with a leading zero if you have one, and any optional fields you use. Import that test file using the destination’s available options. Then open the resulting records and compare each name, phone number, and email with the test file. Don’t assume the test worked just because the import finishes: check the displayed contact fields.

Check that first and last names haven’t swapped, phone numbers haven’t shifted into another field or lost leading zeros, and email addresses are intact. If a value is missing or misplaced, stop before importing the full list. Recheck the header row and field selections, adjust the working file or mapping, and repeat the small test.

For Google Contacts, its guidance says to inspect imported records and notes that a detail missing from its expected field may appear in the contact’s notes. That is a Google-specific check, not a guarantee about how another address book handles unmapped details. [S1] Once the test looks right, use the corrected working file for the larger import and review a few resulting records again.