# File Import Overwrite Priority **URL:** \ **Category:** HubSpot Ideas\ **Tags:** object\ **Created:** [March 19, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577 "2019-03-19T18:10:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ben\_M](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/ben_m/32/2679_2.png) [@Ben\_M](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Ben_M)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/1 "2019-03-19T18:10:12Z")
Similar to what is done when connecting Hubspot to an external CRM, I think it would be an excellent feature to have to choose a priority on a file import of contacts into Hubspot when you get to the mapping stage of the import process. For instance, if I upload a list of contacts, some of which may exist, I would want to choose from a set of options like: Do Not Overwrite, Overwrite If Blank, Overwrite Existing Values. This allow us to use file uploads without having to worry that good data could potentially be overwritten. ---
**Author:** ![ralf\_f](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/ralf_f/32/31639_2.png) [@ralf\_f](https://community.hubspot.com/u/ralf_f)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2019, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/2 "2019-03-28T12:30:32Z")
Additional to the great import idea of Ben\_M: An option to ‘Append’ imported values for Multiline properties The options should be changeable for every property/column in the import ---
**Author:** ![JGB](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jgb/32/22074_2.png) [@JGB](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JGB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/3 "2020-03-17T16:44:13Z")
A year on and shame to still not have a solution for this. I wonder how everyone is managing this when dealing with contact/lead lists from events, external media partners, etc. Exporting full DB every time to do a check as suggested in some posts is not a scalable nor GDPR-friendly solution. ---
**Author:** ![kikidee125](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/kikidee125/32/102498_2.png) [@kikidee125](https://community.hubspot.com/u/kikidee125)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/4 "2020-06-23T20:19:04Z")
This would be so helpful! ---
**Author:** ![AllenHelms](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/allenhelms/32/98086_2.png) [@AllenHelms](https://community.hubspot.com/u/AllenHelms)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/5 "2020-07-30T15:59:09Z")
The native HubSpot import wizard has come forward leaps and bounds over the past couple of years, but important features like this are still needed to consider it an equal competitor with the other Enterprise level CRMs available today - especially when attempting data migrations and projects of that sort. Definitely gets my vote and hope it will be addressed soon. Allen R. Helms CRM/Marketing Consultant [HubSpot + Salesforce](http://www.hubspot2salesforce.com) > **[Organic Endeavors](https://www.organicendeavors.com/)** > > Organic Endeavors is a B2B consulting firm focusing on marketing and sales alignment using HubSpot and Salesforce for Marketing Automation and CRM. ---
**Author:** ![JMort](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jmort/32/104913_2.png) [@JMort](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JMort)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 9:54am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/6 "2020-10-16T09:54:31Z")
Absolutely. For all the reasons stated above. JMort ---
**Author:** ![kelseyingram392](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/kelseyingram392/32/95715_2.png) [@kelseyingram392](https://community.hubspot.com/u/kelseyingram392)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/7 "2020-10-19T21:34:07Z")
This is critical! Not all information flows in through forms so we really need the ability to only overwrite if blank, not if data exists in a field already ---
**Author:** ![Ellesyanna](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/ellesyanna/32/55434_2.png) [@Ellesyanna](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Ellesyanna)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 11:44am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/8 "2021-03-19T11:44:28Z")
Definitely needed! ---
**Author:** ![sWorks](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/sworks/32/82448_2.png) [@sWorks](https://community.hubspot.com/u/sWorks)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/9 "2021-04-23T16:50:39Z")
Need this. ---
**Author:** ![jeffvincent](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jeffvincent/32/82448_2.png) [@jeffvincent](https://community.hubspot.com/u/jeffvincent)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2021, 9:19pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/file-import-overwrite-priority/13577/10 "2021-05-11T21:19:06Z")
Hi all! I’m Jeff, from the HubSpot CRM product team. We just released a new beta for import we’re calling “Skip if known” (exact name of feature TBD by smarter people). This new option makes it possible to prevent overwrites from your imports if the property value on a specific record is already set. For example, if the name property on a Contact record is set as “Jeff Vincent”, and the name column in the import with the corresponding email is “Jerf Bincent”, checking this box means the HubSpot value won’t be overwritten. For customers updating the data in their CRM through imports AND the UI, we hope this update helps you maintain more control over your data! To get access while in beta, ask your HubSpot contact to add the “Skip if known” beta to your portal. We’ll be going live to all soon.