---
schema_version: "1"
id: 5f922479517842bcaef6443b7f70607a3598fa3c1e4efc196e22f1b8cf87e14e
title: Update a Contact
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/mc_jb_update_a_contact.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_update_a_contact.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: c80f71f80458fbecd9f2489fa83dffd46747121a9b677366381a8c2468bf26cc
description: Update or modify a Marketing Cloud Engagement contact record in Journey Builder using the update contact activity.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Update a Contact

Update or modify a Marketing Cloud Engagement contact record in Journey Builder using the update contact activity.

Use the update contact activity to modify a contact attribute value when a contact reaches this activity in a journey. You choose a sendable data extension and set a static value that overwrites this value for each contact that reaches the activity. Date attributes provide the option to use the current time in Central Standard Time.

The Sendable Field value for each contact is populated with values matching the Contact Key. If no rows for the associated Sendable Field value exist, a new row is added. If there are one or more existing rows for the associated value, existing rows are updated and no new rows are added.

1. Drag the activity onto the canvas.
2. Click the activity.
3. Click **Select Data Extension**.
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note Selecting the same data extension that the journey's entry source uses isn’t recommended.
4. Select the data extension that contains the attribute that the journey modifies.
5. Click **Attribute Value**.
6. Select the attribute to modify.
    
    The data extension’s attributes are prepopulated in the dropdown menu.
    
    ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)
    
    Note When a data extension has only a single field that is used as the primary key, you can’t modify it.
7. Add the static value or select the date if the attribute is date-based.
    1. To apply a timestamp at the time each contact reaches the activity, select **Use current time** for date-based attributes.
        
        ![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-mc_journeys_and_automations-264-0-0-production-enus/e08cdd71-c1c1-4ae5-a5e9-8a6dad583ad4/images/icon_note.png)
        
        Note This activity doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time. Selecting **Use current time** adds the current time in Central Standard Time.
8. Add up to five attributes to update.
9. Click **Summary**.
10. Click **Done**.

- **[Update Contact Activity Use Cases](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_update_contact_use_cases.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Review two common use cases for the Update Contact activity in Journey Builder.

#### See Also

- [Contact Builder in Marketing Cloud Engagement](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_cab_contact_builder.htm&language=en_US)