---
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id: 29bc09eb95d42f4b8697791569e71841e36e88044fb0379236781848f32dc533
title: Can I import using external IDs?
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/faq_import_general_what_is_an_external.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.faq_import_general_what_is_an_external.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 982ebac1a5406d788b89200feb898f8f36404ac3889269be1dfc7a898132530c
description: When importing custom objects, solutions, or person accounts, you can use external IDs to prevent the import from creating duplicate records.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# Can I import using external IDs?

When importing custom objects, solutions, or person accounts, you can use external IDs to prevent the import from creating duplicate records.

An external ID is a custom field that has the External ID attribute, meaning that it contains unique record identifiers from a system outside of Salesforce. When you select this option, the Data Import Wizard detects existing records in Salesforce with external IDs that match those values in the import file.