---
schema_version: "1"
id: 380118925a53ea0108437185bee5580f540c04c3fcf391c184119b1a8b26a4ce
title: What Is Imported for Leads?
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/for_leads.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.for_leads.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: a28c44c5be60aca3cf973e9d4e6cea9dc5afbc8231c9639ab9d9f9a76d0339f6
description: You can import data into standard lead fields and custom lead fields, even if a field is hidden or read only in your page layout or field-level security settings for leads.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Cross Cloud
release: "264"
---
# What Is Imported for Leads?

You can import data into standard lead fields and custom lead fields, even if a field is hidden or read only in your page layout or field-level security settings for leads.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: Essentials, Group, Professional, Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Importing Leads with Matching Types

You can choose whether to match leads in your import file with existing leads in Salesforce. Leads can be matched according to the following types: Salesforce ID, name, email, or external ID. Choosing a matching type sets the criteria for avoiding duplicate leads. For example, if you’re matching by email and a lead in your source file has the same email as a lead in Salesforce, that lead is updated in Salesforce. If you aren’t matching by email and a lead in your source file has the same email as a lead in Salesforce, a lead is created.

## Importing Leads Without Matching Types

If you choose a matching type of “None” in the Data Import Wizard, for each lead in your import file, the Data Import Wizard creates a lead in Salesforce. You can merge leads after they are imported.

## Matching by Name

When you select this option, the Data Import Wizard detects existing records in Salesforce that have the same name. This type of matching is case-sensitive. If necessary, scan and standardize your record names before performing the import to prevent unintended matches.

## Matching by Email

This option matches records in your import file with existing records in Salesforce according to the exact value in the Email field.

## Matching by Salesforce ID

A Salesforce ID is a system-generated, case-sensitive string of 15 or 18 letters and numbers that uniquely identifies each Salesforce record. When you select this option, the Data Import Wizard detects existing records in Salesforce that have the same Salesforce ID. You can obtain Salesforce IDs by running reports that include the ID field of the record.

## Matching by External ID

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.

- This operation isn’t case-sensitive. For example, “ABC” is matched with “abc”. However, if the external ID field also has the case-sensitive Unique attribute, matching by external ID does not consider uppercase and lowercase letters identical.
- External IDs can be of type text, number, email, or auto-number. If the external ID type is auto-number, it isn’t available for matching, but you can use it to look up the parent record if it contains the external ID.
- Standardize External ID values before performing the import to prevent unintended matches.
- Multiple records with the same External ID within a file aren’t uploaded.
- Multiple external ID fields can find matching records in Salesforce when you use the Data Import Wizard.
- Only unique External ID fields are available to match by.

#### See Also

- [Data Import Wizard](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.data_import_wizard.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "You can use the Data Import Wizard to import accounts, contacts, leads, solutions, campaign members, person accounts, and custom objects. You can import up to 50,000 records at a time.")
- [Choosing a Method for Importing Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.import_which_data_import_tool.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Learn about your options for importing data into Salesforce.")