How to Import Data to Salesforce Using Wizard, Data Loader & LitExtension

Need to bring thousands of leads, contacts, or product records into Salesforce quickly—but don’t want to mess it up? You’re not alone. For many admins, team leads, or consultants, Salesforce data import is a critical yet frustrating task. One wrong mapping, and you’re stuck cleaning bad data for hours.

This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step walkthrough on how to handle Salesforce import data like a pro—no developer needed, no guesswork involved.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why importing data into Salesforce is harder than it looks
• Salesforce Data Import Wizard – a simple tool for basic imports
• Salesforce Data Loader – more power and flexibility for bigger jobs
• LitExtension – a safer, fully-managed solution for complex data migrations

If you're searching for how to import data to Salesforce—from Excel files, CSVs, or another CRM—this guide will show you the best tools, tips, and techniques to get the job done right.

Why You Need to Import Data into Salesforce (and Why It’s Not Always Easy)

Importing data to Salesforce sounds simple—until you actually do it. A lot of Salesforce users hit this wall early: you’ve got a spreadsheet full of leads or customer records, and now you need to get them into your CRM… fast. That’s where Salesforce data import comes in.

Most teams need to import data at various points:

• At the beginning of a Salesforce implementation
• During a migration from another system or spreadsheet
• When updating or enriching existing records in bulk
• After offline lead collection from events or campaigns

Despite how common it is, the import process often presents challenges. These usually fall into three main categories:

1. Bad formatting: field names don’t match, values break picklists, dates are off
2. Tool limitations: the Wizard maxes out at 50K records, the Loader needs setup and API access
3. No rollback: one mistake can create duplicates or overwrite good data
4. Complex structures: linked records (like Accounts > Contacts) require careful mapping

In short: importing data is essential, but it takes the right setup. You need clean CSVs, correct field mappings, and a tool that matches the size and complexity of your job.

That’s exactly what the next sections cover—starting with the easiest method: the Salesforce Data Import Wizard.

Salesforce Data Import Using Data Import Wizard

The Salesforce Data Import Wizard is the fastest way to get started with importing data—no installation, no API setup. It’s built directly into the Salesforce UI and works well for small, straightforward jobs.

You can use the Data Import Wizard when:

• You’re importing standard objects like Leads, Contacts, Accounts, or Campaign Members
• Your file has fewer than 50,000 records
• You don’t need automation (just a one-time upload)
• You want a guided, browser-based interface that walks you through each step

Supported editions:

• Available in all Salesforce editions except Database.com
• Person Account support requires: Professional, Enterprise, Performance, or Developer Edition
• Works in both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience

Note: To import Person Accounts, additional permissions like Import Personal Contacts and Modify All Data may be required, depending on whether you're importing records owned by yourself or others.

Here’s how to import data using the Data Import Wizard:

Step 1. Prepare your CSV file 

First, you can download a sample CSV file and ensure fields are formatted correctly. Clean data before uploading to avoid duplication and validation errors.

Step 2. Access the wizard 

Go to Setup, search for Data Import Wizard in the Quick Find box, then click Launch Wizard. Non-admin users can access it from object-specific settings.

Step 3. Select your object 

Choose between Standard Objects (e.g., Leads, Accounts, Person Accounts) or Custom Objects. If importing custom objects, click the Custom Objects tab.

Step 4. Choose your action

• Add new records
• Update existing records
• Add and update at the same time (upsert)

Step 5. Map fields 

Match your CSV columns to Salesforce fields. Review and adjust as needed.

Step 6. Start the import 

Confirm the operation. You’ll receive an email when it completes.

Step 7. Review results 

Download success and error files to verify what was imported and resolve any failed rows.

Here’s a note on Person Account Imports!

To import Person Accounts using the Data Import Wizard, the required user permissions depend on who owns the records:

If you’re importing records you own, you need:

• Create on accounts
• Edit on accounts
• Import Personal Contacts

If you’re importing records owned by others, you also need:

• Edit on contacts
• Modify All Data

Person Accounts must be enabled in your org and are only available in Professional, Enterprise, Performance, and Developer Editions.

For many teams, the Salesforce Data Import Wizard is all you need for simple tasks. But for larger datasets or custom object imports, you’ll want something more powerful to overcome Data Import Wizard Salesforce limitations, like the Salesforce Data Loader, which we’ll cover next.

How to Import Data to Salesforce using Data Loader

The Salesforce Data Loader is a client application used for high-volume, structured data import and export. It gives users full control over how data is processed, mapped, and uploaded into Salesforce, especially when the built-in Data Import Wizard isn’t sufficient.

Between Salesforce Data Import Wizard vs Data Loader, Data Loader is the go-to tool when:

• You need to import over 50,000 records (up to 5 million+)
• The object you’re importing to isn’t supported by the Data Import Wizard
• You’re working with complex field mappings
• You want to automate and schedule imports (via CLI, Windows only)
• You need detailed success/error CSV logs
• You’re exporting large datasets for backup or offline analysis

Data Loader supports common data types including Salesforce IDs (15- or 18-character), strings, integers, booleans, dates (customizable formats), and base64-encoded files for attachments. You can also configure settings like import batch size, timezone, encoding (UTF-8), and date formatting.

Here’s how to import data using Salesforce Data Loader:

Step 1. Prepare your CSV file 

Ensure field names match Salesforce API field names. Clean the data to avoid validation errors, duplicates, or formatting issues.

Step 2. Install and open Data Loader 

Download the tool from Salesforce Setup or Salesforce Developer Docs. Open the app and log in using your Salesforce credentials (requires API access).

Step 3. Choose your operation 

Select the action you want to perform:

• Insert new records
• Update existing records
• Upsert (add or update based on ID)
• Delete or Export (for backups or clean-up)

Step 4. Select the object and upload your file

Step 5. Map fields 

Match CSV columns to Salesforce fields using the drag-and-drop mapper. Save the mapping file for reuse.

Step 6. Run the import 

Review your setup, then confirm to start the job. Data Loader will process the file and generate output logs.

Step 7. Review results 

Check the success and error files to verify which records were processed correctly and resolve any issues for retry.

Note: Data Loader is available in Enterprise, Performance, Unlimited, and Developer Editions and is compatible with macOS and Windows.

As you can see, Salesforce Data Loader gives you more control over large and complex imports, but it also requires more setup and care. If you're handling a huge dataset or multiple objects at once, and want to avoid errors altogether, it may be time to consider a fully-managed option like LitExtension.

Easier Salesforce Data Import with LitExtension

Built-in tools like the Data Import Wizard and Salesforce Data Loader work well for basic needs. But once your dataset gets larger, more complex, or includes cross-object relationships, you may start hitting limitations fast—format errors, failed records, or hours spent fixing post-import issues.

That’s where LitExtension comes in.

LitExtension offers a fully-managed import service for teams that want to save time and avoid manual work. Instead of handling CSVs yourself, you get a dedicated team to take care of:

• Data mapping from your source system or file
• Object relationships between leads, accounts, contacts, custom records
• Pre-import validation to catch duplicates, picklist mismatches, or missing values
• Post-import syncing for cases where source data updates after the initial import

You can use LitExtension for any Salesforce data import task—but it's especially valuable when native tools like the Data Import Wizard or Data Loader just aren’t enough.

Here’s when teams typically choose LitExtension:

• You’re dealing with complex relationships between objects (e.g., Products > Orders > Customers) that are hard to manage via CSV and manual field mapping
• You want to migrate from another CRM or eCommerce platform, not just upload a file
• You need support for cross-object mapping, custom fields, or data validation that’s beyond what built-in tools offer
• You’ve run into limits—like the Wizard’s 50,000 record cap or the Loader’s API requirement—and don’t want to deal with technical setup or cleanup
• You prefer a fully-managed solution, where data prep, import, error handling, and verification are handled for you

Simply put, if Salesforce’s tools feel like more work than they’re worth, LitExtension can take over—accurately, securely, and with expert support.

If you're running Salesforce Commerce Cloud or moving store data into Salesforce, LitExtension also supports structured migration from platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and more.

👉 Learn more about Salesforce data migration with LitExtension

Salesforce Data Import: FAQs

Final Words

Getting your data into Salesforce isn’t just a technical task—it directly impacts how clean, usable, and accurate your CRM will be moving forward. Choosing the right tool for your Salesforce data import job depends on what you’re importing, how much of it, and how confident you are in handling the setup.

To recap:

• Use the Data Import Wizard for small, simple uploads
• Switch to Data Loader for bulk or complex imports
• Go with LitExtension when you want a done-for-you solution that minimizes risk and saves time

No matter which method you choose, always clean your data first, test with a small sample, and double-check your results after importing. Need help with a large or custom Salesforce import? Explore LitExtension’s Salesforce Data Migration Service for expert support.

We hope you found this article insightful and now have a clear understanding of Salesforce data import. For more content like this, be sure to visit the LitExtension blog and join our eCommerce community to gain further insights and connect with fellow business owners.