Add or update multiple users from a CSV file

Before people on your team tin sign in and use your organisation's Google services (for instance, Google Workspace or Cloud Identity), they need a user business relationship. If you accept many new users, you can add together their accounts all at once from a spreadsheet.

You can also update multiple existing accounts from a spreadsheet.

Earlier you begin

  • Make sure this is the right option—Upload users with a spreadsheet if yous're adding upwardly to 150,000 users. Notwithstanding, if you have an LDAP server, such every bit Microsoft Active Directory, or have programming skills, nosotros recommend other options for larger organizations. For details, go to Options for adding users.

    If you're updating user accounts, note that a spreadsheet can include upward to 200 existing users that are being assigned new licenses.

  • (Annual Plan customers) Make certain you lot accept enough licenses—Before you add together users, yous might need to add licenses to your account. Learn how to go more than licenses.
  • (Flexible Program customers) Your subscription cost depends on how many users yous have—Calculation user accounts automatically increases your monthly payment.
  • (Google Workspace Business edition customers) You tin can add a maximum of 300 users. There is no minimum or maximum user limit for Enterprise plans.
  • Automatic licensing takes precedence—If you add a user to an organizational unit that has automatic licensing turned on, the automatic licensing settings take precedence over the license you assign to the user in the CSV file. An error won't be shown in the log file.
  • There might be unmanaged accounts—Check to see if anyone yous plan to add together already has a Google Business relationship. Then follow steps to avoid conflicts with those accounts. Go to Find and add unmanaged users.
  • There might be company accounts—If users invite people outside your organisation who don't have Google accounts to collaborate on Bulldoze, they'll receive visitor accounts, in the formatcompany's_username@your_domain.com. If you add together a user with the same username as a company account, the account volition be converted to a full Google Workspace account. The account volition keep its electric current Drive file permissions. Learn more nearly sharing documents with visitors.

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Add users from a spreadsheet

If you lot utilise a CSV file to create new accounts, the users practice not receive a new user welcome email with their credentials. You have to send your new users their account credentials separately.

Tip: If you lot forget the new user's countersign, reset the password and then email the new one to the user.

Stride 1: Download the template file

  1. From the Admin panel Home page, go to Users.
  2. At the top of the page, click Bulk update users.

    Bulk update users is selected at the top of the user

  3. Click Download blank CSV template to download a comma-separated values (.csv) file.
  4. Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet application, such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

    The file has columns for the attributes that can announced in each user's contour. Profiles appear in the Admin console and users' Contacts director.

Step 2: Enter users' information

  1. For each user you desire to add, enter the following required information in these columns in the spreadsheet:
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Email Address—Employ the format username@example.com
    • Password—Must be at least 8 characters.
    • Org Unit of measurement Path—Enter / (forward slash) to place users in your top-level organizational unit. You might do this if you lot oasis't set upward an organizational hierarchy in the Admin console.

      For column descriptions and formatting details, review the guidelines below.

      Your spreadsheet should wait like something similar this:

      Sample of bulk upload users CSV file with entries in all required columns.

  2. (Optional) To crave a user to reset their password when beginning signing in, in theAlter Countersign at Next Sign-In column, enter Truthful. Otherwise, exit the cavalcade empty.
  3. (Optional) To specify boosted information, such as recovery emails, dwelling addresses, or licenses, enter information technology in the remaining columns.

Step 3: Save the file

After you've filled in the spreadsheet, save it as a CSV file (.csv).

Notes:

  • Maximum CSV file size is 35 MB.
  • Maximum number of records per file is 150,000.

    If your file is larger or has too many records, open up information technology in your spreadsheet programme, split the table into split up files, and save each 1 as a CSV file. Make sure you include the column headings row in all CSV files.

  • To upload non-ASCII or double byte usernames, first save the CSV file in UTF-8, including BOM.

Stride 4: Upload the file

  1. At the summit of the Users page, click Bulk update users.
  2. Click Attach CSV file.
  3. Browse to the location on your figurer and attach the CSV file.
  4. Click Upload. If there'southward an error, enter the missing information in your spreadsheet and upload the file once more. For more information, go to Resolve mutual errors below.

    Your Tasks listing opens automatically and shows the progress of the upload. Once processing is complete, yous'll receive an email study.

    If there'southward a processing error, download the log file from your Tasks listing. For more data, go to Resolve common errors below.

It tin take up to 24 hours for new users to have access to Google services and appear in the Directory. Larn more than about the Directory.

Follow spreadsheet format guidelines

Full general guidelines

If y'all want to... Follow these guidelines...
Enter multiple values in a cavalcade For multiple values in a unmarried column, such as telephone numbers and electronic mail addresses, separate them with a comma (but no spaces)—for example: username1@domain.com,username2@domain.com
Enter values that include commas, with line breaks, or double quotes

Enclose the values in double quotation marks—for example, "123 Anystreet, Anytown"

Upload not-ASCII or double byte usernames Be certain to save the CSV file in UTF-8 so the usernames are readable.
Add more columns You can enter data only in the columns available in the downloaded file. Yous can't add new columns, such as those for custom attributes.
Upload existing users If you enter the e-mail address or email alias of an existing user in the Email Address column, the existing user's business relationship will be updated with any changes yous make to their information in the other columns.

Cavalcade reference

Required columns

Column Description/Format
Starting time Proper noun / Terminal Name A first proper name and last name can each have upwardly to 60 characters.
E-mail Address The user's sign-in proper noun. Enter the full email address: username@example.com
Password Passwords are case sensitive. By default, a password must take at least 8 characters. Y'all tin change password requirements for your organization.

If yous're updating existing users and you don't desire to modify their passwords, enter **** (4 asterisks).

If a Password Hash Function is also specified, the password column must contain the hashed password. For case, if you use SHA-1 and the hash of countersign abc is xyz, enter xyz in the Countersign column.

Org Unit Path

For placing users in an organizational unit.

If y'all oasis't yet set up an organizational hierarchy: Enter / (forward slash) only to place all users in the height-level parent organizational unit. You tin can motion users to other organizational units y'all create after.

If you've already fix upward an organizational hierarchy: Utilize the format in the post-obit examples to place each user in an organizational unit—in either your superlative-level parent organizational unit or a child organizational unit below it.

Examples:

  • /(for the superlative-level parent– don't enter your domain proper name)

  • /Sales (for a child below the acme-level parent)

  • /Students/First Course

Optional columns

Column Format
Password Hash Function [Upload Only]

Specify one of the following supported hash functions:MD5, SHA-1, or crypt.

The Countersign column must contain the hashed password. For example, if you use SHA-1 and the hash of countersign abc is xyz, enter xyz in the Countersign column.

Tip: You tin find utilities on the spider web to generate hashed passwords using the supported hash functions.

Recovery E-mail and Recovery Phone

For providing recovery information used for login challenges.

  • Recovery email—An e-mail accost outside of your domain.
  • Recovery phone—Must be in the East.164 format. They must start with the plus sign (+), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Entries tin have a maximum of 15 digits. Instance: +16505551212.

    Note: Recovery phone should exist unique for each user. If the same recovery phone number is used by multiple users, that number is automatically blocked for security reasons.

  • Employee ID—Some login challenges ask users to enter their employee ID. The ID tin can contain numbers, messages, and symbols. For details, become to Add employee ID as a login challenge.
Piece of work/Home Address If yous include commas or line breaks in an address, enclose the address in double quotation marks—for example,"123 Anystreet, Anytown"
New Primary Electronic mail [Upload Only] For editing existing user accounts only. Specify a new primary email address (username).
Building ID, Floor Name, and Floor Department To enter this information, follow these guidelines.
Change Password at Next Sign-In To require a user to change their password the next time they sign in to their account, enter TRUE. Otherwise, leave the column empty or enter False.
New Status [Upload Just] For editing existing user accounts only. To archive or suspend a user, enter Archived or Suspended. To unarchive or restore a suspended user, enter Agile.
New Licenses [Upload But]

For editing existing user accounts but. To assign a different license to a user, enter the SKU ID for the license. Split multiple license IDs with commas—for case:1010020020,Google-Drive-storage-20GB,1010330002

A spreadsheet can include up to 200 users that are being assigned a new license.

Resolve mutual errors

Errors when you upload your CSV file

Error Cause/Solution
File is empty Your file doesn't contain any information.
Incorrect file format or unknown cavalcade name The columns in your file should be titled First Name [Required], Last Proper name [Required], Email Address [Required], Password [Required], and Org Unit of measurement Path [Required].
File must have the "column name" column A required column is missing.
Empty "column name" in row nn A column that requires information is empty in a specific row.

For example, you'll see the error Empty "Org Unit Path [Required]" in row ii if you lot didn't enter the organizational unit in which you want to place a user'south account. Go to Org Unit Path above.

File is too large to upload The CSV file is over 35 MB or at that place are more than 150,000 records in the file. Open the file and split the table into carve up files. Save each one equally a CSV file. Brand sure you include the cavalcade headings row in all CSV files.
Incorrect number of columns in the row nn A column is missing for a specific row.
"Electronic mail Address [Required]" contains reserved username in row nn Certain accounts are reserved and tin can't be created—for case, abuse and postmaster.
Action_Failed: User_LIMIT_EXCEEDED You reached the limit to add licenses to your Google Workspace edition, so some users in your CSV file did not get a license.

Note: Starting from the height row of your CSV file, Google Accounts are added until no more licenses are available.

Errors in the log file

Error Cause/Solution
ACTION FAILED: Validation An entry contains unsupported characters. For help, go to Username and group name guidelines.
ACTION FAILED: UNKNOWN Fault Almost likely, a temporary error occurred. Attempt uploading the CSV file again, or uploading items in smaller batches. This error can also occur if y'all've entered an incorrect domain proper noun in a user's e-mail address (after the @ sign) in the Email Address cavalcade.
ACTION FAILED: Bereft LICENSES Your organisation's Google Account doesn't have enough licenses for all the new users in your CSV file. Accounts are added starting from the peak row until there are no more licenses bachelor. Yous can purchase more than licenses so upload the remaining users in the CSV file.
ACTION FAILED: OU INVALID

This error unremarkably ways ane of the following formatting errors:

  • The Org Unit of measurement Path column isn't formatted correctly.
  • One or more organizational units you lot entered don't exist in the Admin console. Make sure the organizational unit of measurement names match those in your organizational hierarchy in the Admin panel.
Action FAILED: USER NAME INVALID The electronic mail address (username) in the Email Accost cavalcade isn't formatted correctly. Make certain you enter the user's full email address. Also check for spaces in the address.
ACTION FAILED: PERMISSION DENIED The user's email accost in the Email Address column includes a domain name (subsequently the @ symbol) that's not associated with your organization's Google Business relationship. Brand sure you entered the domain name in the electronic mail accost correctly.
ACTION FAILED: PASSWORD HASH Office INVALID The Password Hash Part column contains an incorrect hash function proper noun.
ACTION FAILED: UPDATE USER LICENSES FAILED One or more SKU IDs in the New License column couldn't be updated for the user. Ensure that the SKU IDs are correct and the cavalcade is formatted correctly for multiple SKU IDs.
ACTION FAILED: ONLY VFE Immune The user currently has a Vault Former Employee (VFE) license, merely the New License cavalcade contains a SKU ID for a license other than the VFE. Y'all tin can't add some other license type to a user with a VFE license.
Activeness FAILED: UNASSIGNABLE LICENSE The New License column contains a SKU ID for a product for which you don't have a subscription.
Activeness FAILED: MULTIPLE LICENSES IN Same Product The New License column contains multiple SKU IDs for the same product—for example, multiple Drive storage SKUs.
ACTION FAILED: REPEATED SKU ASSIGNMENTS FOR USER The New License cavalcade contains the same SKU ID ii or more times.
Activity FAILED: SKU SWITCH RESTRICTED The New License cavalcade contains a SKU ID for a product that your current subscription doesn't let y'all upgrade or downgrade to.
Activeness FAILED: UPDATING DELETED USER The New License column contains a SKU ID, but the user business relationship is deleted.

If you add a user to an organizational unit that has automatic licensing turned on, the automatic licensing settings take precedence over the license y'all assign to the user in the CSV file. An error won't be shown in the log file.

Update existing user accounts

Edit accounts with a spreadsheet

You can salve time when yous need to edit multiple accounts by downloading a list of accounts from the Admin console.

Before y'all begin

  • Any data in columns you can edit replaces existing information in the Admin console when y'all upload the file.
  • For columns you don't desire to change, you lot can either delete them (if the column isn't required), leave their information in the file, or delete their information.
  • If you delete all data from a column that'south non required, but leave the column in the spreadsheet, the existing data is not removed from the user's account when you upload the file.
  • If you don't want to change a user's password, make certain the Password column contains the symbols **** (iv asterisks).
  • If you don't want to edit a specific user'due south information, y'all tin leave their row in the spreadsheet or remove information technology. If you remove all of a user's data in the file, their account is not deleted.
  • To change a user's username, enter the new email address in theNew Primary Email column.
  • If y'all've changed the primary domain for your Google Workspace account, see Rename user addresses in majority after changing your chief domain for specific instructions.

To edit several user accounts

  1. From the Admin console Home page, become to Users.
  2. At the summit of the page, click Bulk update users.

    Bulk update users is selected at the top of the user

  3. Click Download User Info In CSV File to download a comma-separated values (.csv) file with all user accounts.

    Your Tasks list opens automatically and shows the progress of the download.

  4. Under Your Tasks, click Download CSV.
  5. Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet application, such as Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

    The file has columns for the attributes in each user'south profile.

  6. Edit the data in the file.
  7. After yous've filled in the spreadsheet, relieve it equally a CSV file.
  8. At the meridian of the Users page, click Bulk update users.
  9. Click Attach CSV file.
  10. Browse to the location on your computer and attach the CSV file.
  11. Click Upload.
  12. If at that place's an error, enter the missing information in your spreadsheet and upload the file again. For more data, go to Resolve common errors.

    Your Tasks list opens automatically and shows the progress of the upload. In one case processing is complete, you'll receive an email report.

  13. If in that location's a processing fault, download the log file from your Tasks list. For more information, go to Resolve common errors.

Sync user data with your LDAP server

If you lot have an LDAP server, such equally Microsoft Agile Directory, you can utilize Google Cloud Directory Sync to synchronize your Google users, groups, and shared contacts to friction match the information in your LDAP server.

Want someone to do this for y'all? Become professional assist with setup.

Related articles

  • Reset a user'southward password
  • Fix password recovery for users
  • Individually add together user accounts


Google, Google Workspace, and related marks and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. All other company and product names are trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.

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