Docs & Support

Learn about all the Formidable features and get support from our amazing customer success team.

Getting StartedFrequently Asked Questions
Why won't a CSV file import correctly?

Why won't a CSV file import correctly?

There may be times when a CSV file won't import, or won't import completely through the Formidable > Import/Export page. This could be for a variety of reasons. In our experience, the following steps tend to be the most effective at narrowing down exactly what it is that's keeping the import process from succeeding.

  1. Disable any custom code, switch to the default WordPress theme, and deactivate all other plugins. Each theme and plugin makes modifications to the way WordPress works, and sometimes these modifications introduce conflicts.
  2. Make sure CSV files can be added to your WordPress site by uploading a CSV file directly to the WordPress Dashboard in the Media section.
  3. Check the format of your CSV:
    • Make sure the values are surrounded by quotes.
    • Values should be separated with commas (as shown here).
    • Each row in the CSV should be separated with a line break.
    • 'UTF-8' is the recommended encoding.
    • There are several CSV formats. Make sure that yours is saved as a 'Windows Comma Separated' CSV.
  4. Check with your host to see which version of PHP you are running. If you are running a version prior to 5.4, please ask your host to update your PHP version to 5.4 or later.
  5. Try splitting your CSV file up into smaller chunks. Especially when dealing with larger files, timeouts become an issue in certain cases. Though Formidable's import protocols are very forgiving, our software is not the only system at play when moving data. Your site may be able to successfully import smaller CSV files individually.
  6. You can also manually change some of your PHP settings, and also a few WordPress settings. The following settings can have an affect on the CSV import:

    If you are unfamiliar with modifying these types of settings, please contact your webhost for assistance.

  7. Download the Disable Real Mime Check plugin to fix this issue.
Was this article helpful? *

This article may contain affiliate links. Once in a while, we earn commissions from those links. But we only recommend products we like, with or without commissions.

In this article

    We have a small, but amazing team of dedicated people who are committed to helping you achieve your goals and project requirements.


    Copyright © 2025 Strategy11, LLC. Formidable Forms® is a registered trademark Strategy11, LLC.

    Complete your purchase
    Special offer unlocked.
    Get 55% OFF!
    Complete Purchase
    Join 400,000+ using Formidable Forms to create form-focused solutions fast. Get Formidable Forms