Remove duplicate Salesforce contacts before a CSV import

Use the key that Salesforce uses to match a contact

A duplicate name is not necessarily a duplicate person. Use the org's external ID, email, or another documented matching key, then decide which source row remains authoritative.

• The same email appears more than once in the input
• A blank external ID groups unrelated contacts together
• The import reports duplicates after some records were already created

• Remove duplicate CSV records by a selected key →Define the business key before removing a duplicate.
• Diagnose CSV column counts and quoted fields →Review structural findings before changing a value or header.

Plan for Salesforce matching and retries

Salesforce duplicate rules and matching rules are destination behavior. LocaCSV can show repeated keys and remove explicitly selected rows, but it cannot decide whether two contacts are the same person.

• Exclude blank matching keys from the duplicate rule
• Record whether the newest or source-of-truth row wins
• Keep accepted and rejected import results for a retry plan

• Remove duplicate CSV records by a selected key →Define the business key before removing a duplicate.
• Select the columns required by the template →Remove export-only fields while keeping all data rows.

Prepare the contact CSV in LocaCSV

LocaCSV does not merge contact fields or infer consent. Resolve conflicting values in the CRM or source system before deleting a row.

1. 1Run a structural diagnosis and confirm the email or external-ID column
2. 2Review duplicate candidates with the selected key
3. 3Remove only the rows covered by the documented rule and export a copy
4. 4Test the file in Salesforce and compare the result to the excluded count

Reconcile the Salesforce import

• Input rows equal output rows plus explicitly excluded duplicates
• The chosen key is populated and formatted consistently
• Headers and field mapping match the Data Import Wizard
• Salesforce's duplicate and error reports are saved with the output

• Remove duplicate CSV records by a selected key →Define the business key before removing a duplicate.
• Diagnose CSV column counts and quoted fields →Review structural findings before changing a value or header.
• Select the columns required by the template →Remove export-only fields while keeping all data rows.

If Salesforce still flags duplicate contacts

Compare the org's matching rules, existing contacts, and external IDs. A duplicate may already exist in Salesforce even when the CSV itself is unique.

• Remove duplicate CSV records by a selected key →Define the business key before removing a duplicate.
• Diagnose CSV column counts and quoted fields →Review structural findings before changing a value or header.
• Select the columns required by the template →Remove export-only fields while keeping all data rows.

Check Salesforce contact duplicates