# Move from another CRM

> Bring contacts, companies and leads from GoHighLevel, HubSpot or any CRM export into Spacebrain, check the results and switch over safely.

Canonical: https://help.spacebrain.ai/getting-started/move-from-another-crm/
Last modified: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z

This guide helps you move your customer data into Spacebrain from GoHighLevel, HubSpot or any other CRM. It's for workspace owners and admins switching tools. Most people start with a file export, which works for every CRM. Some workspaces can also connect GoHighLevel or HubSpot directly.

## Before you begin [#before-you-begin]

* **Role:** you need permission to edit the CRM in this workspace. Owners and admins always can.
* **The right workspace:** check the name at the top of the left sidebar. Everything you import goes into that workspace. If you run several businesses, import each one into its own workspace.
* **An export from your old CRM:** a CSV or Excel (XLSX) file, up to 10 MB, with one sheet and column names in the first row.
* **A small test file:** copy the first 5–10 rows of your export into a separate file so you can try the import first.
* **Keep the original.** File imports can't be undone automatically, so keep your full export somewhere safe.

## Where to find it [#where-to-find-it]

Go to **Settings → Migrations**.

You can also start from **Integrations**. The GoHighLevel and HubSpot entries open the same migration screen (look for **Open migration**).

## Choose your method [#choose-your-method]

| Method                                           | Best for                                                                              | What it brings over                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **File import**                                  | Any CRM, including spreadsheets                                                       | Contacts, companies or leads, one file at a time                     |
| **Connected migration** (GoHighLevel or HubSpot) | Larger moves where you want records, pipelines and some setup brought across together | Records, pipelines and supported setup, with a plan you review first |

Connected migration is being turned on workspace by workspace. If your **Migrations** page says **Connected migrations are in concierge beta**, use the file import on the same page, or contact support to ask about access.

## Import from a file [#import-from-a-file]

### 1. Export from your old CRM [#1-export-from-your-old-crm]

In your old CRM, export contacts (and companies, if you use them) to CSV or Excel. Export each record type to its own file.

### 2. Choose what you're bringing over [#2-choose-what-youre-bringing-over]

On **Settings → Migrations**, under **What are you bringing over?**, choose one:

* **Contacts:** saved as **People** in Spacebrain.
* **Companies:** businesses and organisations.
* **Leads:** prospects you still want to qualify.

### 3. Upload your file [#3-upload-your-file]

1. Under **Choose your contacts export** (the wording matches your choice), select **Choose file**.
2. Pick your test file first.

Every contact or lead row needs an email address. Every company row needs a company name. If you aren't sure how to lay out the file, select **Download blank template** for a file with the right column names.

### 4. Match your columns [#4-match-your-columns]

Spacebrain shows each column in your file next to a Spacebrain field under **Match fields**. Check each one. For example, match `Email Address` to **Email** and `Mobile` to **Phone**. Choose **Skip this column** for anything you don't need, or **+ Create new custom field** for data you want to keep that has no matching field.

Then decide how to handle people who are already in Spacebrain:

* Leave **Update existing records if match is found** off to create a new record for every row. Importing the same file twice will create duplicates.
* Turn it on to update records that match (by email for people and leads, by name for companies). Matching records can have their values overwritten, so check the **Match records by** setting.

### 5. Check the file and import [#5-check-the-file-and-import]

1. On **Check file**, review any errors and warnings, and the preview of your first rows.
2. On **Review & import**, select **Start Import**.
3. When it finishes, **Results** shows how many records were **Created**, **Updated**, **Skipped** and **Failed**.

If some rows failed, select **Download Error Report** to see why, fix those rows in your file and import just those rows again.

**What you should see:** your test contacts in **CRM → People** (or **Companies** or **Leads**), with names, emails and phone numbers in the right fields. Open one record and check it carefully before you import the full file.

### 6. Import the full file [#6-import-the-full-file]

Repeat the steps with your full export. Your imports are listed on the **Migrations** page, so you can come back to check progress or results.

## Connected migration from GoHighLevel or HubSpot [#connected-migration-from-gohighlevel-or-hubspot]

If connected migration is turned on for your workspace:

1. On **Settings → Migrations**, choose **GoHighLevel** or **HubSpot**.
2. Add the access details from your old account. The page links to a setup guide for each:
   * **HubSpot:** a super admin creates a private app in HubSpot and copies its access token.
   * **GoHighLevel:** in the sub-account you're moving, create a private integration, then copy its token and the sub-account's Location ID.
3. Select **Connect and scan**. Spacebrain reads what's in your old account. Your old data is not changed, and nothing is created in Spacebrain yet.
4. Review the plan: which record types to bring over, how much history to include, and anything that can't be moved.
5. Select **Start migration**. It runs in the background, so you can leave the page.
6. When it finishes, review the imported records and work through the **Cutover checklist**.
7. When you're happy, select **Finalize migration**.

A few things to know:

* One GoHighLevel location or HubSpot portal moves into one Spacebrain workspace.
* Automations come across as **disabled drafts**. Review and switch them on yourself.
* Attachments and call recordings are not copied.
* Old conversations are copied for reference only. They don't send any messages. Connect your email and phone in Spacebrain for new conversations.
* For a while after a migration, you can select **Undo migration** to remove what was created and restore what was updated. The page shows how long you have.

For GoHighLevel, you can also choose **Import a snapshot (guided)** to rebuild reusable setup, such as pipelines, from a clean temporary location. Snapshots don't include customer records.

## Worked example [#worked-example]

Maya runs a small cleaning company and is moving 1,200 contacts from HubSpot.

1. She exports contacts from HubSpot to CSV and makes a test file with 8 rows, including her own details.
2. In **Settings → Migrations**, she chooses **Contacts**, uploads the test file and matches `Email`, `First Name`, `Last Name` and `Phone Number`. She skips `HubSpot Score`.
3. She leaves **Update existing records if match is found** off, because the workspace is empty.
4. Results show **8 Created**. She opens her own record in **CRM → People** and sees everything in the right place.
5. She imports the full file. Results show **1,196 Created** and **4 Failed**. The error report shows four rows with no email address, so she adds them by hand.

## If something goes wrong [#if-something-goes-wrong]

| What you see                      | What to do                                                                                                                               |
| --------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **File is larger than 10 MB**     | Split the export into smaller files, or remove columns you don't need.                                                                   |
| Many rows failed                  | Download the error report. The most common causes are a missing email address, or a column matched to the wrong field.                   |
| Duplicates after importing twice  | Next time, turn on **Update existing records if match is found**. **CRM → Data Quality** flags likely duplicates so you can review them. |
| Names or accents look garbled     | Save the file as UTF-8 CSV, or upload the Excel file instead.                                                                            |
| Connected migration isn't offered | It's in beta and turned on per workspace. Use a file import, or contact support.                                                         |

See [CRM import troubleshooting](/troubleshooting/crm-imports/) for more.

## FAQ [#faq]

### Will importing send messages to my contacts? [#will-importing-send-messages-to-my-contacts]

No. Importing only creates or updates records. Connected migrations bring automations across switched off, and old conversations don't send anything.

### Does importing someone's email mean I can email them? [#does-importing-someones-email-mean-i-can-email-them]

No. Importing an address isn't the same as having permission to contact them. Keep track of consent in your own fields and follow the rules that apply to you.

### Can I undo a file import? [#can-i-undo-a-file-import]

Not automatically. That's why it's worth trying a small file first and keeping your original export. Connected migrations have an undo window.

## Next step [#next-step]

[Invite your team](/getting-started/workspace-and-team/), or use the [CRM People import starter CSV](/examples/crm-import-starter/) to prepare your file.