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To import spreadsheet work into an Asana project, save it as a CSV with a header row and one task per row, upload it through Asana’s project CSV importer, and review the field mapping before you finish. The importer adds tasks; it does not update existing tasks, so importing the same work again can create duplicates.
What to prepare in your CSV
Each row should represent one task, and the first row should contain column headers. Use a task-name header Asana recognizes; if you need to specify which column contains task names, put Name in that column’s first-row header. Columns can also represent task details such as Description, Section, Assignee, Collaborators, Start Date, Due Date, Type, Dependents, and Parent Task. Asana’s guidance explains the available fields and formats in its CSV import preparation guide.
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- Use email addresses for assignees who are already Asana users in the relevant workspace or organization.
- For collaborators, separate valid user email addresses with commas and no spaces.
- Format due dates as month/day/year.
- For dropdown custom fields, make each cell value match an available option exactly, including spelling and punctuation.
- For multi-select custom fields in a project import, separate options in a cell with commas.
Check the source file for stray columns, inconsistent values, and formatting errors before uploading. A value in the wrong format may be interpreted as a different kind of data.
How to import a CSV into an Asana project
- Open the import flow. Asana documents starting from project creation, Quick Add, or the menu of an existing project. Its overview also describes Create → Project → Import spreadsheet. Labels may vary as Asana updates its interface. See the CSV import guide and overview of importing work to Asana.
- Select the CSV file. Choose the prepared file and continue to the import preview.
- Inspect the mappings. Select Make changes to check which CSV columns map to Asana fields. Adjust mappings, ignore columns you do not want to import, or change a custom-field type if needed. The task Name mapping is not actionable in this preview; set the desired task-name column by using
Nameas its first-row header. - Complete the import. Continue to the project, then check the imported tasks and fields before relying on them.
How column mapping and custom fields work
Asana uses column names to identify familiar task fields. Other columns can be imported as custom fields. Project-imported custom fields are local to that project by default; Asana says custom fields require a paid subscription. If a field needs to support organization-wide reporting or future imports, convert it to a global field where that option is available. The advanced CSV import options explain additional mapping behavior.
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Custom-field values need particular attention. Dropdown values must match the field’s existing options, while multi-select values need comma-separated options for project imports. Start Date availability also depends on the subscription: Asana’s preparation guide says it is available with a paid subscription; without one, the date appears in the task description.
Parent tasks and dependencies
A Parent Task column can associate subtasks with parent tasks. Put each parent row before its subtasks. If multiple rows have the same task name, Asana uses the closest matching row above. The advanced guide also notes that CSV import cannot create a dependency on a task that already exists in the project.
Can a CSV import update existing tasks?
No. Asana’s project CSV import adds tasks rather than updating existing project tasks. Treat each import as an addition: if the file contains tasks already in the project, duplicates are a risk. Review the destination project and the import preview carefully before completing the upload.
How to move work from another tool
First export the relevant project or view from the source tool as a CSV. Some services export a spreadsheet file that you must save as CSV before importing it. Asana’s migration overview gives examples involving monday.com, Trello, Airtable, Smartsheet, Wrike, Google Sheets, and ClickUp. Export steps and availability can depend on the source tool and its plan.
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Once you have a CSV, use the project import flow and check the column mappings. For tool-specific information that does not fit a standard Asana field, consider whether a custom field is appropriate and supported by your subscription.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Asana import workflow should you use?
| What you need to import | Workflow | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Rows of project tasks in a CSV | Project CSV import | Adds tasks; does not update existing tasks. |
| A mixed-format file such as CSV, PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, TXT, JPEG, or PNG | Smart Import | A separate feature that creates a project preview. See Asana’s Smart Import guide. |
| Member records rather than project tasks | CSV user import | A separate admin workflow. Asana documents it for admins and super admins on Advanced, Enterprise, and Enterprise+ plans; it can add or update member information and does not process guest-user information. See the user import guide. |
Use the project-task importer for work items, not the member-import workflow. If your file is not already a CSV and you want Asana to create a preview from a supported file type, Smart Import is a distinct option; its flow is not the conventional CSV field-mapping process described above.
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