> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.freewebstore.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.freewebstore.com/manage/products/import-products.md).

# Import Products

### What is Smart Import?

Smart Import takes the product file you already have and turns it into a working catalogue on your store. You don't need to rearrange your columns, rename your headings, or fill in a template first — upload the file exactly as it came out of your old platform, your supplier, or your own spreadsheet.

Smart Import reads the file, works out which column is which, tidies up prices and categories, and tells you exactly what it found before anything is imported.

{% hint style="success" %}
**The short version:** if you can export it, we can import it. No template required. Every product needs a **name** and a **price** — everything else is optional.
{% endhint %}

### How do I import my products?

1. Log into your Freewebstore Control Panel.
2. Go to **Manage** > **Products** > **Import**.
3. Drag your file into the upload box, or click inside the box to choose one.
4. Smart Import reads the file and shows you what it found.
5. Check the preview, adjust anything that isn't right, then click **Confirm Import**.

We'll process the import in the background and email you when it's finished.

{% hint style="info" %}
Imports generally complete in under 2 hours. Larger catalogues take longer.
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### What files can I upload?

**CSV, Excel (.xlsx), JSON, XML, or a ZIP** — up to **100 MB**.

That covers:

* **Platform exports** from Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Etsy, Squarespace and others — upload them exactly as they come
* **Your own spreadsheets**, in whatever shape you keep them
* **Supplier and dropshipper price lists**
* **A ZIP** containing your product file *and* your product images together

Your columns can be in any order, and your headings can say whatever they say. They don't need to match ours.

### What do I actually have to include?

Each product needs at least a **name** and a **price**. Everything else is optional — if your file has it, we'll use it; if it doesn't, we'll leave the field empty and you can fill it in later.

| Your data                          | What Smart Import does                                                       |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Product names and descriptions** | Imported as-is, including HTML formatting where present                      |
| **Prices**                         | Detected and tidied, including sale prices where your file has them          |
| **Stock levels**                   | Imported and applied to the product or variation                             |
| **Images**                         | Fetched from web addresses in your file, or read from a ZIP                  |
| **Categories**                     | Matched to your existing categories, or created for you                      |
| **Variations**                     | Grouped into options and choices automatically                               |
| **Columns we don't recognise**     | Skipped safely — nothing breaks, and nothing is lost from your original file |

### Bringing your images across

There are two ways to get your product images in:

**If your file contains image web addresses** — most platform exports do — we'll fetch them automatically. Nothing else to do.

**If your file only has image filenames**, which is common with supplier lists and spreadsheets you've built yourself, put everything in a ZIP: your product file plus the image files themselves, and we'll match them up.

{% hint style="info" %}
Already imported your products and just need the images? Use the **Upload product images (zip)** link on the import screen — you don't need to run the whole import again.
{% endhint %}

If we can't find an image for a product, we'll tell you on screen and show you what to do about it.

### The preview step

Before anything is added to your store, Smart Import shows you what it's about to do: how many products it found, which categories it will use, and how it has read your columns.

If something isn't right, you can change it there and then — reassign a column, pick a different category, or correct a mapping. You don't need to go back and edit your file and start over.

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Nothing is added to your store until you click **Confirm Import**. If the preview doesn't look right, cancel and start again — no changes will have been made.
{% endhint %}

### Importing again, and updating products

Smart Import matches products in your file against products already on your store and **updates them rather than creating duplicates**. That makes it a practical way to keep your catalogue in step with a supplier feed or a master spreadsheet — re-upload the same file after a price change or a stock update and your store catches up.

The preview tells you how many products are being created and how many are being updated before you confirm.

### Do I still need to test with 10 products first?

No. That advice existed because a badly formatted template file would fail the whole import with no warning. Smart Import shows you the result before it commits anything, so the preview does the job the test import used to do.

If you'd still rather start small, you're very welcome to.

### Plans and limits

Smart Import is available on **every plan, including Community**.

{% hint style="info" %}
The **Community** and **Startup** plans have a **1,000 product limit**. If your import file would take you past that, the preview will let you know before anything is created. Upgrade to Pro or above for unlimited products.
{% endhint %}

Individual uploads are limited to **100 MB**. There's no limit on the number of rows — if you have a very large catalogue with images, split it into a few ZIPs and import them one after another.

### Importing from a specific platform

Most exports work straight away, but some platforms need an extra click on their end to get the file out:

* Importing from Shopify
* Importing from Etsy

### Frequently asked questions

**Will this overwrite my existing products?** It updates products it recognises rather than duplicating them. New products in your file are created; products already on your store are refreshed with the data in the file. The preview shows you the split before you confirm.

**What if my file has thousands of products?** There's no row limit — only the 100 MB upload size, and the 1,000 product cap on the Community and Startup plans.

**Can I still use the old CSV template?** Yes. There's a **Classic CSV import** link at the bottom of the import screen, where you can also download a blank template. See Classic CSV Import.