# Import Posts from a CSV file

Source: https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/import-posts-from-a-csv-file

Bulk import lets you add up to 50 posts at once from a CSV file, with optional labels and schedule times. Use it when you move drafts over from another tool, work with a ghostwriter's spreadsheet, or plan a batch of posts in one go.

## What you need

A CSV file with a header row and at least one column named **content**. Everything else is optional. You can make the file in Excel or Google Sheets and export it as CSV.

## Import your posts

1. Open the **Publishing Hub** from the sidebar (or go to https://app.ligosocial.com/publish-post).
2. In the **Create New Posts** panel on the right, click **Import from CSV File**. On a phone, tap the **+** button first.
3. The **Bulk Import Posts** dialog opens. Drag your file onto the drop zone, or click **Select CSV File**.

   ![Bulk Import Posts dialog with the Quick Start box and the CSV drop zone](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6a635ec0d7ff039d80923865/images/import-posts-from-a-csv-file-hub-import-csv-0fdc3879.webp)

4. LigoSocial checks every row and shows a preview, for example **Preview: 10 posts ready to import**. If all is well, you will see **All posts validated successfully!**. If not, **Validation Errors Found** lists each problem by row number. Click **Back**, fix the file and upload it again.

   ![Import preview showing All posts validated successfully and the Import Posts button](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6a635ec0d7ff039d80923865/images/import-posts-from-a-csv-file-fdfa981f.webp)

5. Click **Import Posts**.
6. When you see **Import Successful!**, click **Done**.

   ![Import Successful confirmation with the Done button](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6a635ec0d7ff039d80923865/images/import-posts-from-a-csv-file-13227177.webp)

Rows without a date and time go to **Drafts**. Rows with a date, time and time zone are scheduled straight away and appear under **Scheduled**.

If any row has an error, nothing is imported until you fix it, so you never end up with half a batch.

## CSV columns

Click **Show Details** in the dialog to see the format guide at any time.

![CSV Format Requirements panel listing the required and optional columns](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6a635ec0d7ff039d80923865/images/import-posts-from-a-csv-file-hub-import-csv-details-bc8dac0a.webp)

| Column | Required | Format | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| content | Yes | The post text | My first post about productivity |
| labels | No | Labels separated by semicolons | Marketing;Growth |
| scheduled_date | No | YYYY-MM-DD | 2026-11-01 |
| scheduled_time | No | HH:MM, 24-hour clock | 14:30 |
| timezone | No (see below) | Whole-hour offset from UTC | UTC+2 or +2 |

Rules for scheduling columns:

- **scheduled_date** and **scheduled_time** go together. If you fill in one, fill in the other.
- If you fill in a date or time, the **timezone** column is required, or the import fails.
- The date and time must be in the future.
- Scheduling from a CSV works on plans that include scheduling. On other plans, import your posts as drafts by leaving the scheduling columns empty.

### Time zone examples

| Location | Value |
| --- | --- |
| New York (EST) | UTC-5 or -5 |
| London (GMT) | UTC+0 or +0 |
| Paris, Berlin (CET) | UTC+1 or +1 |
| Dubai | UTC+4 or +4 |
| Pakistan | UTC+5 or +5 |
| Singapore, China | UTC+8 or +8 |
| Tokyo | UTC+9 or +9 |

Only whole-hour offsets are accepted. If your time zone is on a half hour, such as India (UTC+5:30), convert your times to UTC and use **UTC+0**. Remember to adjust for daylight saving time, for example New York is UTC-4 in summer.

## Example CSV

```
content,labels,scheduled_date,scheduled_time,timezone
"My first post about productivity tips",Productivity,,,
"This post has commas, quotation marks, and special characters!",Marketing;Growth,2026-11-01,14:30,UTC+2
"Multi-line post:

This is line 1
This is line 2

End of post",Content,,,
"Quick update without any special formatting",,,,
"Scheduled for Tokyo time",Business,2026-11-05,09:00,+9
```

## Formatting tips

- Create the file in **Excel** or **Google Sheets** and export it as CSV. They handle quotes and line breaks for you.
- If a post contains commas, the text must be wrapped in double quotes, for example "This post, has commas". Spreadsheet apps do this automatically.
- For multi-line posts, put real line breaks inside the cell. They are kept when you export.
- Keep each file to 50 posts or fewer. Split bigger batches into several files.
- Try a one-row file first if you are unsure about the formatting.

## Checklist before you import

1. Is there a **content** column header?
2. Does every row have content?
3. Are dates YYYY-MM-DD and times 24-hour HH:MM?
4. Does every scheduled row have a **timezone**?
5. Are labels separated by semicolons?
6. Are there 50 posts or fewer?

## Troubleshooting

- **Broken rows or errors about commas**: open the file in Excel or Google Sheets and export it as CSV again.
- **"Content is required"**: a row has an empty content cell, or only invisible characters or a formula. Paste the text in as plain text.
- **"Timezone is required"**: add a **timezone** value to every row that has a date or time.
- **"Invalid timezone format"**: use a whole-hour value such as UTC+5, UTC-5, +5 or -5.
- **"Scheduled date must be in the future"**: check the date, time and time zone together.
- **Wrong time after import**: check that the time is 24-hour and the time zone offset matches the date (summer or winter time).

Still stuck? Contact support with the first few rows that fail and a screenshot of the error.

## Common questions

### How many posts can I import at once?

Up to 50 per file.

### Where is the import option?

In the **Publishing Hub**, in the **Create New Posts** panel on the right: **Import from CSV File**.

### Can I add labels when I import?

Yes. Use the **labels** column and separate several labels with semicolons. Learn more about [post labels](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/post-labels).

### Can I check the posts after importing?

Yes. Open **Drafts** or **Scheduled** in the Publishing Hub to review, edit or reschedule them. See [Post scheduling and publishing](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/post-scheduling-publishing).