Data Import & Export

How to Format Two Phone Numbers in Excel for Google Contacts

Ayan Masood Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

Format an Excel contact list so that Google Contacts can successfully import two separate international phone numbers per person as designated phone fields rather than generic text notes.

How to Format Two Phone Numbers in Excel for Google Contacts

Product: Excel / Google Contacts
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Preparing an Excel spreadsheet for CSV export to import a contact list with multiple phone numbers into Google Contacts.
Observed behavior: When multiple phone numbers are improperly formatted or placed in a single cell, Google Contacts fails to recognize them as distinct phone numbers and imports them as plain notes.

Before you start

Ensure your international phone numbers include the correct country codes and plus signs (+). Formatting your Excel columns as 'Text' before entering the data prevents the software from dropping leading zeros and plus symbols.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Separate Phone Columns and Match Google Contacts Headers

The most reliable method to ensure Google Contacts recognizes multiple phone numbers is to match its native CSV header format and split the numbers into separate columns.

Google Contacts relies on specific column headers to map data correctly during import. If you place two phone numbers in one cell, it cannot parse them and will treat the cell's contents as a single text note. Using separate columns for each phone number is mandatory.

Obtain the Google Contacts Template

Go to Google Contacts on the web. Click 'Export' on the left sidebar, choose any contact, and select 'Google CSV' to download a file. Open this file in Excel to see the exact column headers Google uses.

Format Phone Columns in Excel

In your actual contact list, create separate columns for each phone number. Use headers like 'Phone 1 - Value' and 'Phone 2 - Value' (or exactly match the headers from the exported template).

Input the Phone Numbers

Enter only one phone number per cell. Ensure you include the '+' and the country code. Never place two numbers in the same cell, and keep the formatting consistent.

Save as CSV File

In Excel, click 'File' > 'Save As'. Choose your save location, and from the 'Save as type' dropdown, select 'CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)'. Save the document.

Import to Google Contacts

Return to Google Contacts, click 'Import' on the left sidebar, and select the CSV file you just saved. The system will process the file and map the separate columns to actual phone fields.

Use Separate Phone Columns and Match Google Contacts Headers

Manual Field Mapping: If the headers are not automatically recognized during import, Google Contacts may prompt you to review fields. Ensure you manually map your custom columns (e.g., 'Phone 1', 'Phone 2') to Google's standard 'Phone' fields.

Use WPS Spreadsheet to Manage and Export Contact Lists Seamlessly

WPS Spreadsheet provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment for managing contact lists and exporting them to CSV format. It effortlessly handles text formatting, ensuring that crucial elements like country codes, leading zeros, and plus signs are never lost when preparing data for Google Contacts.

1. Open Your List: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing contact list.
2. Format Cells as Text: Highlight your phone number columns, right-click, select 'Format Cells', and choose 'Text' to preserve the '+' symbol and leading zeros.
3. Separate the Numbers: Ensure each phone number has its own dedicated column (e.g., Phone 1, Phone 2). If they are combined, use 'Data' > 'Text to Columns' to split them.
4. Export to CSV: Click 'Menu' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', and choose 'CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)' to prepare the file for Google Contacts.

Native compatibility with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .csv)Intuitive 'Text to Columns' tool to easily split combined phone numbers into separate columnsReliable cell formatting prevents automatic dropping of leading zeros and plus signsFree and lightweight alternative for processing daily data and contact imports

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my phone numbers importing as notes in Google Contacts?

This usually happens if you place multiple phone numbers in a single Excel cell, or if your column headers are not recognized by Google Contacts. To fix this, separate the numbers into individual columns (e.g., Phone 1, Phone 2) and ensure they are mapped correctly during import.

How do I stop Excel from removing the plus sign (+) or leading zeros from international numbers?

Spreadsheet programs often treat numbers starting with a plus sign as a formula, or drop leading zeros. Before typing or pasting your phone numbers, highlight the column, right-click, select 'Format Cells', and change the format to 'Text'. Alternatively, you can type an apostrophe (') before the number to force the program to treat it as text.

Can I import three or more phone numbers per contact into Google?

Yes, you can import as many phone numbers as needed. Simply create additional columns (e.g., Phone 3, Phone 4) in your CSV file and verify that each column is mapped to a phone field during the Google Contacts import process.

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