How to Export Your Contacts from ManyChat (and Import Them Safely)

Your contact list is the most valuable asset in your Instagram automation — and it should not live only inside a tool you might leave. Fortunately, ManyChat lets you export it. Here is exactly how to export your contacts from ManyChat and import them cleanly into your new platform, with automatic mapping and no duplicates.

Before you start

A few quick checks save headaches later:

• Do it on desktop. The export tools live in the web dashboard, not the mobile app.
• You need the right permissions. Exporting requires the appropriate role on the account — usually admin or the owner.
• Have a destination ready. Decide where you are moving before you export, so you can import right away.
• Understand what you are exporting. A contact list is not a chat archive. They are different things, and only one of them needs manual work.

What "export" means in ManyChat

ManyChat separates two kinds of output, and confusing them causes most migration anxiety:

The contact list (CSV)

This is your audience: names, IDs, tags, custom fields, subscription status and more. It downloads as a CSV file you can open in any spreadsheet. This is what you import into your new tool.

Full Contact Data (JSON)

ManyChat also offers a richer export sometimes called "Full Contact Data", which returns more detail per contact in JSON format. It is useful when you want to preserve custom fields and history beyond what fits neatly in columns.

Conversations are not in the file

Your DM conversations are not bundled into these exports — and that is fine. Conversation history belongs to your Instagram account, not to ManyChat. When you reconnect Instagram to a new platform via the official Meta API, the history comes back with the account. You can read more in switching tools without losing conversations.

Step-by-step: export from ManyChat

The exact labels shift slightly as ManyChat updates its interface, but the flow is stable:

1. Log in to ManyChat and open the account that owns the contacts.
2. Go to Audience (sometimes labelled "Contacts" or "Broadcasting").
3. Open the export menu. Look for an "Export" button near the top of the contact list.
4. Choose CSV for a spreadsheet-ready file, or the full-contact option for richer JSON data.
5. Select your fields. Include the columns you actually want — name, tags, custom fields — and skip empty ones.
6. Download the file. The export is prepared and emailed to you or offered as a direct download, depending on the size.
7. Store it safely. Keep the file somewhere you control. This is your data; treat it like it matters.

If you need the surrounding context — deciding whether to leave, and what else moves — start with our guide on migrating from ManyChat.

Step-by-step: import into your new tool

Now the easy part. With the file in hand:

1. Connect Instagram to GeniusInstaFlow through Meta's official OAuth. No password, about 2 minutes.
2. Open the importer at /import.
3. Upload your CSV or JSON. The importer reads your headers automatically.
4. Check the column mapping. The system matches your columns to fields (name, email, phone, tags, custom fields). Adjust anything it guessed wrong — this takes seconds.
5. Let de-duplication run. Contacts already present are merged instead of duplicated, so your list stays clean.
6. Confirm the import. Your audience now lives in the new platform, ready for flows.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

• Duplicate contacts. Importing the same file twice can double your list — the automatic de-duplication at /import prevents this.
• Mismatched columns. If your CSV headers are messy, mapping may guess wrong. Always review the mapping screen before confirming.
• Exporting from the wrong account. If you run several Instagram accounts, make sure you export the audience that matches the account you are migrating.
• Forgetting consent. Only import and message people who opted in. Portability does not override consent.
• Losing the file. Keep a local backup before you cancel the old tool, just in case.

Do you even need to export?

If you only ever use one tool, no. But exporting is good hygiene: it proves your audience is yours, not rented. Whether you migrate now or later, having your contacts in a file you control is a quiet form of insurance. And when you do move, a cleaned and mapped import makes your new flows smarter from day one — segments, tags and custom fields arrive intact.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export my ManyChat contacts?

Yes. ManyChat provides a CSV export and, for richer data, a full contact export. You need the right account permissions and a desktop browser.

Does the export include conversations?

No. The export covers contacts and fields. Conversation history comes back with your Instagram account when you reconnect it to a new tool.

How do I import without creating duplicates?

Use an importer with automatic de-duplication. GeniusInstaFlow merges contacts that already exist so you never double your list.

Is exporting my contacts allowed?

Yes — your contact data is your data. Just keep respecting consent and the privacy rules that apply to you.

Ready to see the difference a sales-first setup makes? Compare capabilities at GeniusInstaFlow vs ManyChat, then follow the full ManyChat migration guide to move in minutes.