Buttondown Import Subscribers Not Working

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Prepare the CSV

   Copy steps
   1. Export from Substack (Subscribers > All subscribers > Export), Mailchimp or Kit
   2. Only an email column is required; tags and join dates are optional
   3. Use standard column names like email, name, tags
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Run the import

   Copy steps
   1. Open the Subscribers tab and click Import
   2. Drag in the file
   3. Wait; large lists can take up to a few hours
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Review rejected rows

   Copy steps
   1. Open the import results and read the reasons for bad subscribers
   2. Fix the rows and re-import them
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Paid Substack subscribers

   Copy steps
   1. Use Buttondown's separate guide for importing paid Substack subscriptions
   2. Connect Stripe first
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Import runs but subscribers are missing, counts do not match, or the import takes hours.

Why it happens

• Invalid or duplicate email addresses
• Rows with future creation dates
• Unrecognized column names
• Large lists take minutes to hours to process
• Unsubscribed or bounced contacts excluded from the old export

This guide also covers

• buttondown import subscribers
• import substack to buttondown
• buttondown csv import

The same problem in other apps

All storage, upload & download guides →

• beehiiv Import Subscribers Failed (beehiiv)
• ConvertKit (Kit) CSV Import Failed or Wrong Subscriber Count (ConvertKit (Kit))
• Mailchimp Contact Import Not Working (Mailchimp)

Other Buttondown errors

• Buttondown Emails Going to Spam
• Buttondown Custom Domain Not Verifying
• Buttondown Stripe Paid Subscriptions Not Working
• Buttondown Embed Subscribe Form Not Working
• Buttondown Confirmation Email Not Received
• Buttondown Automations Not Available or Too Expensive
• How to Cancel Buttondown Subscription