Trying to Import Updated Data into Airtable? Here's How to Do It

So you imported your sales data into Airtable and it all worked perfectly.

Now you have an updated sales file and you want to import it. But this time, you do not want to create new records. You just want to update the ones that are already there.

But every time you try, Airtable adds a new set of records instead of updating the existing ones.

It is frustrating. All you are trying to do is keep your data up to date. Why is this so hard?

The reason is that Airtable does not treat imported data like a regular spreadsheet. It does not automatically match rows and overwrite them. Unless you tell Airtable exactly how to find the right records, it assumes everything is new.

The good news is that updating your records is definitely possible. What you are trying to do is called a merge.

Let me show you how to make that happen.

1. Use Airtable’s CSV Import Extension

Airtable has an official CSV Import extension that lets you merge records instead of creating duplicates.

It works as long as you have a unique field in your data, like an email address or customer ID, that Airtable can use to match new rows with existing records.

Before you begin, make sure to export your Excel or Google Sheets file as a CSV. The extension only works with CSV files.

Once your file is ready, open your Airtable base and install the CSV Import extension. Upload your CSV file and choose the table you want to update.

Then, toggle the "Merge with existing records" option. After that, select the field you want to use for matching, usually something unique like an email or customer ID.

Airtable will then scan for matching records. If it finds a match, it will update that record with the new data. If it does not find a match, it will create a new record.

2. Use No Code Tools

If you need to keep your Airtable records up to date on a regular basis, like every day or once a week, you can automate the process using no-code tools like Make, Zapier, or n8n.

These tools connect your sales data source, such as a Google Sheet or a CSV file stored online, directly to your Airtable base.

Once set up, they can check for new or updated rows in your data. For each row, they look for a matching record in Airtable using a unique field like a customer ID or email address.

If a match is found, they update the record with the latest information. If there is no match, they create a new one.

After the automation is in place, everything runs in the background. No more manual imports. No more duplicate records. Just a clean, up-to-date Airtable base.