# File-Based Import > This article teaches you how to download a file of transactions from your bank and drag and drop it into YNAB. Import large batches of transactions at once! Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/file-based-import-a-guide-Bkj4Sszyo Last updated: 2026-09-02T16:51:31.874Z Import transactions into YNAB \*without\* linking your bank accounts by using the File-Based Import feature on the web app or an iPad (this feature is not available on iPhone, Android, or other mobile devices). Drag and drop a file from your bank right into YNAB, batch importing large groups of transactions all at once! Learn about the recommended file format, the process of importing files on a computer or an iPad, and how to customize your imported file. #### In This Article [Choosing the Right File Format](#format) [How to Import a File on a Computer](#import) [How to Import a File on an iPad](#ipad) [How to Customize Your Imported CSV File (Our Recommended File Format)](#csv) [How to Customize Your Imported QFX, OFX, or QIF File](#other) [How to Handle Duplicate or Skipped Transactions](#suppression) [Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)](#faq) * * * ## Choosing the Right File Format You can import a number of file formats into YNAB: * **CSV** files are the recommended and preferred file format; YNAB checks them after upload and adjusts its upload preview based on the content of the file. * **QFX** and **OFX** files are options. Your bank may refer to these formats as 'Quicken' or 'Money' files. Multiple QFX and OFX files can be uploaded at once. * **QIF** #### No Additional Software Needed Unfamiliar with QFX, OFX, QIF, and CSV files? Not a problem! You don't need to download any additional software to your computer. There's no need to manually open your file in a separate app before following the import steps below.  If you're curious and would like to take a look at the file, CSV files can be viewed using Google Sheets or a different spreadsheet app of your choosing. You can use Notepad (on Windows) or TextEdit (on Mac) to view QFX, OFX, and QIF files. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Import a File on a Computer 1. Log in to your online banking account. 2. Check for the option to **download** or **export** transactions in one of the file formats listed above (CSV, QFX, OFX, or QIF). 3. Open YNAB. 4. Drag and drop your file(s) onto YNAB—**anywhere** in YNAB. 5. The Import Transactions pop-up menu will appear. We'll walk you through the Import Transactions menu [when you customize your imported file](#csv). **Having trouble with transactions after they've imported?** Review [this information on duplicate and skipped transactions](#suppression), [tell the chatbot you need a human, or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) to ensure that your message gets to our Support team! [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Import a File on an iPad If you have an iPad that supports Multitasking, you're in luck! You can use File-Based Importing via your iPad's _Split View_ feature. ### How to Import a File on an iPad 1. From within your online banking account, check for the option to **download** or **export** your transactions. You'll want a QFX, QIF, or OFX file.  2. Once you have your file, open Safari and enter the URL **https://app.ynab.com**. You may need to tap _Request Desktop Version_ on your browser when logging in. 3. Log into YNAB. 4. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the dock.  5. On the dock, touch and hold the _Files_ app.  6. Drag it off the dock to the left or right edge of the screen.  7. Now you're ready to import your file! Touch and hold the bank file to drag it into YNAB.  8. That's it! Now you can customize your import. **Having trouble with transactions after they've imported?** Review [this information on duplicate and skipped transactions](#suppression), [tell the chatbot you need a human, or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) to ensure that your message gets to our Support team! [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Customize Your Imported CSV File (Our Recommended File Format) While importing your file, a pop-up window will appear and provide the options below. This will help you make sure your transactions come in just the way you want them. These are the only customization options available.  1. At the top, verify the account you want transactions imported into. 2. YNAB will match its fields with your CSV file. Verify the data is correct. If not, use the dropdown options to adjust the fields. 3. If your file includes transactions dated before your account start date, you'll have the option to include or exclude those. 4. You'll see three additional options: 1. No header row: select this if the top row of your CSV is transaction data rather than a header row. 2. Swap Inflow and Outflow: select this option if inflows/outflows are reversed on the file from your bank. 3. Remember setting for this account: this is selected by default and remembers any changes you made to the fields and options. **Can I customize the imported file with categories or split transactions?** No. Because category information isn't reliably available in files downloaded from most banks, you aren't able to use File-Based Import to add categories or split transactions.  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Customize Your Imported QFX, OFX, or QIF File While importing your file, a pop-up window will appear and provide the options below. This will help you make sure your transactions come in just the way you want them. These are the only customization options available.  1. At the top, verify the account you want transactions imported into. 2. Next, if your file includes transactions dated before your account start date, you'll have the option to include or exclude those. 3. You'll see three additional options: 1. Import Memos: check the box to import the memo field with your transactions. 2. Swap Payee and Memo: if your bank tends to put the payee in the memo field, check the _Swap with Payees_ box to reverse those fields. 3. Swap Inflow and Outflow: select this option if inflows/outflows are reversed on the file from your bank. **Can I customize the imported file with categories or split transactions?** No. Because category information isn't reliably available in files downloaded from most banks, you aren't able to use File-Based Import to add categories or split transactions.  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## How to Handle Duplicate or Skipped Transactions When you enter transactions on the go and import a file later (which is a great routine!), YNAB will [match the imported transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/approving-and-matching-transactions-a-guide-ByYNZaQ1i#matching) with the ones you manually entered, as long as the amounts are exactly the same and the dates are within ten days of each other.  If you're using File-Based Importing regularly or alongside Direct Import, YNAB will automatically skip imported transactions with the exact same date and amount to avoid duplicates. If you're still noticing duplicate transactions import, the transaction dates in the file you downloaded may be different from those already imported. In this case, we recommend deleting the duplicate transactions and [reconciling the account](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/reconciling-accounts-a-guide-BJFE3fHys). This helps because transactions dated more than three days prior to the last reconciled transaction aren't imported. This will at least limit (if not eliminate) duplicates moving forward. When you import transactions and then delete them, YNAB won't allow those same transactions to be imported into that account again. So if you delete transactions and try to re-import them for any reason, you'll receive a message that transactions were skipped. If you need to get around that, you can either manually enter those transactions or create a new account.  If you create a new account, you can move all of the existing transactions over and delete the current account so that you don't lose any transaction history.  ### How to Create a New Account and Keep Transaction History Create a new account to replace the current one: 1. In the web version of YNAB, click _Add Account_ in the left sidebar. 2. Select the _Unlinked_ option. 3. Enter the name and type of account—you'll have to give it a slightly different name than the previous account.  4. Enter a $0 starting balance for now, since we’re going to move over all the transactions from the other account.  5. Go to the original account and select all of the transactions you'd like to move over. 6. Click _More_ in the action bar that appears at the bottom of the register. 7. Select _Move to Account_ and select the new account. 8. Refresh your browser. 9. Hover over the name of the original (now empty) account in the left sidebar and click the pencil edit icon. 10. Click _Delete account_. 11. Now, you can edit the name of the new account and/or set up Direct Import. When you import that file again, the transactions should import as expected. Be sure to reconcile your account afterwards so that you can trust the amounts in your plan. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Will my categories import when I use File-Based Import? No. Categories won't be included when using File-Based Import. To add categories more quickly after importing, consider [bulk categorizing your transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/categorizing-transactions-a-guide-HyRl60sks#bulk). ### Can I export and re-import a YNAB plan? No, it's not possible to export and re-import a YNAB plan. Exporting is a one-way street. ### Is there a limit to how much data I can import? We don't recommend importing transactions beyond one year old when using File-Based Import.  ### Why can't I adjust to local time? Adjusting to local time is always on by default. ### What do I do if my CSV file imported incorrectly? You can adjust each field by clicking on its dropdown menu. ### Do I need to reformat my CSV file? No. When you import a CSV file, YNAB matches each column to a YNAB field (Date, Payee, Memo, Outflow, Inflow), and you can adjust the fields if needed. ### I received an “Invalid File” warning; why? The preferred format for File-Based Import is CSV. YNAB also accepts OFX, QFX, and QIF files. YNAB is unable to read other file types for File-Based Import. ### I received a “CSV File Error” warning; why? The CSV you downloaded from the bank may contain extra quotation marks or other stray characters, or there may be issues with the downloaded file. Try downloading the file again, or remove extra quotation marks and characters using a text editor. [Tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) if you continue to have trouble with File-Based Import.  ### I received a “No Transactions” warning; why? There are a number of reasons for this warning. 1. If the file imported and the next screen shows no transactions to import, review the skipped transactions above the Options section to find out why. You may also want to review [how File-Based Import works alongside manual entry and Direct Import](#suppression). 2. Your file may have contained no rows with both a date and an amount more or less than zero. You can review your file using a spreadsheet or text editor app. 3. It's possible the file you've received from your bank is formatted incorrectly. The best way to get that fixed is to reach out to your bank directly. [Tell the chatbot you need a human or send us an email](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/how-to-get-help-SygqcvtC5) if you continue to have trouble with File-Based Import.  ### Why is my transaction data showing up in the columns after I import a CSV? Your file may not have a header row. If the preview’s first row is transaction data rather than column names, checking "No header row" will correct this. ### My file only has one Amount column—how do I import it? Select that same Amount column for both the Inflow and Outflow fields in the import dropdowns. You don't need to reformat your file or split it into two columns first—YNAB reads positive and negative values from a single column, and will often map it for you automatically. If your inflows and outflows come in reversed, use the _Swap Inflow and Outflow_ option to correct it. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! 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