Main focus

Use Import Update to update existing products and add new products from an Excel or CSV file without deleting unmatched products.

Applies to

  • Android
  • iOS

Web app availability

Import Update is available in the Android and iOS apps. It is not implemented in the Web app.

Watch the steps

Quick path

Follow these steps

  1. Open the inventory that already contains products.
  2. Tap the top-right Menu, then choose Import.
  3. Review the safe simulation warning, then continue or duplicate the inventory first.
  4. Tap Import Update.
  5. Choose a file from local memory, Google Drive, or Dropbox, or enter the web import code.
  6. In Match fields, map at least SKU or Barcode, review the remaining fields, then proceed.

Before you start

  • Prepare an Excel (.xls, .xlsx) or CSV (.csv) file with one row per product.
  • Use clear column headers in the first row so the mapping step is easier.
  • Include and map either SKU or Barcode. SKU is recommended when you have it.
  • For Excel files, keep the product data on Sheet1.
  • For very large files, use CSV because it imports faster.

Test large updates first

Bulk imports can change many products. Duplicate the inventory and test the import there first when you are updating important live data.

How update matching works

  • Matching products: The app matches rows from your file to existing products by the mapped SKU or Barcode.
  • Existing products: Matching products are updated with the values from your file for the fields you mapped.
  • New products: Rows that do not match an existing product are added as new products.
  • Unmatched existing products: Products already in the inventory but missing from the file are not deleted.
  • SKU changes: Import Update uses SKU as an identifier when it is mapped, so do not use this flow to rename existing SKUs.

Key screens

Duplicate first if you want to test the update.
Choose a file or enter the web import code.
Map SKU or Barcode, then review the updated fields.
Check the product list after the import completes.

Written steps

  1. Open the inventory where you want to update products.
  2. Tap the top-right Menu and choose Import.
  3. When the safe simulation warning appears, duplicate the inventory if you want to test first, or tap Continue with the Import.
  4. Tap Import Update.
  5. Choose Open file chooser for local memory, Google Drive, or Dropbox, or upload the file at minv.app/import and enter the displayed code.
  6. On Match fields, map the columns from your file to Mobile Inventory fields.
  7. Confirm that either SKU or Barcode is mapped. Without one of these identifiers, the app cannot reliably update existing products.
  8. Tap Proceed with the import.
  9. After the import finishes, open the product list and check a few updated products.

What this does not do

  • It does not delete existing products that are not present in your file.
  • It does not replace the whole inventory with only the imported rows.
  • It does not change the SKU of a product when SKU is used as the matching identifier.
  • It does not update fields that you leave unmapped during field matching.

Next step

After importing, verify the product count and open several products that should have changed to confirm the mapped fields were updated as expected.