File-Based Import: A Guide

May 19 2025 8:04pm • Est. Read Time: 6 MIN

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 formats, the process of importing files on a computer or an iPad, and how to customize your imported file.

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In This Article

Choosing the Right File Format
Explains which file formats we recommend for File-Based Import

How to Import a File on a Computer

How to Import a File on an iPad

How to Customize Your Imported File

How to Handle Duplicate or Skipped Transactions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Choosing the Right File Format

You can import the following file formats into YNAB:

  • QFX and OFX files are our top recommendations. Your bank may also refer to these formats as 'Quicken' or 'Money' files.

  • QIF

  • CSV files can work, but only use them if the formats listed above aren't available. Review Formatting a CSV File: An Overview ↗️ for more specifics (and for helpful resources like a CSV Converter tool and a sample CSV file!)

 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, however, you can use Notepad (on Windows) or TextEdit (on Mac) to view QFX, OFX, and QIF files. CSV files can be viewed using Google Sheets or a different spreadsheet app of your choosing.

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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 (QFX, OFX, QIF, or CSV).

  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 in the when you customize your imported file!

   Having trouble with transactions after they've imported? Review this information on duplicate and skipped transactions, or contact our support team ↗️.

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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, or contact our support team ↗️.

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How to Customize Your Imported File

While importing your file, a pop-up window will appear and provide the select 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 four 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.

    4. Adjust to local time: if the dates in the file appear off by one day, selecting this option may help. This will convert the transaction dates to your local timezone. You’ll be able to preview the effect on the transactions before importing.

   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. 

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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 ↗️ 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 duplicates import, the transaction dates in the file you downloaded may be different than those already imported. In this case, we recommend deleting the duplicate transactions and reconciling the account ↗️. 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.

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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 ↗️.

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. 

What if no transactions are importing?

If you've formatted the CSV following the steps above and you're seeing the message "Zero Transactions To Import," 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.

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