Import members from a CSV file

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7 minIntermediateUltimate Membership Pro 14.2+ · Module

In Ultimate Membership Pro, you can import members from a CSV file: the plugin creates their accounts and gives them the right Membership with the start and expiry dates from your file. Use it when you move from another site or a spreadsheet.

This guide prepares the CSV file and imports it, first with the Import Users & Memberships module, then with the Export-Import screen.

Before you start

Two ways to import

Import Users & Memberships module

Where
Modules › Import Users & Memberships
Passwords
Taken from the file, or generated
Existing Memberships
Kept, unless you rewrite their dates
Best for
Moving members with their passwords; updating Memberships

Export-Import screen

Where
Export-Import › Members
Passwords
Always generated
Existing Memberships
Dates from the file replace the current ones
Best for
Files from another plugin: you map the columns and get a report

Prepare the CSV file

Start from the sample: Download CSV Sample on the module screen. Keep its columns. One row per member and Membership: a member with two Memberships takes two rows with the same email.

Email*Required

Identifies the member. A new email creates a new account.

Username

Empty uses the part of the email before @, if it’s free.

Password

The new member’s password. Empty generates one.

First Name, Last Name

The member’s name.

Membership Slug

The Membership’s slug, for example pro_monthly. Empty imports the member without a Membership.

Started Time, Expired Date

Format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, for example 2026-10-01 09:00:00. Empty dates add the Membership without activating it.

A file with three Coaching Club members

Email*,Username,Password,First Name,Last Name,Membership Slug,Started Time,Expired Date
mia.torres@example.com,mia.torres,,Mia,Torres,pro_monthly,2026-10-01 09:00:00,2026-11-01 09:00:00
jonas.berg@example.com,jonas.berg,,Jonas,Berg,annual_pass,2026-09-15 10:30:00,2027-09-15 10:30:00
leila.haddad@example.com,leila.haddad,,Leila,Haddad,free_community,,

Import with the Import Users & Memberships module

  1. Go to Ultimate Membership Pro›Modules and open Import Users & Memberships (in Members & Registration).
  2. Switch on Rewrite Membership start time & expire time only if the file should change the dates of Memberships members already have.
  3. Under File ready for import, click Choose File, pick your CSV and click Import.
Import Users and Memberships module: Rewrite Membership start time and expire time switch off, CSV Sample File with Download CSV Sample button, Import procedure notes, File ready for import with the chosen file coaching-club-members.csv, and the Import button
The module screen with a file chosen.
Rewrite Membership start time & expire time

Off: a member who already has the Membership keeps its dates. On: the dates in the file replace them.

Default: Off

When the import is done, the screen shows Total users affected with the number of rows that reached a member.

New email

A new account is created. Without a password in the file, the member gets the Send auto-generated Password to Customer email, if you set it up.

Email already used

The row goes to that member: the Membership is added if they don’t have it yet.

Or import with the Export-Import screen

Use it for files from other tools, where the columns have other names or another order.

  1. Go to Ultimate Membership Pro›Export-Import, drag the file onto Import members from CSV (CSV, up to 10 MB) and click Import CSV File.
Export-Import screen, Members card: Export members to CSV on the left, Import members from CSV on the right with a drag and drop area, Import CSV File button and Download sample CSV link
Import members from CSV, on the right of the Members card.
  1. Match each plugin field to a column of your file, or — Skip this field —. Check Preview (first rows) and click Start import.
Map your columns: Email (required), Username, First Name, Last Name, Membership Slug, Started Time, Expired Time, WP Role and Join Date each matched to a numbered column of the file, a preview of the first rows, and Start import and Cancel buttons
The plugin pre-selects the best match for each field.
Import progress at 3 of 3 rows (100%) and the Import report: 3 Imported, 0 Skipped, 0 Failed, with an Import another file link
The report: Imported, Skipped (email already used) and Failed.

This screen also reads WP Role and Join Date. Passwords in the file are ignored: every new member gets a generated one. For a member who already exists, the row’s Membership is added or updated with the file’s dates.

Before you import

  • For members who already exist, leave the profile columns empty: the row then only adds the Membership.
  • On the Export-Import screen, a row with empty dates for a Membership the member already has makes that Membership inactive.
  • A Membership Slug that doesn’t exist on this site is ignored; the member is imported without it.
  • Imported Memberships don’t create orders or gateway subscriptions, so recurring Memberships won’t renew by themselves.

Tip

  • Set up the Send auto-generated Password to Customer email before you import, so new members can log in. See Set up email notifications.
  • Memberships imported without dates show an Activate button in Members › Details › Manage Plans.
  • Moving members between two sites with Ultimate Membership Pro? Export CSV on the Members screen gives you a file the Export-Import screen reads as it is.

Example: three members from a spreadsheet

Coaching ClubMembers kept in a spreadsheet move into the plugin with the module.
File
coaching-club-members.csv, 3 rows
Mia Torres
Pro Monthly, Oct 1 – Nov 1, 2026
Jonas Berg
Annual Pass, Sep 15, 2026 – Sep 15, 2027
Leila Haddad
Free Community, no dates: activate it in Manage Plans
Rewrite
Off
Result
Total users affected: 3

Troubleshooting

Why was nothing imported from my CSV file?

Start from the sample file and keep its header row: the Import Users & Memberships module finds the columns by their names, and every row needs an email address.

Why were members imported without their Membership?

The Membership Slug in the file doesn’t match a Membership on this site. Copy the slug exactly from the Memberships screen.

Why is an imported Membership not active?

The row had no dates. Click Activate in Manage Plans, or import the row again with dates (and Rewrite on, in the module).

Why didn’t the import change the dates of an existing Membership?

The module keeps the dates of Memberships members already have. Switch on Rewrite Membership start time & expire time and import again.

Why didn’t new members get a password?

Put passwords in the file, or set up the Send auto-generated Password to Customer notification. Members can also use Lost Password.

What does “Missing or invalid email address.” mean?

On the Export-Import screen, the row has no valid email address. Fix it and import that row again.

Why are the imported dates wrong?

Dates must use the format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS. Spreadsheet apps often change dates when they save a CSV; open the file in a text editor to check.

What’s next

Manage your membersCheck and approve the new members.Add a member and assign a MembershipFix one member by hand.Export and import plugin settingsCopy your setup to another site.Set up email notificationsSend new members their password.

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