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# Importing reviews from an Ali Reviews CSV template

In this article, we will learn the steps for importing existing reviews from a CSV file and how to fill in review data in the Ali Reviews template fields.

## On this page

* [Import reviews using Ali Reviews template](#2-import-reviews-using-ali-reviews-template)
* [Format the template fields](#2-format-the-template-fields)
* [Steps to get product handle](#2-steps-to-get-product-handle)
* [Steps to publish an image link](#2-steps-to-publish-an-image-link)

## Import reviews using Ali Reviews template

### Access import CSV file feature

From the Ali Reviews dashboard:

1. Click **Import reviews** in the side menu.
2. Click **Import by Ali Reviews template** at the bottom of the **Import reviews** page.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/1/8/4/51849c8de000cc00/1-navigate_16gmgnw.png)

#### Step 1: Select products

1. Click the button labeled **Create CSV file with product** in the guideline.

This step opens a modal where you can select the products you want to import reviews for.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/1/8/4/51849c8de000cc00/2-template_2yd4oy.png)

**Why this step matters**

* We recommend selecting products **before** downloading the CSV file or using a spreadsheet template because the product handle column is required.
* As you select products, their product handles will be auto-filled or copied automatically depending on the import method you choose.
* Pre-selecting products simplifies the process, saving you the effort of searching for product handles manually.

#### Step 2: Fill in the required fields in the Ali Reviews template

There are two methods to import reviews via CSV file:

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/3-select-products_j6qyt8.jpg)

##### Method 1: Download CSV file

1. After selecting products, click the **Download CSV file** button. The template will download to your computer.

**If you selected products beforehand**

* The **product handle** column will already be auto-filled with the handles of the selected products.
* Complete the remaining fields:

**Country code** (Optional)
**Customer name** (e.g., John Doe)
**Star rating** (1 to 5)
**Text reviews** (Optional) 
**Published date** (format: YYYY/MM/DD)  
**Optional**: Up to 5 image links (provide direct image URLs)

Refer to [this guide for instructions on how to format import fields](#2-format-the-template-fields).

2. Save the completed file.

**If no products were selected before downloading**

* The CSV file will be **empty**.
* You will need to manually find and fill in the product handles and other fields.

Refer to [this guide for instructions on how to get product handles](#2-steps-to-get-product-handle).

##### Method 2: Use spreadsheet template

When using the **spreadsheet template method**, product handles for the selected products are copied automatically.

**Steps to complete the process:**

1. Select the products you want to import.
2. Click **Use spreadsheet template**.
3. In the modal, click **Make a copy template**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/4-make-a-copy_pik4ay.jpg)

4. Click **Make a copy**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/5-gg-sheet_1vy0m4t.jpg)

**In the Ali Reviews import template:**

5. When the template opens, paste the product handles into the **product handle** column:
  
* Click on cell **A4**.
  
* Press **Ctrl/⌘ + V** to paste the handles.
  
* This will auto-fill all product handles.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/6-paste_pllb79.jpg)

6. Complete the remaining fields:

* **Country code** (Optional)
* **Customer name**
* **Star rating**
* **Text reviews** (Optional)
* **Published date**
* **Optional**: Up to 5 image links

Refer to [ this guide for instructions on how to format import fields](#2-format-the-template-fields).

7. Download the completed file:

After completing the template, go to **File > Download > Comma Separated Values (.csv)**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/7-file-and-download_f4x361.jpg)

#### Note:

Do not change column names or labels. When filling out the Ali Reviews template, ensure you do **not** change the column names or labels of the fields (e.g., Product handle, Text reviews, Customer name). Changing these will cause the import process to fail. If you get an "invalid column name found" error during import, you need to: 
* Use the official Ali Reviews import template
* Compare your import file's column names with the template
* Rename columns in your file to match the template exactly (case-sensitive)

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/column-names_p4vbdv.jpg)
#### Step 3: Upload the downloaded CSV file and click "Import now"

1. Return to the **Import reviews** page.
2. Upload the completed CSV file.
3. Click **Import now**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/8-upload-file_jbx5li.jpg)

|| Note: Reviews imported by CSV file will be Unpublished. You can find and publish them by going to Manage Reviews > Unpublished.

|| To upload the file, you must complete the following fields: product handle, customer name, star rating, and published date.
## Format the template fields

To import reviews from a CSV file successfully, you need to complete the Ali Reviews template. There are 7 columns in the Ali Reviews template:

* **Product handle**
* **Customer country code** (Alpha-2 code) (optional)
* **Customer name**
* **Star rating**
* **Text reviews** (optional)
* **Published date**
* **Image link** (optional)

| Fields | Description | Example |
| ---- |
| Product handle | A unique, simplified identifier for a product used in its URL on Shopify. It typically consists of lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. | **Product URL**: https://yourstore.myshopify.com/products/original-eucerin-facial-sunscreen ; **Product handle**: original-eucerin-facial-sunscreen |
| Customer country code (Alpha-2 code) (Optional) | The two-letter country code represents the location of the reviewers. Click [here](/en/article/ali-reviews-how-to-find-the-country-code-for-your-reviews-in-csv-file-1rm4724/) to see the full list of country codes. | US: United States, AU: Australia |
| Customer name | The reviewer's name. | Anna |
| Star rating | The star rating. Valid values from 1 to 5 are supported. | 2 |
| Text reviews (optional) | The written content of a customer's review | Excellent price with high quality. I will definitely buy it again. |
| Published date | Follow the pattern: **mm/dd/yyyy, mm/dd/yy, **or **dd/mm/yyyy**. Make sure the date format is consistent across the entire published date column. yyyy and yy is the year; mm is the month; dd is the day. | 10/12/21 |
| Image Link (optional) | To import review images, make sure that the image URL is published, and follow accepted formats:  **.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .avif or .gif**. The maximum number of images in a review is 5 | https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0633/7835/8460/files/tay-te-bao-chet-ca-phe-5_4a1d81f3-62ba-4d5d-9892-77b4dbe48fe5.jpg?v=1704188405 |
## Steps to get product handle

From the Shopify admin:

1. Click **Products** in the side menu > select the product you want.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/8-product-handle-1_39dypp.jpg)

2. Scroll down to the **Search engine listing** section and click **Edit**.
3. Find the **URL handle** field > Copy everything after `/products/` in the URL.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/9-product-handle-2_vigcp4.jpg)

**Another way to get product handle:**

* Go to a live product page on your store.
* Look at the URL in your browser.
* The product handle is the part of the URL that comes after your store domain.

**Example:**

* **Product URL**: https://skinmeltest123.myshopify.com/products/40ml-repair-cream
* **Product Handle**: 40ml-repair-cream

| Tip:  We recommend using the Shopify admin to ensure you get the correct product handle, as getting it from the product URL might lead to errors.  ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/10url_ismanc.jpg)

## Steps to publish an image link

From Shopify admin:

1. Go to **Content > Files > Upload files**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/publish-imgae-link-1_14lr39d.jpg)

2. After uploading the image into Shopify files, copy the image link and paste it into the image link field.
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/51849c8de000cc00/publish-imgae-lin2_1piu5va.jpg)
There are more ways to publish image links, and you can learn more about [Adding review images into CSV file](https://help.alireviews.io/en/article/adding-review-images-into-csv-file-hyjhtd/).

That’s how to import reviews from a CSV file. In case you get errors while importing reviews from a CSV file, please read the [Fixing CSV file import review errors](https://help.alireviews.io/en/article/fixing-csv-file-import-review-errors-nfdwo5/) to fix CSV file import review errors.

If you need more help, please feel free to contact us via live chat or email us at support@alireviews.io

**Related articles**:
[Fixing common importing errors](/en/article/fixing-common-importing-review-errors-1xdz8nr/)
[Fixing CSV file import review errors](/en/article/ali-reviews-why-are-my-reviews-in-csv-file-not-imported-nfdwo5/)