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Question

Terminal failure statuses for bulk imports

  • February 16, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 10 views
M

Hey Team,

The API documentation for bulk imports mentions two terminal failure statuses: failed and interrupted. However, it does not explain how these statuses occur or how they should be handled. Can they result from an error on the ActiveCampaign side, or are they caused by issues with the provided input?

It is also unclear how to proceed when a bulk import ends with one of these statuses. Is it safe to resubmit the bulk import in these cases, or should the contacts be imported individually instead? Does the response for failed bulk imports include `success` and `failures` attributes?

Thanks for the reply!

2 replies

irendorio
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  • irendorio
  • Employee
  • February 16, 2026

Hello there! I’ll surface this up with the team and get you connected with someone who can help. 

Thanks for your patience!

-Isaiah R.

    Alanna Hurley
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    • Alanna Hurley
    • Community Manager
    • February 16, 2026

    Hi There!

    Great questions! Here is some more in-depth info about bulk import terminal failure statuses and how to handle them:

    These statuses can occur from issues on either side:

    • Input-related issues: Malformed data, invalid field formats, missing required fields, or data that doesn't meet validation requirements
    • System-related issues: API timeouts, temporary service interruptions, or processing errors on the ActiveCampaign side

    When a bulk import ends with failed or interrupted, here's what I would recommend:

    1. Check the response details: The API response should include information about what went wrong. Look for error messages or details in the response that can help you identify the issue.
    2. Review your input data: Verify that your CSV or JSON payload is properly formatted, all required fields are present, and data types match what's expected.
    3. Resubmitting safely: It's generally safe to resubmit a bulk import if you've identified and fixed the issue. However, be mindful of duplicate contacts. If some contacts may have been processed before the failure, consider using the contact update endpoint or checking for existing contacts first.
    4. Individual imports as fallback: If bulk imports continue to fail and you can't identify the root cause, importing contacts individually can help you isolate which specific contact(s) are causing issues.

    Regarding success and failures attributes:

    Typically, failed bulk imports should include details about what succeeded and what failed, but the exact structure of the response may vary depending on the failure type.

    I'd recommend reaching out to our Support Team with your specific use case and any error responses you're seeing. They can provide more detailed guidance on the response structure for failed imports and help troubleshoot any recurring issues you're experiencing.

    Hope this helps get you moving in the right direction! 

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