How to Add a Plus Sign to a Column of Phone Numbers in Excel

Zoho CRM - Import Data - How Do I Add a "+" to a Series of Phone Numbers in Excel Before Import?

If you already have a column of phone numbers in Excel without a leading plus sign, and need to add one to every number at once before importing into Zoho CRM, you don't need a third-party plugin. A simple formula and a paste as values does the job using nothing but Excel itself.

Note: This is different from the plus sign disappearing while you type. If you're typing new numbers and Excel keeps dropping or rejecting the plus sign as you enter it, see our article on Why Won't Excel Let Me Put a "+" in Front of a Phone Number? instead.

How to add a plus sign to an existing column of numbers

  1. Add a helper column. Click an empty column next to your phone numbers, for example if your numbers are in column A, use column B.
  2. Write the formula. In the first cell of the helper column, enter a formula that joins a plus sign to the number next to it, for example ="+"&A2. This produces a text value with the plus sign already attached.
  3. Copy the formula down. Select that cell, then drag the fill handle down (or copy and paste) to apply the same formula to every row of numbers.
  4. Copy the helper column. Select the whole helper column and copy it.
  5. Paste as values. Right-click your original phone number column, choose Paste Special, then Values. This replaces the original numbers with the plain text results of the formula, rather than the formula itself.
  6. Delete the helper column. Once the values are safely pasted into place, the helper column is no longer needed and can be deleted.
Note: Before pasting the values back in, it's worth formatting the destination column as Text first (right-click the column, choose Format Cells, select Text, click OK). This avoids the same underlying issue happening again in reverse, where Excel reinterprets the pasted plus-prefixed text as a number and strips the plus straight back out.

Why this matters for a Zoho CRM import

Zoho CRM only imports whatever value is actually present in your file, so if the plus sign is missing from your spreadsheet, no import setting can add it back afterwards. Fixing the column in Excel before you import is the only reliable way to bring numbers into Zoho CRM in full international format.

For the full picture on preparing a file for import, see our Import Checklist and Limits for Zoho CRM and How to Import Data to a Module in Zoho CRM.
Need help? 1 Cloud Consultants can help you clean up and prepare a phone number list correctly before importing it into Zoho CRM. Book a discovery call with 1 Cloud Consultants.