---
title: "Import data from Excel to create new apps"
slug: "importing-data-from-excel-to-create-new-apps"
updated: 2026-06-01T16:25:01Z
published: 2026-06-01T16:25:01Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import data from Excel to create new apps

You can create a new app from Microsoft Excel by importing the .xlsx file or copying and pasting only the data that you need.

## Clean up your Excel spreadsheet

For best results, your data must fit the structure that works well in Quickbase. Clean up before import, and you'll save yourself work later. Read [Preparing Excel data for import](/v1/docs/preparing-excel-data-for-import).

## Create a new app by importing the data

You can turn your spreadsheet data into a Quickbase app in one of two ways:

- Importing the Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file. Learn more about [importing files](/v1/docs/import-data-from-outside-quickbase#To_import_data_from_a_file).
- Copying and pasting only the data that you want. To do so, drag to select cells within the spreadsheet. Learn more about [importing by pasting data](/v1/docs/import-data-from-outside-quickbase).

## Restructure your data to take advantage of Quickbase features

Once you get your data into Quickbase, your work isn't necessarily done. Your app is a relational database, which lets you organize data into separate [tables](/v1/docs/what-is-a-table) that are linked to each other. This model is very different from a flat Excel spreadsheet. To get the most out of Quickbase, you may want to restructure your data, breaking it out into multiple tables where appropriate. This is a two-step process.

1. Design your Quickbase app. Not sure which columns should become tables? [Learn how to plan application structure](/v1/docs/planning-your-apps-structure).
2. After you've made a plan, [read how to split columns out into separate tables](/v1/docs/convert-fields-or-columns-into-tables) using Quickbase's handy "convert column to table" feature. This useful tool lets you convert a column into a master table that's automatically related to the original table.