Import a Spreadsheet or CSV of Watched Movies and Shows Into Refract

If your history lives in a spreadsheet, a notes file or an app with no importer, Refract's CSV template is the way in. Download the template, fill in a handful of plain columns with your spreadsheet app, save as CSV and upload it. Anything Refract cannot place beyond doubt is skipped and listed in the report, never guessed; fix the row and upload again.

Step 1: get your a spreadsheet export

You will end up with: your filled-in copy of Refract's template, saved as .csv.

1. In Refract, open Settings → Import → Spreadsheet / CSV template and download the template (lines starting with # are instructions and are ignored).
2. Fill it in with your spreadsheet app: one row per movie or series, with the columns the template explains.
3. Save as CSV and put the file on the phone where Refract is installed.

Step 2: import it into Refract

1. Install Refract on iOS or Android (links at the bottom of this page) and sign in.
2. Open Settings → Import → Spreadsheet / CSV template and pick the file.
3. Review the preview: it shows what the file contains, category by category, and lets you untick anything you do not want.
4. Start the import. It runs in the background with a progress bar; you can leave the app.
5. Read the completion summary. Check the completion screen for the import's undo option and its scope.

What comes across

• Movies with a watched status, date and rating when you give them.
• Series marked watched, completed: every aired episode is ticked.
• Plan-to-watch entries.

What does not, or only partly

• There are no episode columns: a series is either completed or planned, not partially watched.
• If a series' season layout cannot be established, it is reported as skipped instead of inventing episodes.
• Rows that match several titles are skipped and listed, so you can make the title or year more precise.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the CSV template to migrate from an app that has no importer?

Yes, that is what it is for. Export or copy your list into the template's columns (title, year, type, status, date, rating), and Refract does the matching. Keep the year column filled: it removes most ambiguities.

Will the import overwrite what I already have in Refract?

Imports merge data into your library. Review the source-specific preview and completion summary to see what is included.

Is importing free?

Yes. Imports, like the rest of the tracker, are free with no ads and no paywall. Refract Pro is optional cosmetic supporter tiers only.

Can I undo this import?

Check the completion screen for the import's undo option and its scope.

Related

• All import guides
• Best cross-media trackers in 2026