> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.zaapi.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.zaapi.com/contacts/managing-contacts.md).

# Managing contacts

The Contacts page is every customer in one table — search it, filter it into segments, export it, and add new Contacts before they've ever messaged you.

Open it from **Contacts** in the left navigation. Each row is one customer; the columns show their details and contact fields.

#### How Contacts are created

Most Contacts are created automatically — when a customer messages you on any connected channel, Zaapi creates a Contact (or links the Conversation to an existing one — see **Merging contacts**). You only need to create a Contact manually when you want a customer in Zaapi before their first message, such as a lead from an event or an offline order.

#### Create a contact

1. On the **Contacts** page, click **Create contact**.
2. Enter a **First Name** (required).
3. Add their last name, phone number (with the right country code), and email if you have them.
4. Click **Create contact**.

> Add a phone number or email if you can. That's what Zaapi uses to automatically link this Contact to their Conversations when they message you later.

#### Search and filter

* **Search** by name or username to find a specific customer.
* **Filter** to build a segment. Click the filter icon, add a condition (e.g. **Status** is one of *VIP*), and click **+** to stack more conditions. Filters work on contact fields too — including your custom ones — so you can slice by anything you track: *Newsletter Subscribed = Yes*, *Industry = Retail*, *Account Owner = you*.
* Click **Reset** to clear everything and see all Contacts again.

#### Export contacts

Click **Export** to download your Contacts with their details and fields. Apply filters first to export just a segment — for example, every customer with *Product Interests = Snowboards* for a campaign list.

Use exports for CRM imports, broadcast audience planning, or analysis in a spreadsheet.

#### View and edit a Contact

Click a Contact to open their full record, or click **View contact** in the Ticket sidebar while you're chatting with them. Any field you edit saves automatically — and because fields live on the Contact, the change is visible on every one of their Conversations, on every channel.