---
title: "Bulk-Adding Users to Manual Audiences"
slug: "a-guide-to-adding-users-to-a-manual-audience-with-a-csv-1"
tags: ["CSV Upload", "Audience Management", "Bulk User Addition"]
updated: 2026-09-02T10:24:30Z
published: 2026-09-02T10:24:30Z
canonical: "docs.thrivelearning.com/a-guide-to-adding-users-to-a-manual-audience-with-a-csv-1"
---

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

# Bulk-Adding Users to Manual Audiences

**Bulk-adding users to manual audiences** can help you quickly target specific groups of learners, especially when those audiences are based on performance data, compliance needs, or other external criteria. Instead of adding users one by one, Super Admins, Learning Admins, and Audience Managers can upload a CSV file containing email addresses or reference IDs to populate a manual audience in just a few steps.

## Uploading Users to a Manual Audience with a CSV File

1. From the Thrive menu, go to **Manage** > **Structures & Audiences** and select the audience you want to add users to.
2. In **All structures**, locate the audience you want to add users to. Expand a structure using the arrow next to its name to reveal its audiences, then select the audience.
3. On the audience page, select the **Members** tab.
4. Click the arrow next to **Add members** and select **Bulk upload (CSV)**. ![Admin panel displaying members list with options to add and manage users.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(914).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A39Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=nq%2F5NFYxnyKtIpq3Tuxm1coTFN%2FItO3WPXjLD4gqfUQ%3D)
5. In the **Add members - CSV upload** window, review the following before uploading:

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> If you need a template to work from, click **Download a template**.
  - A CSV can not be larger than 9,999 rows.
  - If a CSV has both ref and email values for a user, the CSV will default to using only the email.
  - Ref values are case-sensitive; ensure the correct case is used.
  - People added to this audience must already be present within the structure.
6. Drag and drop your CSV file into the upload area, or click **Browse** to locate it, then click **Upload**. Once the file uploads, review the number of users identified and check for any flagged issues before proceeding. ![File upload confirmation for AudienceMemberImportTemplate.csv with user identification details.](https://cdn.document360.io/3a0609fb-d96c-4ce1-aabe-d9338fb1e858/Images/Documentation/image(915).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-05T15%3A50%3A39Z&se=2026-11-05T16%3A50%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=nq%2F5NFYxnyKtIpq3Tuxm1coTFN%2FItO3WPXjLD4gqfUQ%3D)

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> If the file can't be processed, an error will be displayed on-screen. Common issues include CSV headers not matching the template, and incorrect file format (must be `.csv`).
7. Click **Add members** to complete the import.

Once the upload is confirmed, you'll see a confirmation message, and the users will be added to your audience.