So you want to bulk invite users to your Discourse instance? Great, let's get started!
## Prepare CSV File
For bulk inviting users you will need to prepare a CSV file (with .csv file extension) with valid email of users whom you want to invite. These points should be considered while preparing CSV file:
* Only one email per line allowed.
* Email should be in first column.
* Email should be valid.
Below is the screenshot of example csv file.
*I intentionally entered invalid email on line number 6 and 7, to show error notifications.*
## Add Site Contact User
System notifications (automated private messages) are authored by site contact user. If you don't have site contact user set up, we recommend you to set one up by going to `admin/site_settings` and searching for "site contact", you will see **site contact username** setting, enter the username of user whom you want to be site contact user.
*Note that site contact user should be admin and he/she will not receive system notifications themselves, so make sure you don't set yourself as site contact user, doing so you will not receive process notifications.*
## Upload CSV File
Go to Invites page and upload the CSV file by clicking on **Batch Invite from File** button.
If the file is uploaded successfully, you will see below confirmation message.
## Check Bulk Invite Progress Notification
Once the CSV file is processed, you will receive private message notification with progress report.
In the above screenshot the notification says **5 invites sent**, this means that invitation email to 5 users has been sent. On invites pages, you will be able to see sent invites.
Also the notification says **2 invites failed**, along with reason and line number.
Now, you will need to correct the errors, in this case replace invalid emails with valid emails and upload the file again with only those two emails. If everything goes well, you will receive success notification similar to as shown above.
## Invites Sent
If everything goes well as described the users will receive email similar to as shown below.
Once clicking the confirmation link their account will be activated.
Congratulations! That's it, you've successfully sent out the bulk invites.
*I intentionally entered invalid email on line number 6 and 7, to show error notifications.*
## Add Site Contact User
System notifications (automated private messages) are authored by site contact user. If you don't have site contact user set up, we recommend you to set one up by going to `admin/site_settings` and searching for "site contact", you will see **site contact username** setting, enter the username of user whom you want to be site contact user.
*Note that site contact user should be admin and he/she will not receive system notifications themselves, so make sure you don't set yourself as site contact user, doing so you will not receive process notifications.*
## Upload CSV File
Go to Invites page and upload the CSV file by clicking on **Batch Invite from File** button.
If the file is uploaded successfully, you will see below confirmation message.
## Check Bulk Invite Progress Notification
Once the CSV file is processed, you will receive private message notification with progress report.
In the above screenshot the notification says **5 invites sent**, this means that invitation email to 5 users has been sent. On invites pages, you will be able to see sent invites.
Also the notification says **2 invites failed**, along with reason and line number.
Now, you will need to correct the errors, in this case replace invalid emails with valid emails and upload the file again with only those two emails. If everything goes well, you will receive success notification similar to as shown above.
## Invites Sent
If everything goes well as described the users will receive email similar to as shown below.
Once clicking the confirmation link their account will be activated.
Congratulations! That's it, you've successfully sent out the bulk invites.