---
title: Cleaning up recipients
slug: campaign/docs/cleaning-up-recipients
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:17.309Z
---

Cleanup lets you automatically delete and/or unsubscribe recipients from recipient lists. You upload a CSV file with the recipients you want to delete or unsubscribe, then select the lists.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

To delete and/or unsubscribe recipients, you must have the appropriate rights.
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1. Create a CSV file containing the IDs of the recipients you want to delete or unsubscribe.

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Tip**

   Optimizely Campaign identifies recipients by recipient ID, usually email address.
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2. Open the Optimizely Campaign menu and select **Recipients** > **Cleanup**.
3. In the **Upload File** tab, click **Browse…**.
4. Select the CSV file created in step 1 and click **Preview**. The file is uploaded to the Optimizely server. The **Preview** tab shows the uploaded recipients.

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   The **Recipient** column must contain recipient IDs. On import, only this column is considered.
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5. If email addresses do not display correctly, change the **Character Encoding** option.
6. If the first line of the CSV file contains column names, in the **Skip First Row** list, select **Yes**.
7. Click **Refresh Preview** to check your settings.

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Tip**

   To only unsubscribe recipients, go to step 10. To only delete the recipients, go to step 12.
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8. Click **Delete**.
9. In the **Delete Recipients** area, select the **Delete recipients** check box. In the **Recipient Lists** area, select one or more recipient lists from which you want to delete the recipients.
10. Click **Unsubscribe**.
11. In the **Unsubscribe Recipients** area, select the **Unsubscribe recipients from all recipient lists** check box to unsubscribe recipients from recipient lists.
12. Click **Summary**. In the **Summary** tab, all actions to be performed are displayed.
13. To make changes, click the corresponding tab and perform the appropriate steps.
14. Click **Finished**. The recipients are deleted and/or unsubscribed according to your settings. You receive a notification email to your email address once the process is complete.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

While the process is running, you cannot run a new one.
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:::hint{type="info"}
**Tip**

You may need to export the data from your recipient database, CRM application or similar. If the source file is not a CSV file or if you want to export the recipient data from your local database or CRM first, ask your IT department for assistance. If the source file is a spreadsheet file, you can convert it into a CSV file. Open the file with your spreadsheet application (for example Microsoft Excel), select **Save as** -> **.csv file** and save it to your local hard drive.
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