CSV import error
How to fix "Duplicate SKU" / "handle already exists"
What this error means and the exact, free way to fix it — right in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
If your import fails with:
What it means
Many importers require unique identifiers. Square and Magento reject duplicate SKUs; Shopify groups rows by Handle, so a duplicate handle merges or overwrites the wrong product. A duplicate-key error means two or more rows share the same SKU or handle.
Common causes
- Merging several supplier feeds or batch exports re-used the same SKUs.
- Variants were exported as separate rows that share one SKU.
- Blank SKUs that all collapse to the same "empty" value.
How to fix it
The deterministic fix is to find and remove the duplicate rows before importing.
- Open the file in the free Fix a CSV tool and turn on the de-duplicate option.
- It removes duplicate rows so each SKU or handle appears once.
- Re-import the de-duplicated file.
Tip: if you want to see which SKUs repeat before deciding what to keep, open the file in the free CSV viewer and sort by the SKU column. De-duplication removes whole duplicate rows — review first if real variants legitimately share a value.
Remove duplicate rows — free
Fix a CSV's de-duplicate option strips repeated rows so importers that demand unique SKUs/handles accept the file.
Also free, in your browser: all CSV tools · the converter · Fix a CSV · Split CSV