Creating a shared directory of external contacts

Note:

Account owners and admins can create a shared directory of external contacts. The shared directory is accessible by phone users using the Zoom desktop client or mobile app. External contacts are displayed in the contact group Imported Contacts under the All Contacts section in the Contacts tab.

When creating a directory, you can specify a third-party PBX provider so that Zoom Phone users can communicate with the external contacts.

This feature can be useful in these scenarios:

This article covers:

Prerequisites for creating a shared directory of external contacts

Limitations for creating a shared directory of external contacts

Before creating a shared directory, take note of these limitations:

How to create SIP groups (optional)

Note: To create SIP groups, you need to contact Zoom to enable SIP groups and set up SIP trunks for your account. 

You can configure a third-party provider by creating SIP groups. This allows Zoom Phone users to call imported contacts using the third-party provider.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Phone System Management then Company Info.
  3. Click Account Settings at the top of the page.
  4. Scroll down to the Routing section.
  5. Under SIP Groups, click Manage.
  6. Click Add and enter the following information:
  7. Click Save.

How to add a contact

Follow these steps to add contacts one at a time.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Phone System Management then Company Info.
  3. Click Account Settings at the top of the page.
  4. Click the External Contacts tab.
  5. Click Add.
  6. Specify the contact fields.

How to add contacts using a CSV file 

You can create several contacts at once by importing a CSV file.

How to create a CSV file

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Phone System Management then Company Info.
  3. Click Account Settings at the top of the page.
  4. Click the External Contacts tab.
  5. Click Import.
  6. Click CSV Sample to view the fields.
  7. Click Download.
  8. Open the CSV sample using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel.
  9. Fill out the CSV sample using the contact fields.

How to import a CSV file

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Phone System Management then Company Info.
  3. Click Account Settings at the top of the page.
  4. Click the External Contacts tab.
  5. Click Import.
  6. Click Upload CSV and select the completed CSV file.

Contact fields definition

You can specify the following information when creating contacts for the shared directory:

How to use the shared directory

Admins and phone users can use these features that take advantage of the shared directory of external contacts:

Admins

Phone users