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Update multiple devices with a CSV file (bulk edit)

Updating device settings one by one takes time, especially when you're managing hundreds or thousands of Kontakt.io devices. In Device Management, you can update many devices at once using a CSV file. This is often called a bulk edit.

Things to know

  • Exported CSV file

    The file includes each device's configuration settings and its read-only data from Device Management in Kio Cloud and the Device Management API.

    For details on the configuration settings, see the create config endpoint documentation in the Device Management API. These details help when you update settings in the CSV file.

    The file also includes read-only device-status columns that reflect what Kio Cloud last received from the device. These use raw field names with raw values: status.online and status.externalPower are true or false; status.batteryLevel is a number; and status.firstOnlineTimestamp and status.lastOnlineTimestamp are timestamps. You can't change these columns by importing a CSV file.

  • Export and import limits

    You can export and import up to 50,000 devices at a time.

  • Column editing rules (import CSV file)

    Don't delete the uniqueId column — this field is required and maps each row to a device.

    Include the uniqueId column and only the columns you want to update, such as UUID or Name. This keeps you from changing settings you didn't mean to touch.

    Don't include columns with empty values. If a column is present but a value is blank, the import clears that setting on the device.

  • The import overwrites later changes

    The import CSV file takes precedence over the current settings in Device Management, so any changes you made after the original export are overwritten.

    For example, say you export devices on Monday at 1 PM, then at 2 PM you change a device's Deployment Status from "To Be Deployed" to "Deployed" in Device Management. If you then import the CSV file, which still shows "To Be Deployed," it overwrites the 2 PM change.

  • Timestamp data is in the UTC timezone.

Step 1: Export devices

First, export and download the devices and their data.

  1. From your Kontakt.io Launchpad, go to Device Management.

  2. From the Inventory menu, select the category of the devices you're updating, either Tags or Infrastructure.

  3. To update only a specific set of devices, filter the list to just the devices you want to update.

    For example, to update only Asset Tag 2 devices, from the Search & Filter feature, set the Criteria to Product, set the Product filter to IS, then select Asset Tag 2.

  4. From the Bulk option (it displays the number of devices being exported), select Export CSV, then select Download CSV. The file downloads to your computer's default download location.

    Important: The Download CSV link expires in 60 seconds.

    Tip: Importing an updated CSV file cannot be rolled back. Save a copy of the original CSV export file in case you need to manually roll back the updates or retain the original data.

Step 2: Update the exported CSV file

  1. Open the CSV file using a third-party editor such as Excel. Be sure to follow the guidelines when using third-party apps to edit the CSV file.

  2. Locate the relevant columns and apply the necessary changes.

    You may delete any columns you're not updating (recommended), but do not delete the uniqueId column or the header row.

  3. Save the file in a CSV format and continue to the next step

Step 3: Import the updated CSV file

  1. With the updated CSV file ready, go back to Device Management.

  2. From the Inventory menu, select Tags or Infrastructure (matching the category of the original export).

  3. Select Import CSV, select Upload CSV File, select the updated file, then select Open to start the import.

    If an error prevented the import, review the message to correct the CSV import file, then repeat the import.

    Once completed, the configuration updates are applied to each device.

Step 4: Synchronize pending device configurations

Synchronization keeps a device's local configuration in sync with its configuration in Kio Cloud. How a device synchronizes depends on the type of setting and your BLE-to-Wi-Fi Infrastructure.

By type of setting:

  • Virtual settings (Deployment Status, Tags, Notes): devices don't need to synchronize; the updates apply automatically. Virtual settings are stored in Kio Cloud, not in a device's local configuration.

  • All other settings: devices must synchronize to receive pending configuration updates. These settings are stored locally on the device and must be kept in sync with Kio Cloud.

By infrastructure type:

  • Kontakt.io Portal Lights: Tags and Infrastructure devices synchronize automatically and receive pending configuration updates.

    Portal Lights connect to the local Wi-Fi network every minute to exchange data and download pending configuration updates from Kio Cloud. BLE Tags and Infrastructure devices receive pending configuration updates from a nearby Portal Light.

  • No Portal Light infrastructure: Tags and BLE Infrastructure devices must be synchronized locally at the device.

    To learn how to synchronize devices locally, see Synchronize device pending updates with the Kio Setup Manager app.

How to check a device's pending synchronization status

On both the Tags and Infrastructure menus, the list view has a Synchronizing column that shows whether a device has a pending configuration . If you don't see the column, select Customize Table to add it to the view.

A device's profile also shows a PENDING update notification and the sync icon at the tab and setting level, so you can see a pending configuration there too.

Important guidelines when using third-party apps to update a CSV file

When you edit CSV files in third-party apps like Excel or Google Sheets, automatic formatting can misread your data — for example, by converting a long number to scientific notation — which then causes errors during import.

Follow these guidelines to keep the file compatible.

Excel

  1. Open Excel and create a new blank workbook.

  2. Go to the Data tab.

  3. In the Get External Data section, select From Text/CSV.

  4. Locate and import your CSV file.

  5. For each column, set the data type to Text. This preserves the original data format.

    Do not select General or any other format.

Google Sheets

  1. Create a new spreadsheet.

  2. Go to File > Import.

  3. Choose your CSV file.

  4. Clear the Convert text to numbers, dates, and formulas checkbox.

  5. Select Import data.

LibreOffice

  1. During the import, in Other Options, select the Format quoted field as text checkbox.

  2. Select all data.

  3. Select Column Type.

  4. Select Text.