# How column type detection works

Source: https://listplus.ai/en/help/lists-and-import/column-detection
Last updated: 2026-09-25

When you import a file, ListPlus uses AI to work out what each column
actually holds — email, first name, company, job title, phone and more —
instead of leaving every column as plain text. This matters because checks
and enrichment look for specific column types (an email check needs to know
which column is the email column), so getting the type right up front
saves manual fixing later.

## Why it runs

Checks, enrichment and finder features all look up columns by what they
contain, not by their header name — a header called "E-Mail", "Mail" or
"Contact" is still recognized as the email column. Column detection is what
makes that recognition possible, so it runs automatically on every import,
right after you pick your file and before you click **Create List**. There
is no way to turn it off in advance.

## What you see

In the preview step, click **Configure field types** below the preview to
review and correct the detected types before you click **Create List**. A
**Skip AI Enhancement** button only appears if the detection is unavailable
or fails — it is not a way to opt out of the cost, since it only shows up
when the step can't run anyway. For exactly what data this step sends to
the AI, see "[What the AI sees of your data](https://listplus.ai/en/help/working-in-a-list/what-the-ai-sees)."

## Cost

Detection is billed by AI usage, the same metered way as AI commands —
there is no fixed credit amount shown up front. It is separate from the
1-credit charge for the import itself; see "[AI, research and import costs](https://listplus.ai/en/help/plans-credits-billing/price-list-ai-research-imports)"
for how AI usage is billed and "Price list" for the full cost overview.

## Fixing a wrong type later

If a column was detected wrong, or you change your mind after import, open
the **⋯** menu in the list header, click **List Settings...**, and switch
to the **Schema** tab. Each column has a **Content Type** dropdown (email,
phone, company, job title and more) and a **Data Type** dropdown (string,
number, boolean, date, lookup). Click **Apply Changes** to save; the list
reloads with the new types, with no re-import needed.

**Related topics:** create-list-and-import-file · import-file-details ·
what-the-ai-sees · price-list-ai-research-imports.

## FAQ

### What does column type detection actually do?

It looks at your file's headers and a sample of real values to work out what each column holds — email, first name, last name, company, phone, job title, country and more — instead of treating every column as plain text. Checks, enrichment and finders then use those types to find the right column automatically, regardless of your header wording.

### Does column detection run every time I import a file?

Yes, on every import, automatically, right after you choose your file and before you create the list — there's no setting to turn it off in advance. Click Configure field types in the preview step to review and correct the detected types before clicking Create List.

### What happens if I click Skip AI Enhancement?

The button only appears when the column analysis is unavailable or fails for that import. Skipping creates the list with your columns as plain text; you can set each column's type later in List Settings → Schema.

### The AI got a column type wrong — how do I fix it?

Open the ⋯ menu in the list header, click List Settings..., open the Schema tab, pick the correct Content Type for that column and click Apply Changes.

### Why does it matter if a column's type is correct?

Checks and enrichment look up columns by their type, not by header name — an email check needs to know which column is the email column, whatever it's called. A wrong or missing type means those features won't find the data, even though it's visibly there in the grid.

### What column types can ListPlus recognize?

Common ones include email, first name, last name, full name, phone, company, job title, country, city, state, postal code, gender, domain, website, LinkedIn URL and industry. Columns that don't match a known type are left as plain text and can still be typed manually in List Settings.