By the end of this guide, you'll know how to apply filters to narrow down your lead list and export specific leads as a CSV file for use outside lemlist.

Exporting targeted lead lists lets you analyze data in spreadsheets, share segments with team members, backup important lead groups, or move data to other tools. Rather than exporting all leads and filtering in Excel, lemlist's filters let you export exactly the leads you need, saving time and preventing data overload.

Before you start:

Step 1: Open your campaign

Go to Campaigns, then click the campaign you want to export leads from.

Step 2: Navigate to the Lead list and open filters

In your campaign, click Lead list, then click the Filter (funnel) icon to add a filter.

Step 3: Choose filter criteria

In the filter panel, select the field you want to filter by (for example, Status).

Step 4: Apply filters

Select the filter value(s) you want (for example, Deliverable), then click Apply.

The Lead list updates to show only leads matching your filter.

✅ Verify: You’ll see the active filter displayed above the table (and the lead count may decrease).

Step 1: Select leads to export

With filters applied, choose which leads to export:

Option A - Select specific leads: Select a lead using its checkbox, then click Export as .CSV in the action bar.

Option B - Select all filtered leads: Use the checkbox at the top of the list to select all leads currently shown (i.e., your filtered results), then click Export as .CSV.

Step 2: Download the file

Your browser downloads the CSV file automatically.

The file is typically named with the campaign name.

✅ Success indicator: CSV file appears in your Downloads folder. Open it to verify it contains the correct leads and data columns.

Issue: Filter shows no results

Root cause: No leads match the selected criteria, or filters are too restrictive

Fix: Remove one filter at a time to see which criteria eliminates all leads. Verify leads with desired attributes actually exist in the campaign.

Issue: Export button doesn't appear

Root cause: No leads selected, or selection not registered

Fix: Ensure at least one lead is selected (checkbox checked). Refresh the page if the button doesn't appear.

Issue: CSV file is empty or missing leads

Root cause: Filters cleared before export, or selection lost during export

Fix: Reapply filters, re-select leads, and export again immediately. Check your Downloads folder for multiple CSV files, you may be opening the wrong one.

Issue: CSV is missing some data columns

Root cause: Some custom variables may not export, or column visibility settings affect export

Fix: Verify custom variables exist in campaign data. Check that columns are visible in the Lead list view before export. Re-import the original CSV to confirm data exists in lemlist.

Issue: CSV shows strange characters (encoding)

Root cause: CSV opened in a tool that doesn't support UTF-8 encoding

Fix: Open the CSV in Google Sheets instead of Excel. If using Excel, use "Get Data → From Text/CSV" and select UTF-8 encoding.

Issue: Can't remember which filters were applied

Root cause: Multiple filters are active but not clearly visible

Fix: Review active filters shown above the lead table. Clear all filters and reapply methodically. Document common filter combinations for future exports.

Save filter combinations - If you regularly export the same segments (e.g., "Engaged but not replied"), document your filter settings. This makes repeat exports faster and consistent.

Export before major changes - Before pausing, deleting, or bulk-editing leads, export as a backup. This provides a rollback option if needed.

Use descriptive file names - Rename downloaded CSVs to describe contents (e.g., "Opened-NoReply-TechCompanies-Dec2024.csv").

Test filters with a small view first - Before exporting hundreds of leads, scan the filtered results to verify they match expectations.

Combine multiple filters strategically - Layer filters to create precise segments: Status + Engagement + Custom Variable.

Clear filters after export - After exporting, clear filters to return to the full lead view and avoid confusion.

Document export purpose - Note why you exported the segment (analysis, backup, handoff). This helps later when you revisit the file.

The CSV export includes:

💡 Note: Export is a snapshot of data at the moment you click Export. Changes made in lemlist after export won't appear in the CSV file.