Assigning Contacts to Lists #
Learn how to add and remove contacts from lists to organize your contact database effectively.
Overview #
Contacts can belong to multiple lists simultaneously. Assign lists during contact creation, editing, or through bulk operations.
Prerequisites:
- At least one list created
- Permission to update contacts and read list definitions
Assigning Contacts to Lists #
Method 1: During Contact Creation #
- PloverCRM → Contacts → Add New Contact
- Fill in contact information
- In the Lists metabox (sidebar), check desired lists
- Click Publish

Method 2: Editing Existing Contacts #
- PloverCRM → Contacts → Click contact
- In the Lists metabox, check/uncheck lists
- Click Update
Method 3: Bulk Assignment #
- PloverCRM → Contacts → Select multiple contacts
- Bulk Actions → Edit → Apply
- In bulk edit panel, select lists
- Click Update
Note: Bulk edit adds lists without removing existing assignments.

Method 4: Via API #
curl -X PUT https://yoursite.com/wp-json/plover-crm/v1/contacts/123 \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_PASSWORD" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"lists": ["newsletter", "customers", "vip"]}'
Note: API accepts list slugs or IDs and replaces the entire list assignment.
Removing Contacts from Lists #
Single Contact #
- Open contact → Uncheck list in Lists metabox → Update
Multiple Contacts #
- Filter by list → Select contacts
- Bulk Actions → Edit → Uncheck list → Update
Remove All from a List #
- PloverCRM → Lists → Hover over list → View
- Select all contacts → Bulk Actions → Edit
- Uncheck list → Update
List Behavior #
Multiple Assignment:
- Contacts can belong to unlimited lists
- List assignments are independent
- Lists are non-hierarchical
Permissions:
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Super Admin | Assign any list to any contact |
| Custom Roles | Require list_definitions read permission |
| Update Scope | Must have permission to update the contact |
Use Cases #
Segmentation: Industry (Real Estate, Healthcare), Location (North America, Europe), Company Size (Enterprise, SMB)
Lifecycle Stages: Leads, Qualified Leads, Customers, Churned Customers
Campaign Management: Q1 2026 Campaign, Product Launch Attendees, Webinar Registrants
Team Assignment: Sales Team A, Support Queue, Account Management
Best Practices #
- Use clear, descriptive list names with consistent patterns
- Regularly review and clean up unused lists
- Remove contacts when no longer relevant
- Use form integrations for automatic assignment
- Document the purpose of each list
Troubleshooting #
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Lists metabox not visible | Check list_definitions permission, verify Screen Options |
| Lists not saving | Verify update permission, check browser console for errors |
| Bulk edit not working | Check update_scope, try smaller batches, verify permissions |
| API assignment fails | Verify list slugs/IDs, check authentication and permissions |
API Reference #
Update Contact Lists:
PUT /wp-json/plover-crm/v1/contacts/{id}
Request:
{ "lists": ["newsletter", "customers"] }
Response:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"id": 123,
"email": "[email protected]",
"lists": [
{ "id": 1, "title": "Newsletter", "slug": "newsletter" },
{ "id": 2, "title": "Customers", "slug": "customers" }
]
}
}
Last Updated: February 3, 2026