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Connect & import

Open Settings → Connect to pull people into Orbit. Imports de-duplicate in the background so the same person does not become three cards.

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Sources

Marketing sometimes mentions Outlook and GitHub. Prefer the Connect tiles you see in the app — those are the live paths today.

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LinkedIn

Two ways in:
  1. Auto-import (Mac) — one-click in the desktop app. Orbit signs into LinkedIn and pulls your network. This is the recommended path.
  2. Export upload — download your LinkedIn data export (ZIP/CSV) and upload it in Connect. Works when you are on web without the desktop shell.
Web alone cannot scrape a LinkedIn browser session the way the Mac app can — use desktop or an export.

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Google

Connect Google with OAuth. Orbit imports:
  • Google Contacts
  • People who appear on your calendars as attendees
Reconnect anytime from Connect if sync stalls.

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Apple Contacts

Available in the iPhone app. After the first import, Mac/web can show the source as connected; manage and resync from mobile.

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Apple Calendar

Available in the iPhone app during onboarding and from Connect. After you review the disclosure and grant access, Orbit imports people who appear as attendees on meetings from the last 12 months and adds meeting history to their timelines. Calendar-derived data stays in your private Orbit account and is not automatically sent to third-party AI or profile enrichment services. Mac/web show the source as connected after a mobile import; manage and re-import from mobile.

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CSV

On Mac or web, choose Import CSV. Orbit suggests column mappings (name, email, company, title, LinkedIn, …). Review, confirm, and contacts are created.

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Granola (Pro)

  1. In Granola: Settings → Connectors → API keys → create a personal key (grn_…). Granola typically requires Business/Enterprise for API access.
  2. In Orbit Connect: paste the key and sync.
  3. Use Sync now, or let hourly sync keep notes flowing onto people you met.

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Messages (Pro)

Apple Messages (iMessage / SMS) syncs only on the Orbit Mac app. There is no cloud API for your personal inbox — Orbit reads the local Messages database on your Mac after you grant Full Disk Access.
  1. Open Connect → Messages in the Mac app (Pro).
  2. Confirm you want Orbit to read recent 1:1 chats (read-only).
  3. Grant Full Disk Access when prompted (and restart Orbit if macOS asks).
  4. Sync — Orbit creates or matches contacts, writes short From Messages summaries, adds interest tags, and shows recent snippets on timelines.
Web and iPhone can view people and timelines after a Mac sync; they cannot start a new Messages sync. Group chats are skipped for now. Disconnect anytime from Connect.

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WhatsApp and Instagram

Connect WhatsApp and Instagram in the Orbit Mac app. WhatsApp syncs chats, while Instagram can import mutuals through Fabric and optionally sync DMs. Both are Free. Web and iPhone can view synced people and timelines, but cannot start or reconnect a channel.

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Telegram (Pro)

Telegram connects from the Orbit Mac app and is available with Pro. LinkedIn messages are Free and sync when you Connect LinkedIn.

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After import

  • Research starts automatically for people with a trusted LinkedIn URL (Research)
  • Search quality improves as coverage grows (Search)
  • Pro can turn on Autopilot so new people keep landing without another CSV
Large first imports can take a few minutes. Leave Connect open, then try Search once counts look sane.