> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.affinity.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Identifying How Contacts Are Created In Affinity

> Help center reference

<Note>
  **Concept** — background and overview.
</Note>

Given that contacts can be created via multiple ways within Affinity, knowing how and when they were created can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to managing duplicates and gaining additional context.

## What are the different ways that contacts can be created?

* **Created automatically via email/calendar syncing**
  * This will appear as, "*This profile was automatically created by Affinity on `{date}`.*"
* **Created manually via the CRM, user invite, Pathfinder extension, Outlook add-in, or internal API call**
  * This will appear as, "*This profile was automatically created by `{user}` on `{date}`.*"
* **Created via Affinity Alliances (sending an Alliances invite)**
  * This will appear as, "*This profile was created through Affinity Alliances on `{date}`.*"
* **Created via data import or note import**
  * This will appear as, "*This profile was imported by `{user}` on `{date}`.*"
* **Created via the Affinity API (external API call or Affinity for Salesforce)**
  * This will appear as, "*This profile was created by API on `{date}`.*" **Note**: There are a few scenarios that either fall outside of these categories or are considered undetermined. In this case, Affinity will not show one of the options above.

## Where can I find the creation sources in Affinity?

There are two different areas within the Affinity CRM where you can find a person's creation source:

1. On a person's profile page by clicking on the 3-dotted icon.
   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/support-affinity/-rHSeCgysap8c4--/images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/1.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=-rHSeCgysap8c4--&q=85&s=ad1616a5df291a97c69d701abbba97a2" alt="" width="879" height="251" data-path="images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/1.jpg" />
2. You can click the Merge Duplicate option to also see the creation source of the duplicate you're trying to merge.
   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/support-affinity/-rHSeCgysap8c4--/images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/2.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=-rHSeCgysap8c4--&q=85&s=2be94316108b3b1a98411ddb1fbabe85" style={{ width:"74%" }} width="523" height="483" data-path="images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/2.jpg" />
3. Within the **People** tab of the [**Duplicate Management**](/s/article/How-to-merge-duplicates) center found in **Settings** (for Admins and Enterprise Admins only).
   <img src="https://mintcdn.com/support-affinity/-rHSeCgysap8c4--/images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/3.jpg?fit=max&auto=format&n=-rHSeCgysap8c4--&q=85&s=12b6a2e449408a17f0328d1205695a2e" alt="" width="1233" height="144" data-path="images/features-profiles/identifying-how-contacts-are-created-in-affinity/3.jpg" />

## Important Callouts

* The profile creation date and method is **only** available for people at this time. If you'd like to see this feature supported for organizations as well, we'd be happy to receive your feedback at [support@affinity.co](mailto:support@affinity.co).

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