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Import Custom HTML Email Templates

Import HTML email templates from Canva, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or custom code into Omnisend. Learn to fix common errors, host images correctly, and troubleshoot blank previews

Ira avatar
Written by Ira
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Save time by importing email templates you've already designed. Upload HTML files from Canva, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or custom code, then use them in Email Campaigns and Automation Workflows.

This guide shows you how to import templates, troubleshoot common errors, and ensure images display correctly.

Before You Begin

Read about HTML requirements:
Before importing, review Basics of email HTML and Custom HTML content block for the full list of supported tags.

⚠️ Important: <!DOCTYPE HTML> and <head> tags must be removed before uploading. You can do this manually in a text editor, or use htmlcorrector.com to automatically strip out these tags and other unsupported elements.

Two import methods:

  1. Import HTML (upload a .html file) – useful for Mailchimp users

  2. Paste in code (copy/paste HTML) – useful for Klaviyo and Canva users

Import from Canva

Canva is a popular design tool, but its HTML export requires extra steps before it works in Omnisend.

Step 1. Export from Canva

In Canva, go to Share → Download → File type: HTML. Canva will download a folder containing:

  • email.html (the file you need)

  • An images folder (you'll need to host these separately – see below)

Step 2. Open the HTML file in a text editor

  • Windows: Right-click email.html → Open with → Notepad

  • Mac: Right-click email.html → Open With → TextEdit

⚠️ Don't double-click the file – it will open in your browser instead.

Step 3. Clean the HTML

  1. Delete the entire <!DOCTYPE html> line at the top

  2. Delete everything between <head> and </head> (including the tags themselves)

  3. Copy the remaining code and paste it into htmlcorrector.com

  4. Click Clean HTML and copy the result

Step 4. Host your images

Omnisend cannot import image files directly. Canva's images folder won't work – images must be hosted online with full URLs (e.g., https://yoursite.com/image.jpg).

Option A: Upload to Omnisend

  1. In Omnisend, create a new Email Campaign

  2. Add an Image block → Upload each image

  3. Right-click the image → Copy image URL

  4. In your HTML, replace local image paths (images/photo.jpg) with Omnisend URLs

Option B: Use external hosting
Upload images to Imgur, Cloudinary, or your website, then update the image URLs in your HTML.

Step 5. Paste in code

Go to Store settings → Saved templates → Import template → Paste in code, then paste your cleaned HTML.

Importing Process

Step 1. Navigate to Store Settings

Go to Store settings → Saved templates.

Step 2. View Saved Templates

You'll see:

  • A list of saved templates – You can copy, preview, or delete them. Learn more about copying templates. 

  • Import template button – Click this to choose your import method.

Option 1. Import the HTML File

If you have an .html file saved on your computer:

  1. Click Import HTML

  2. Add your Template name

  3. Choose the HTML file

  4. Click Upload

If you see "Sorry, we couldn't import HTML template":

Common causes:

  • HTML still contains <DOCTYPE> or <head> tags (remove these first)

  • File includes unsupported elements (<iframe>, <script>, invalid CSS)

  • Wrong file format (.zip, .txt, or folder) – must be a .html file

Fix: Clean your code using htmlcorrector.com, then try Option 2: Paste in code instead.

Your imported template will appear on the Saved templates page and be available when creating campaigns and automation.

Option 2. Paste in HTML Code

If you have HTML code copied (e.g., from Canva, Klaviyo, or another tool):

  1. Click Paste in code

  2. Add your Template name

  3. Paste the cleaned HTML

  4. Click Import

Your template will appear on the Saved templates page and be available in campaigns and automation.

Edit an Imported Template

You can edit your template's content and design. Click the email content to open the HTML editor.

⚠️ Important notes:

If you transfer a template from another email service provider, you'll need to manually delete:

  • All personalization tags

  • View in browser link

  • Unsubscribe link

Omnisend will add its own versions automatically.

Note: Images may not display correctly in test emails or previews. This is expected behavior – test emails use temporary image links that don't always render properly (especially in Gmail and Outlook Web). To verify your design, send the campaign to a real test segment or your own email address. Images will display correctly in live campaigns.

Troubleshooting

Why is my HTML blank in preview?

Blank previews are usually caused by unsupported HTML tags or formatting errors.

Fix:

  1. Clean your HTML using htmlcorrector.com

  2. Remove <DOCTYPE>, <head>, <iframe>, and <script> tags

  3. Ensure images use full URLs, not local file paths

  4. Test with simple HTML first (e.g., <p>Test</p>) to confirm the block works, then gradually add your content back

Why can't I see images after importing?

Omnisend cannot access local image files. If your HTML references images stored on your computer (e.g., images/photo.jpg), they won't display.

Fix: Host images online and update the URLs in your HTML. See the "Host your images" section above.

What does "text contains prohibited HTML tags" mean?

This error means your HTML includes tags that aren't supported in email. Common culprits:

  • <DOCTYPE> and <head> tags

  • <iframe> (embedded content)

  • <script> (JavaScript)

  • Complex CSS or font styling

Fix: Use htmlcorrector.com to automatically remove these tags, or manually delete them. See Custom HTML content block for the full list of supported tags.

FAQ

Can I upload Canva's image folder along with the HTML file?

No. Omnisend only accepts HTML code – it cannot process image folders or local image files. You'll need to upload images separately and update the URLs in your HTML. See "Host your images" above.

The imported HTML looks different than my design. Why?

Email HTML renders differently from web HTML. Common issues:

  • Email clients strip out complex CSS – Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail don't support many modern CSS properties

  • Canva designs use web formatting – Canva optimizes for web, not email clients

  • Fonts may not load – Custom fonts often revert to fallback fonts in email

Solutions:

  1. Use htmlcorrector.com to clean unsupported code

  2. Simplify your design: use basic HTML tags and inline CSS

  3. Consider rebuilding in Omnisend's Email Builder for better compatibility. Get started with the Email Builder.

  4. Test your email across multiple clients (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) before launching

For any further guidance or help, contact our award-winning support team using the in-app chat or by emailing [email protected].

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Migrate from Mailchimp to Omnisend
Copy Saved Templates Between Omnisend Accounts
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