# Merge options — Dedupely Knowledge Base > This guide explains all merge types in Dedupely: Auto, Bulk, Single, and Custom, and how to manage timing, statuses, and stopping merges if needed. - URL: https://dedupe.ly/knowledge-base/merge-options - Section: knowledge-base - Site index: https://dedupe.ly/llms.txt - Any page: append `.md` to its URL for this plain-text form --- ## Merge options Dedupely offers multiple merge methods to fit different deduplication workflows. Whether you’re merging in bulk, automating routine merges, or manually reviewing edge cases, Dedupely provides the tools you need to keep your CRM clean and accurate. This guide covers each merge type: **Auto Merge**, **Bulk Merge**, **Single Merge**, and **Custom Merge,**along with merge timing, status indicators, and how to stop merges if needed. ### Choosing the Right Merge Option Each merge method is designed for a specific purpose: - **Auto Merge:**Automatically merges obvious duplicates in the background. - **Bulk Merge:**Merges large volumes at once with optional manual review. - **Single Merge:**Merges one duplicate group at a time with full visibility. - **Custom merging:**Lets you control which values are kept or discarded in each field. We recommend: - Start with a few **single merges** during your trial to get familiar with the process. - Use **bulk or auto merge** for the majority of obvious duplicates. - Save **custom merges** for the few complex cases remaining. ### Auto Merge Auto Merge takes care of the bulk of your duplicates with minimal involvement. It runs in the background at your preferred interval and follows your Duplicate Search settings and optional Merge Rules. ### How to Enable Auto Merge: - Open a Duplicate Search. - Click Automate in the toolbar, then Auto Merge. - Choose a frequency that suits your operations. ### Auto Merge Intervals: - As soon as possible: merges each new duplicate as it is found. - On specific weekdays: for example every Tuesday and Friday. - On specific days of the month: such as the 1st and the 15th. - Between set hours: keep merges outside business hours. - Every X minutes, hours, days, weeks or months. You can turn Auto Merge off or abort it at any time. We recommend upgrading to a yearly plan when using Auto Merge to avoid service interruptions during scheduled merges. ### Bulk Merge Bulk Merge allows you to merge hundreds or thousands of records at once. It’s ideal when your Duplicate Searches are accurate and you want fast results. ### How to Bulk Merge: - Open your Duplicate Search. - Select the checkbox above the results list. - Choose **“Select All Matches”** or merge page by page. - Click **Merge** to process all selected duplicate groups. Bulk Merge is helpful when you want to scan through results before committing to merging large batches. ### Single Merge & Custom Merge When Auto Merge and Bulk Merge have cleaned up most duplicates, you may have a few edge cases left. Use **Single Merge** and **Custom Merge** for those. ### Single Merge: - Select a duplicate group by checking its box. - Click **Merge** to process it individually. ### Custom merging: - Click into the duplicate group. - Select which values should **win** for each field before merging. These options give you complete control and are best used for difficult or sensitive data scenarios. Want to automate your custom logic? Learn how to use [Merge Rules](https://dedupe.ly/knowledge-base/merge-rules) to define field-level merge outcomes for every Duplicate Search. ### Merge Statuses Each duplicate group will show a status label once merging begins. These help you track the progress of each merge: - **Pending:** The merge is queued and waiting to start. - **Merging:** The merge is currently in progress. - **Finished:** The merge has completed successfully. - **Error:** There was a problem merging. Hover over the status to view the error message. ### How to abort a merge You can stop an Auto or Bulk Merge that is currently running: - Go to the top right of your Duplicate Search. - Click "Cancel all" near the merge counter. Merges already under way finish; the rest are dropped. This action will cancel all pending merges in that Duplicate Search. Any merges that have already completed will remain unchanged. ### Next Steps - To learn how to define custom logic for merging, visit: [Using Merge Rules](https://dedupe.ly/knowledge-base/merge-rules) - For identifying duplicates to merge, see: **[Finding Duplicates with Dedupely](https://dedupe.ly/knowledge-base/find-duplicates)** Need guidance choosing the best merge method for your team? We’re here to help: - Reach out via chat or email ### Still stuck? - Need help? [Talk to support](https://dedupe.ly/contact) - Questions about plans? [Book a Zoom with sales](https://meetings.dedupe.ly/meetings/hampus-isaksson/dedupely-zoom-schedule) - Reading this with a model? [Read this page as Markdown](https://dedupe.ly/knowledge-base/merge-options.md) - Feeding it the whole site? [Read llms.txt](https://dedupe.ly/llms.txt) ### Get started for free 20 free trial merges and as much free support as you need to get your duplicates under control. 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