# Use an update contact step in a journey

In this article, you'll learn how to add an **update contact step** to a journey. This allows you to automatically update contact attributes as a contact moves through the journey.

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### Good to know

* You can only update the contact attributes for existing contacts.
* You can update multiple attributes with the same **update contact step**.
* It's best practice to use the **update contact step** at the end of a journey. This reduces the number of steps that you need to use, and makes it easier to keep the journey clean.
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### What you'll need

* A journey with a trigger
* A contact with attributes

### Step one: Add an update contact step to a journey

1. Hover your mouse pointer over the last node of the journey tree or over a conditional step’s path you’ll see an ‘add step’ icon. 
2. Select the add a step icon.
3. Select the **update contact step**.

### Step two: Configure the update contact step

1. Click **+ Add.**
2. Select the contact attribute that you want to be updated. For example, you might want to update a custom attribute called ‘note’ about this contact.
3. Configure the update that you want to make to the selected attribute.
4. \[Optional] Layer additional contact attribute changes by clicking the **+ Add** button and repeating steps 2-3.
5. Click **Save**.

If you want to delete an update contact condition, click the **Delete** icon next to the step configuration.

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Success! You've just added an update contact step.
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### FAQs

#### Can I update attributes from an external system?

Yes, you can update contact attributes that are synced from an external system via a connector in a journey.