How to Export Contacts From iPhone (vCard, CSV or Excel)

Exporting gives you a file you can send, open on a computer or import into another app or account. iPhone and iCloud.com export contacts as a vCard (.vcf), the format most phones and email apps can import. Spreadsheet formats take one more step.

Export contacts on iPhone

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   Step 1: Open your lists

   In Contacts, tap the Lists button (or the Show Sidebar button).

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   Step 2: Pick a list

   Touch and hold a list, such as all your contacts, or create a list with Add List for just the ones you want.

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   Step 3: Export

   Tap Export, select the fields you want to include, then tap Done.

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   Step 4: Send or save the file

   Choose a way to send or save the exported contact cards, such as Messages or Mail.

Export all contacts from iCloud.com

If your contacts sync with iCloud, a computer or tablet is the quickest way to get everything in one file. Apple notes Contacts on iCloud.com needs a tablet or computer.

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   Step 1: Sign in

   Go to icloud.com/contacts and sign in with your Apple Account.

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   Step 2: Select contacts

   Select the Actions button at the top of the list, then Select All Contacts. To export only some (computer only), hold Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) and click each one.

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   Step 3: Export

   Select the Share button, then Export vCard. Apple says several contacts are exported as a single vCard.

Export contacts to CSV or Excel

On a Mac, with Numbers

Apple’s Contacts guide for Mac describes this: open Contacts on the Mac (with the same iCloud contacts), select the contacts, open a spreadsheet in Numbers and drag the contacts into it. Then choose File › Export To and pick Excel, CSV, TSV or Numbers ’09. Apple warns that if your own card has notes or photos or is set to private, fields you chose not to share are included when you export it this way.

On Windows or any computer, with Google Contacts

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   Step 1: Import the vCard

   In Google Contacts on a computer, click Import › Select file, choose the .vcf file from iCloud.com and click Import.

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   Step 2: Select the contacts

   Check the box next to a contact, then click Selection Actions › All at the top left.

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   Step 3: Export a CSV

   Click More actions › Export, select Google CSV and click Export.

CleanX

Clean up your contacts before you export them with CleanX

An export copies every duplicate and half-empty card too. CleanX finds contacts saved more than once, by the same name or the same phone number, and contacts with no name or no phone number, so you can merge or delete them before you export. CleanX doesn’t create vCard or CSV files itself; its backup stays inside the app.

• Duplicate contacts and contacts with missing info
• Merge or delete before the export
• Scanning is free; merging, deleting and backing up need CleanX Pro

See everything CleanX does →

Before you export

• A vCard holds personal data. Store and send it the way you would any private file.
• Moving to Android? See how to transfer contacts from iPhone to Android.
• Want a backup rather than a file? See how to back up contacts on iPhone.