How to Export Contacts From iPhone

Export contact cards from the Contacts app, vCards from iCloud, or use third-party apps to share via Excel or CSV

By
Brenna Miles
Brenna Miles
Writer
  • The University of Phoenix
Brenna Miles is a technology writer with a B.A. in Business Management and HR Management. She's been writing about technology for 6+ years.
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Updated on May 9, 2024
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • Contacts app: Lists > touch and hold list > Export > choose fields > Done > sharing method.
  • iCloud: Turn on Contacts syncing from iPhone Settings > go to iCloud > Contacts > choose contacts > Export vCard.
  • Export Contact app: Grant access to contacts > select file format > Continue > Export.

This article explains how to export contacts from iPhone using the Contacts app, iCloud, and the Export Contact app.

Export from Contacts App

One simple way to share contacts is through the Contacts app. Here's how to do that.

  1. Open the Contacts app.

  2. Navigate to Lists and tap and hold a specific list.

  3. Choose Export from the options.

  4. Confirm which details you want to include and tap Done.

  5. Select your preferred sharing method.

Export Contacts From iPhone to vCard Using iCloud

You can export your iPhone contacts to the vCard (VCF file) format via your iCloud account. The VCF format of a vCard is similar to the look and feel of an online business card and is a standard address book format.

A vCard file is an industry-standard contacts file format that many programs, including Microsoft Outlook, support. This file type loads naturally into most contact lists, making it ideal for transferring contact information with minimum complexity.

  1. On your iPhone, tap Settings > your name > iCloud.

  2. Turn on the Contacts toggle switch. If this setting is turned off, contacts on the device won't sync with your iCloud account and cannot be exported to a file.

  3. On a computer, open a web browser, go to iCloud, and sign in with your Apple ID.

    You may need to use Apple's two-factor authentication to log in.

  4. Choose Contacts from the apps list in the upper-right corner.

  5. Select a list and choose one or multiple contacts.

    Press Shift while clicking or Cmd+A to grab the whole list. Hold Control while clicking to select contacts one by one.

  6. Click the Share icon and choose Export vCard.

  7. Choose a name for the VCF file in the save dialog box and press Save.

    If the application you want to import your contacts doesn't support the VCF format, use an online converter to convert the VCF file to a CSV file, such as the AConvert online conversion tool.

How to Export Contacts From iPhone to Excel/CSV Format

Although there are several apps designed to handle this task, Export Contact is free and well-reviewed by users.

  1. Download and launch the Export Contact app on your iPhone.

  2. Tap Allow to give the app to access your iPhones contact.

  3. Select the file format in which you want to export your contacts: vCArd, CSV, or Excel. In this example, we'll select CSV.

  4. Tap Continue and Continue again to accept that the Contact Pro free version can export only your first 100 contacts.

    The free version Export Contact is ad-supported, so you may see ads throughout the process.

  5. You'll see a message that 100 contacts were prepared. Tap Export to download the file and choose your sharing method.

FAQ
  • How do I export contacts from Android to iPhone?

    Use the Move to iOS app from Google Play to transfer contacts from Android to iPhone. Another option is to use the Android SIM card. On the Android device, open Contacts and tap Settings > Import/Export > Export > SIM card > insert the SIM card in your iPhone.

  • How do I export contacts from iPhone to Gmail?

    On your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > select your Gmail account and turn on Contacts. If you haven't set up your Gmail account on your iPhone, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google > enter the Gmail address and password, then turn on Contacts.

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