Export Google Contacts as a CSV or vCard file

You can download your Google Contacts in a standard format that works with almost any other email or contact service. Google lets you export all your contacts or just a specific group, and the file lands on your computer ready to use elsewhere.

The export process takes about two minutes. You'll use Google Contacts (the standalone app at contacts.google.com, not Gmail's built-in contacts), select what you want to download, and choose between CSV format (a spreadsheet-style file) or vCard format (the standard contact file type). Both formats preserve names, phone numbers, email addresses, and most custom fields you've added.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to contacts.google.com, select the contacts or groups you want, and click the three-dot menu to find the export option.
  • CSV format works best if you're moving to another Google account or importing into a spreadsheet program.
  • vCard format is the better choice if you're switching to Outlook, Apple Contacts, or most other contact management apps.
  • You can export all contacts at once or export specific groups separately if you only need certain people.
  • The exported file stays on your computer — Google doesn't send it anywhere, so you control where it goes next.

Step-by-step: Export all your contacts

Step 1: Open Google Contacts. Go to contacts.google.com in your web browser and sign in with your Google account if you're not already signed in. You'll see your full contact list on the left side of the screen.

Step 2: Select all contacts. Click the checkbox at the top of your contact list (next to the search bar) to select every contact at once. A small menu will appear asking if you want to select all contacts. Click "Select all [number] contacts" to confirm. If you only want to export a specific group, skip this step and go to the group name on the left sidebar instead, then select all contacts within that group.

Step 3: Open the menu. With your contacts selected, look for the three-dot menu icon (⋮) near the top of the page. Click it to open a dropdown menu with several options.

Step 4: Click Export. In the dropdown menu, select "Export." A new window will appear asking you to choose a format.

Step 5: Choose your format and download. You'll see two options: "Google CSV" and "vCard (for iPhone)." Select the format that matches where you're sending the contacts. Click "Export" and your browser will download the file to your computer's default Downloads folder. The file will be named something like "contacts.csv" or "contacts.vcf" depending on which format you chose.

CSV vs. vCard: Which format to use

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a spreadsheet format that opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or any text editor. Use CSV if you're moving to another Google account, need to edit contacts in a spreadsheet before importing them elsewhere, or want a human-readable backup file. CSV preserves most standard fields like name, email, phone, and address, but some custom fields may not transfer perfectly.

vCard is the universal contact format used by Outlook, Apple Contacts, iPhone, Android, and most other contact apps. Use vCard if you're switching email providers, moving to a new phone, or importing into any contact app other than Google. vCard handles custom fields better than CSV and is the safer choice if you're unsure where the contacts are going.

If you're not sure which one you need, vCard is the more reliable option for moving contacts between different services. You can always export twice — once in each format — and test which one works better with your destination.

Exporting specific groups instead of all contacts

If you've organized your contacts into groups (like "Family," "Work," or "Friends"), you can export just one group without downloading everyone. Open Google Contacts and click the group name on the left sidebar. All contacts in that group will appear in the main view. Click the checkbox at the top to select all contacts in that group only, then follow steps 3 through 5 above.

This is useful if you want to share a group with someone else, back up only your work contacts, or import a specific set of people into another service without cluttering it with your entire contact list. You can repeat this process for each group you want to export separately.

What happens after you export

Once the file downloads to your computer, Google has no further involvement. The file is yours to keep, share, or import wherever you need it. Most contact services have an "import" option that will read your CSV or vCard file and add those contacts to their system. Check the help section of your destination service for specific import steps — the process varies slightly between Outlook, Apple Mail, Samsung Contacts, and others.

Keep the exported file somewhere safe if you think you might need it again. You can store it in a folder on your computer, email it to yourself, or upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive. If you ever need to re-import the same contacts, the file will still work.

Troubleshooting common export problems

The export button doesn't appear. Make sure you've selected at least one contact using the checkbox. The three-dot menu only shows the export option when contacts are selected. If you're using an older browser, try refreshing the page or switching to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

The file won't open after downloading. CSV files open in Excel, Google Sheets, or Notepad. vCard files open in Outlook, Apple Contacts, or most contact apps. If you're trying to open a vCard file in a spreadsheet program, it won't display correctly — use a contact app instead. On Windows, right-click the file, select "Open with," and choose the correct program.

Some contacts are missing from the export. Google Contacts sometimes has a display limit if you have thousands of contacts. If you suspect some are missing, try exporting in smaller batches by group, or contact Google Support to check if there's a sync issue with your account.

Custom fields didn't transfer. vCard preserves more custom information than CSV. If you exported as CSV and lost custom fields, try exporting again as vCard instead. Some services also have limits on which custom fields they can import — check your destination service's documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export contacts from Gmail instead of Google Contacts?

Gmail has a basic contacts panel, but the full export feature only works from contacts.google.com. If you're in Gmail, look for "Contacts" in the left sidebar and click it to open the full Google Contacts interface, then follow the export steps above.

Will exporting my contacts delete them from Google?

No. Exporting creates a copy of your contacts on your computer. Your original contacts stay in Google Contacts exactly as they were. You can export as many times as you want without affecting anything in your Google account.

What if I want to import these contacts into a new Google account?

Download your contacts as CSV format, then go to contacts.google.com in your new Google account. Click the three-dot menu and select "Import." Choose your CSV file and Google will add all those contacts to your new account.

Can I export contacts from my phone?

The export feature only works from contacts.google.com on a computer or tablet web browser. If you're on a phone, open contacts.google.com in your phone's browser and follow the same steps, though the menu buttons may be in slightly different places due to the smaller screen.

How do I export contacts if I've already deleted my Google account?

Once a Google account is deleted, you cannot access its contacts through Google Contacts. If you deleted the account recently, you may be able to recover it within a limited time window by going to accounts.google.com and following the account recovery process. After that window closes, the contacts are not recoverable.