How to Export Contacts from iPhone to PC or Mac

The 5 Best Ways to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Computer

Last Updated :  |  Author: Dev Team

How to transfer contacts from iPhone to computer

Exporting Contacts from iPhone: It can be a pain to transfer data from phone to phone or between a phone and computer - but it doesn't have to be that way. This article presents 5 foolproof ways detailing how to export contacts from iPhone to computer.

Method 1: How to Export iPhone Contacts to PC or Mac with TouchCopy

Our easiest and most robust method comes first in the shape of the TouchCopy software.

TouchCopy is the only tool you need for managing your iPhone with your computer. With it, you can copy all kinds of data like Contacts, Music, Messages, Photos and more.

TouchCopy is a fantastic way to copy contacts and other files locally from your iPhone to your computer, so you don't need to worry about syncing with iTunes or storing your personal data on a cloud service (as seen in some other methods).

How to export iPhone contacts to computer with TouchCopy

  1. Open TouchCopy
  2. Connect your iPhone with your USB cable.
  3. Click "Contacts" to view your iPhone Contacts.
  4. Hit "Save to VCard" (PC) or "Copy to Mac" (Mac).
Download iconTouchCopy Free Download
How to Export Contacts from iPhone to PC
Export Contacts from iPhone to PC
How to sync Contacts from iPhone to Mac
Sync Contacts from iPhone to Mac

Using this function will save standard vCard (.vcf) contact files to the location that you choose on your PC or Mac.

Alternatively, save all your contacts to a CSV file, which makes it easy to import to a web-based contact manager such as Google Contacts and Outlook 365. A CSV file is also an excellent way to manage your entire address book in a spreadsheet manager like Microsoft Excel.

To export iPhone contacts as CSV, simply select all your contacts in TouchCopy ("ctrl+A" or "cmd+A") and click "Save to CSV" (PC) or "Copy to CSV" (Mac). Using your newly exported CSV file you can then import your contacts to Google Contacts or Outlook 365. Please see our user guide for more information on how to export iPhone Contacts as CSV.

Watch the video below to see how to export contacts from iPhone to computer using TouchCopy


Method 2: Copy Contacts from iPhone to PC with Contact Transfer

If you have a Windows 10 or 11 PC, you'll really want to consider this option. Contact Transfer allows you to easily transfer your contacts effortlessly between iPhone, PC and even Android.

You can even create, edit and delete contacts on your chosen devices, right from your PC.

Let's see how to transfer your iPhone contacts to PC using Contact Transfer:

  1. Install Contact Transfer on your PC and launch it.
  2. Choose "iOS Device" as your Source, and "This PC" as your Destination. Click Continue.
  3. Connect your iPhone to your PC using your USB cable. Once it has been detected, click Continue.
    Connecting an iPhone with PC in order to export contacts
  4. Choose where on your PC you'd like to copy your iPhone contacts.
    • Copy to Windows Contacts, or...
    • Save as vCards, ready for an easy import to your address book or email program.
  5. Now you can select the contacts from the list on your iPhone that you wish to transfer to your PC.
  6. When you are happy with your selection, click Transfer.
    Transfer contacts from iPhone to PC using Contact Transfer
    Transferring contacts from iPhone to PC using Contact Transfer
Download iconContact Transfer Free Download

In order for Contact Transfer to access your contacts, they must be stored in your iPhone's local storage. If your contacts are instead stored in iCloud or another cloud platform, you'll need to download them to your iPhone.

Method 3: How to Export iPhone Contacts with iCloud

iCloud is a great way to sync data like Contacts and Calendars between all of your devices. This method is great for people who like to access the same data across all iMacs, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads and iPods they own, but for others who like more control over their data, Method 1 may be more suitable.

To use this method to sync contacts from iPhone, you'll need to be connected to Wi-Fi.

How to Export Contacts from iPhone with iCloud

  1. Enable iCloud Contacts on iPhone

    On your iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Ensure Contacts is toggled ON (you may need to merge your iPhone contacts with any existing iCloud contacts).

    Turn on iCloud Contacts on iPhone
  2. Access iCloud Contacts

    On your computer, open your internet browser and log in to iCloud Contacts using your Apple ID.

  3. Select Contacts to Export

    Click the (...) menu icon and choose 'Select All Contacts'.

    Select iCloud Contacts
  4. Export to Computer

    Click the share icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Finally, click 'Export vCard...' to save contacts directly to your computer.

    Sync contacts from iPhone to computer

Method 4: How to Share Contacts from iPhone via Email

This method is great if you need to export only a couple of contacts here and there, but does not compare to TouchCopy and iCloud for bulk exports. You can export individual contacts from your iPhone via email.

In this way, you can quickly email a friend or colleague a contact's details, or even send the email to yourself so that you can access the contact from your computer. Here's how:

  1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a Contact you wish to send.
  3. Scroll down and tap "Share Contact". Email iPhone Contact
  4. Choose "Mail".
  5. Compose your email and Send!

Your contact will be sent as an attachment, in vCard (.vcf) format, with the email.

Method 5: How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Mac with Airdrop

Airdrop is Apple's amazing way to quickly transfer files between iPhone and Mac. Connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network, then simply choose a file and share it via Airdrop.

If you need to export a long list of contacts, consider a different method, as you can only Airdrop 1 file at a time. As such, it can be a very long and tedious job to transfer your entire contact book 1-by-1.

Here's how to export a contact from iPhone to Mac using Airdrop...

  1. Turn on Airdrop on your iPhone:
    • Open Control Centre by swiping from the bottom of your screen, or from the top if your iPhone has Face ID.
    • Tap and hold the wireless control box to access more options.
    • Tap the Airdrop icon and select "Everyone".
    Turn on Airdrop on iPhone
  2. Turn on Airdrop on your Mac:
    • Launch Finder on your Mac.
    • Click "Go", then select Airdrop.
    • Click the "Allow me to be discovered by: " link.
    • Ensure that you can be discovered by your iPhone. (choose "Everyone"; or "Contacts only" if you only wish to be discoverable by those in your contacts list).
    Turn on Airdrop on Mac
  3. Next, on your iPhone, open the Contacts app.
  4. Select a contact you want to transfer, then tap "Share Contact".
  5. Tap Airdrop, then tap your Mac when it's detected. Transfer an iPhone contact via Airdrop
  6. Your Mac will receive a notification. Click to accept the contact file on your Mac!

Extra: Import contacts into Outlook / Gmail

As we saw in Method 1, we can use TouchCopy to export contacts from iPhone and import them into Outlook with only 1 click. However, if you used iCloud or email to export iPhone contacts to your computer, you can still import the vCard files into your contacts manager like Outlook or Gmail.

Import iPhone Contacts into Outlook

  1. Open Outlook on your computer.
  2. Go to File > Open & Export.
  3. Select "Import a vCard file", and then click Next.
  4. Complete the Wizard by setting your import preferences

For a complete guide, including how to import contacts from a CSV file see Microsoft's guide.

Import iPhone Contacts into Gmail

  1. Open Google Contacts in your browser.
  2. Click "More" > "Import..."
  3. Locate your copied vCard or CSV files.
  4. Hit "Import"!

Sorted your contacts?

Find out how to sync your Outlook calendar with your iPhone next!

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