How to Import and Export Contacts on a Mac (iCloud, Gmail, Outlook & More)
Moving contacts between email services can feel risky — especially if you’re worried about losing names, phone numbers, or email addresses.
macOS makes this process far easier than most people realize. The Contacts app can act as a central control panel for importing, exporting, syncing, and cleaning up contact lists across multiple services like iCloud, Google Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo, and AOL.
This guide walks through the safest and most flexible ways to move your contacts without starting from scratch.
🎓 What You’ll Learn
• Why importing and exporting contacts is useful
• How to export contacts from iCloud using a Mac
• The difference between vCard and CSV contact files
• How to import contacts into Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and AOL
• How macOS detects and merges duplicate contacts
• How to verify contact syncing on iPhone and iPad
• Which accounts support contact syncing — and which don’t
🔄 Importing and Exporting Contacts on a Mac
The Contacts app on macOS supports importing and exporting contacts in standard formats.
You can export contacts by:
• Selecting all contacts and dragging them to the desktop
• Using File → Export → Export vCard
To import contacts, simply reverse the process using File → Import.
These formats work across most platforms without data loss.
🧩 Understanding Contact File Types
When moving contacts between services, file type matters.
Common formats include:
• vCard (.vcf) — best for Apple, iCloud, and most modern services
• CSV (.csv) — spreadsheet-style format used by Gmail, Yahoo, and AOL
Some services accept both, while others are picky.
🧹 Merging Duplicate Contacts
When importing contacts, duplicates are common — but easy to fix.
macOS can:
• Detect duplicate names automatically
• Merge entries while preserving all details
• Link contacts that exist across multiple accounts
This prevents clutter while keeping your data intact.
🔐 Managing Multiple Contact Accounts
The Contacts app can sync contacts from multiple services at once.
You can:
• Enable or disable contact syncing per account
• Drag contacts between accounts
• Use the Mac as a bridge between platforms
Changes sync automatically to supported devices.
📬 Importing Contacts into Gmail and Outlook
Some services allow direct file uploads, others require account linking.
• Google Gmail supports CSV and vCard uploads
• Microsoft Outlook syncs contacts through Exchange
• Imports often sync back to the Mac automatically
Each service handles verification slightly differently.
📱 Verifying Contacts on iPhone and iPad
After importing contacts, it’s important to verify syncing.
On iOS and iPadOS, you can:
• Toggle contact groups on and off
• See which accounts hold each contact
• Confirm linked contacts across services
This ensures contacts appear exactly where you expect.
⚠️ Accounts That Don’t Fully Sync Contacts
Not all email providers offer full contact syncing.
Some accounts:
• Only sync email
• Don’t support contacts on iPhone or iPad
•Require manual importing via files
Knowing these limits helps you choose the right service.