How to Export Contacts from iPhone (to CSV or VCF)

Method 1: Export via iCloud (easiest for all contacts)

This exports all your contacts at once as a single VCF file. It works on any iPhone with iCloud enabled.

1. On your computer, go to icloud.com/contacts and sign in
2. Press Cmd+A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Windows) to select all contacts
3. Click the gear icon (⚙) in the bottom-left
4. Select "Export vCard..."
5. A .vcf file containing all your contacts will download

The exported file is a standard VCF file. You can import it into any address book, or convert it to CSV for editing in a spreadsheet.

Method 2: Share individual contacts via the Contacts app

For sharing one or a few contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone
2. Tap the contact you want to share
3. Scroll down and tap "Share Contact"
4. Choose how to send it — AirDrop, Messages, Email, Files, etc.

This creates a single-contact .vcf file. To share multiple contacts, repeat for each one or use Method 1.

Method 3: Via Google Contacts sync (if you use Gmail)

If your iPhone contacts are synced to Google:

1. Go to contacts.google.com on your computer
2. Select all contacts (checkbox at top)
3. Click the three-dot menu → Export
4. Choose vCard (for iOS Contacts) or Google CSV

This method gives you both VCF and CSV options directly, without extra conversion steps.

Method 4: Mac Contacts app

If your iPhone syncs to macOS via iCloud:

1. Open Contacts on your Mac
2. Press Cmd+A to select all contacts
3. Go to File → Export → Export vCard...
4. Save the .vcf file to your desired location

Converting VCF to CSV

Once you have a VCF file, converting it to CSV takes seconds:

1. Go to vcfconvert.com/vcf-to-csv
2. Drop your .vcf file onto the converter
3. Download the CSV — ready to open in Excel or Google Sheets

Common questions

Why doesn't iPhone have a built-in "Export all contacts as CSV"?

Apple's native export is vCard only. CSV is more of a spreadsheet/database format, so Apple doesn't ship a built-in CSV exporter. The iCloud web interface exports VCF, and you can convert that to CSV in seconds with our tool.

Will this include photos?

Yes, contact photos are included in the VCF file as base64-encoded data. When converting to CSV, photos are excluded (CSV can't store binary data).

Does this work on iOS 17 / iOS 18?

Yes — all methods above work on any recent iOS version. The iCloud web method is particularly version-independent since it runs in your browser.

What if my contacts are only in WhatsApp, not in my address book?

WhatsApp contacts are stored in your regular iOS/Android address book. Exporting from your phone's Contacts app will include all contacts, including those added via WhatsApp.