Learn How to Convert Contacts in Excel to vCard Format

Many reasons compel you to save your contacts in an Excel file. These reasons may range from an offline backup to safeguarding every minute detail of our friends and colleagues. Now opening an Excel sheet and manually copying every contact detail to converse with our friends is a tiresome process. If you wish to convert contacts in Excel to vCard, this blog is for you! We will discuss the reasons for converting Excel contacts to vCard with the solutions you can use. Keep reading this blog to know everything!

Reasons For Converting Contacts in Excel to vCard

Many reasons necessitate converting contacts in Excel file(s) to vCard, and some of these are:

• vCard files are easily compatible with many applications and devices.
• vCard files are easily accessed, whereas you can open XLSX or XLS files only with Excel.
• vCard files occupy less storage in your devices like mobile and computer.

These reasons highlight the importance of converting contacts in Excel file(s) to vCard. Now we will discuss the solutions, so keep reading further!

Solutions to Convert Contacts in Excel to vCard

You can convert Excel contacts into vCard using manual or automated methods. Keep reading this blog to learn both!

Manual Method

The first step in the manual method involves making a copy of your Excel contacts file in CSV (Comma Separated Value) format. The best thing about this conversion is the original file in XLSX or XLS format will stay intact! Follow these steps to convert the Excel file (XLSX or XLS) into a CSV Excel file:

• Open the Excel file having the contact list.
• Go to File, click Save As, and choose CSV as the resultant file format in the Save as Type menu.
• Select a destination for the new Excel file and click Save.
• Your new Excel contacts file (CSV) will get saved, keeping your original file (XLSX or XLS) intact.

Now that we have converted the XLSX or XLS contacts file into CSV, the next step is to convert this CSV file into the vCard format file. Here, we will discuss two methods to convert the CSV file into vCard: Windows Contacts and Google Contacts.

First Method: Windows Contacts

Windows Contacts is the contacts’ storage folder for your Windows system. The ability to store contact details in CSV and vCard formats makes this in-built folder very useful. We will use this feature to import our Excel sheet into CSV format and then export the imported contacts into vCard. You may question the need to repeat the CSV conversion process, but we have to re-convert the CSV file into CSV since we can’t directly import the Excel CSV file into vCard through Windows Contacts.

Here are the steps to make vCard file(s):

• Type Contacts in the search box or use this command in the Run application: %systemdrive%users%username%contacts.
• Select CSV as the file import format by clicking Import and then using the Browse button to select the Excel CSV file.
• Click Next and proceed with the field mapping process. After the contacts get mapped, click Finish and import the contacts.
• Click Export after selecting the imported contacts. Select vCard (folder of .vcf files) as the export format. Select the destination folder for the resultant files by clicking Export and clicking OK.
• The contacts will get exported to the selected folder.

One of the main drawbacks is the inability to export the CSV file in a single vCard. Another drawback is that non-technical users can’t use this feature on their computers. Let’s move to the second method involving Google Contacts.

Second Method: Google Contacts

Google Contacts is the contact storage application for your Google account that is easily accessible anywhere and on any device. We are mentioning this method since Windows Contacts is quite technical. Follow these steps to convert the Excel CSV file into vCard:

• Open Gmail on your system’s browser.
• Select Contacts from the Apps menu.
• Click the Import icon on the extreme right-hand top corner.
• Click Select File, select the saved CSV file and click Import. The CSV file will get uploaded to your Google Contacts account.
• Select vCard as the export format after you click the Export icon.
• Start the export process by clicking Export. The CSV file contacts will get exported in the vCard format.

Even though the manual method to create a vCard file from Excel looks easy, it is not since it’s lengthy and time-consuming. Also, the technical nature of Windows Contacts makes the automated method perfect for creating a vCard from an Excel sheet.

Automated Method to Convert Excel to vCard

Since the manual method is lengthy, time-consuming, and more technical (if you use Windows Contacts), converting contacts in Excel to vCard manually becomes out of bounds. Hence, an automated tool is the perfect solution to convert contacts in Excel to vCard. We will discuss one software to help you create a vCard file from Excel: BitRecover Excel to vCard Converter.

Here are some features of the tool:

• Facility to encode vCard contacts.
• Save Excel contacts in one vCard file.
• The auto-mapping benefit for matching contact details with Excel contacts file.

Follow these steps to use this tool:

• Install the tool and open it after installation. Add the Excel contacts file by clicking Select.
• Select the destination for the resultant vCard file(s) by clicking Save As.
• The tool has the feature to save all Excel contacts in a single vCard file. Just select the Save all contacts in one VCF file box.
• The tool begins scanning available contact fields automatically.
• Use the Select button to map the contact fields as per your preference.
• Confirm the file mapping and check the Set vCard Encoding box to set encoding for the resultant vCard file(s).
• Recheck everything and click Convert to begin the file conversion process.
• Start the file conversion by clicking Convert. The entire process takes only a few minutes. The selected folder/location will automatically open up with the converted vCard file(s).

Conclusion

This blog discussed manual and automated methods to convert contacts in Excel to vCard. The reasons we discussed in the blog highlight the importance of creating vCard file(s) from an Excel contacts file. The manual method comprises converting the Excel file to CSV (Comma Separated Value) and using Windows Contacts or Google Contacts to change the CSV file into vCard. The technicality of Windows Contacts and the time taken in this process makes it unfeasible.

On the other hand, the automated tool can easily convert the Excel file into vCard in only a few minutes, benefitting non-technical users and ensuring quick and safe file conversion.