Export contacts

You can export contacts to a file that can then be imported into other applications, such as Web mail clients, Excel spreadsheets, or database applications.

The most common export file format is a comma separated value (CSV) file. If you are exporting contacts for use in another copy of Outlook, we recommend that you choose an Outlook Data File (.pst) in step 6 below.

1. Click the File tab.
2. Click Options.

Click Advanced.

1. Under Export, click Export.

1. In the Import and Export Wizard, click Export to a file, and then click Next.
2. Under Create a file of type, click the type of export that you want, and then click Next.

   The most common is Comma Separated Values (Windows), also known as a CSV file.

   1. Under Select folder to export from, select the contact folder that you want to export, and then click Next.

   Unless you chose to export to an Outlook Data File (.pst), you can only export one folder at a time.

1. Under Save exported file as, click Browse, select a destination folder, and in the File name box, type a name for the file.
2. Click OK.
3. In the Export to a File dialog box, click Next.
4. Click Finish.

    

Import contacts

Contacts can be imported into Outlook from other applications or from exported Outlook contacts. These instructions assume that you have already exported the contacts from the other application, such as a Web client, Excel spreadsheet, or database application.

1. Click the File tab.
2. Click Open.
3. Click Import.
4. Click Import from another program or file, and then click Next.
5. Under Select the file type to import, click the file type of file you want to import, and then click Next.

   The most common is Comma Separated Values (Windows), also known as a CSV file. If you are importing contacts that were exported from Outlook to an Outlook Data File (.pst), click Outlook Data File (.pst).

1. Under File to import, click Browse, select the file that you want to import, and then click OK.
2. In the Import a File dialog box, under Options, click one of the following:

• Replace duplicates with items imported    If an Outlook contact already exists, it is replaced by the information that you are importing.
• Allow duplicates to be created    If an Outlook contact exists, the imported contact is created as a second contact. o Do not import duplicate items    If an Outlook contact exists, the information for the imported contact is not imported.

1. Click Next.
2. In the Import a File dialog box, under Select destination folder, click a folder for the imported contacts, and then click Next.

   This usually is the Contacts folder unless you have multiple accounts, or have created multiple contact folders for an account.

1. Click Finish.