What Is a VCF File?

Windows and macOS provide built-in support for vCard contact files

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on June 13, 2023

What to Know

  • Some VCF files are vCard file.
  • Open one with Microsoft People, Apple Contacts, or vCardOrganizer.
  • Convert to CSV with Handy Address Book.

This article describes the two formats that use the VCF file extension, including how to open both kinds and how to convert from VCF to CSV.

What Is a VCF File?

A file with the VCF file extension is a vCard file used for storing contact information. Besides an optional binary image, it's plain text and might include details like the contact's name, email address, physical address, phone number, and other identifiable details.

Since it stores contact information, these files are often seen as the export/import format of some address book programs. This makes it easy to share one or more contacts, use the same contacts in different email programs or services, or back up your address book to a file.

VCF files in Windows 11

VCF also stands for Variant Call Format and is used as a plain text file format that stores gene sequence variations.

How to Open a VCF File

VCF files can be opened by a program that lets you view the contact details, but the most common reason to open such a file is to import the address book into an email program, like one online or on your phone or computer.

Before proceeding, it's important to realize that some applications have a limit to the number of contacts that can be imported or opened at one time. If you're having troubles, you might go back to your original address book and export only half or 1/3 of the contacts to VCF, and repeat that until all of them have been moved.

People and Windows Contacts can be used to open VCF files — it's built-in to the Windows OS, so just double-click to open the file. vCardOrganizer and VCF Viewer work, too. View one on macOS with vCard Explorer or Apple Contacts (it's built-in).

iOS devices like iPhones and iPads can also open this format by loading the file directly into the Contacts app via an email, website, or some other means. If you're on an Android device, use the Contacts app to find Fix & manage > Import from file, or Settings > Import.

These files can also be imported into online email clients. For Gmail, visit your Google Contacts page and use the Import button to import contacts from a VCF file.

If the contact information includes an image, that part of the file is binary and won't show up in a text editor. However, the other information should be completely visible and editable in any program that works with text documents.

Microsoft Outlook and Handy Address Book are two alternatives that can open VCF files, but neither is free to use. For instance, if you're using MS Outlook, you can import the file through the File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Import a VCARD file (.vcf) menu.

Import and Export Wizard in Outlook

VCFtools can open Variant Call Format files. You can also use any text editor.

Since you might have a few programs on your computer that can view VCF files, know that if you wish, you can change which one opens the file when you double-click it.

How to Convert a VCF File

CSV is a common format to convert VCF files to, since it's supported by Excel and other applications that would prefer to import contacts from CSV. You can convert VCF to CSV online with vCard to LDIF/CSV Converter. There are options to choose the delimiter type as well as to export only the contacts that have email addresses.

The Handy Address Book program mentioned above is one of the best offline VCF to CSV converters. Use its File > Import menu to open the VCF file and see all the contacts. Then, select the ones you want to export and go to File > Export to choose the output type (it supports CSV, TXT, and ABK).

Still Can't Open It?

If you can't open your file with the programs mentioned above, recheck the file extension. It's easy to confuse file extensions when they're spelled similarly.

VFC (VentaFax Cover Page), FCF (Final Draft Converter), and VCD (Virtual CD) are just a few examples. If you have one of those files, or something different, do some research to learn about the format and which program you need to open it.

FAQ
  • What is a vCard file?

    This is another name for a VCF file. They're called vCard files because this file format is the standard for electronic business cards and contacts.

  • When would you use a VCF file?

    Most commonly, VCF files are used to send or import contacts from one device to another.

  • How do you open a VCF file in Excel?

    In Excel, go to File > Open, and select All Files. Locate your file and select it. Then, follow along with the Text Import Wizard, and your VCF file will display in Excel.

  • How do you create a VCF file?

    The easiest method is to use a third-party tool to convert an Excel spreadsheet to a VCF file. You can download the SysTools Excel to vCard Converter for Windows or macOS to convert.

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