How to Export Contacts in Outlook 2013 as a CSV File

To export contacts from Outlook 2013, open File > Open & Export > Import/Export, choose Export to a file, select Comma Separated Values, and save the selected Contacts folder as a CSV file. You will need Outlook 2013 for Windows and a location where you can save the file. A CSV is useful for moving contact details into another email program or spreadsheet, but it may not retain every Outlook-specific feature.

What You’ll Need

Outlook 2013 for Windows: These instructions use the menus in the Windows version. Outlook 2013 was not released for Mac, and later Mac editions have different menus and export options.
A contact folder you can access: Make sure the contacts you want are visible in Outlook. If you have more than one account or contact folder, identify the right one before starting.
A save location and filename: Choose a folder on your computer or an accessible drive. If the contacts are sensitive, use a location that is protected and appropriate for that information.
Optional spreadsheet software: Excel or another spreadsheet app can help you inspect the CSV afterward. It is not required to perform the export.

Step-by-Step

Open the Import and Export Wizard. In Outlook 2013, click File at the upper left of the window. Choose Open & Export, then click Import/Export. The Import and Export Wizard will open. If you do not see the File tab, check that you are using the desktop Outlook program rather than Outlook on the web.
Choose to export to a file. In the list of actions, select Export to a file, then click Next. This option creates a file that you can use outside Outlook. Do not choose an import option; that would bring data into Outlook rather than create an export.
Select the CSV format. Choose Comma Separated Values in the file type list, then click Next. Depending on your installation or regional settings, the wording may include Windows, such as Comma Separated Values (Windows). This is the spreadsheet-friendly text format. If you need a full Outlook data backup for use in Outlook, a PST file is a different option; CSV is generally more convenient for transferring contact rows between programs.
Pick the contact folder. The folder list may show your mailbox or account name with folders underneath it. Expand the account if necessary, then select the Contacts folder that holds the people you want to export. Do not select the mailbox name or a calendar folder by mistake. If you have multiple accounts, check the folder path and the contacts displayed in Outlook before proceeding. If the folder contains subfolders that should also be included, select Include subfolders when that checkbox is available and appropriate. Click Next.
Choose where to save the CSV. Click Browse and navigate to the folder where you want the export saved. Enter a clear filename, such as Outlook-contacts-November.csv, and confirm the save location. The CSV extension identifies the file type; avoid changing it to .xlsx or .txt in the filename field. Click Next after the destination is shown in the wizard.
Review the export and field options. If the wizard displays a confirmation page, check that the selected action is exporting the correct Contacts folder to the intended CSV filename. You may see a button called Map Custom Fields. The default mapping is suitable for many basic exports. If you need to control which Outlook fields become CSV columns, click the mapping button, review the fields on both sides, and drag the fields you want from the Outlook list to the CSV list. Remove unwanted mappings if needed, then choose OK to return to the wizard. A field that is not mapped may not appear in the resulting file.
Run the export. Click Finish. Let Outlook complete the operation; a large contact folder may take a short time. The wizard may close without a detailed progress report, so use File Explorer to verify that the CSV exists in the location you selected. If Outlook prompts you to confirm an action, read the prompt and confirm the export if the folder and destination are correct.
Check the exported data. Open the CSV using Excel or a text editor and look for several familiar contacts, including one with a phone number and one with an organization or other less common detail. Confirm that names and email addresses are in separate, sensible columns, and that the file contains the expected number of records. Do not rely only on the filename: a file can exist even if you selected the wrong folder or omitted fields. If the data is not right, return to the wizard and repeat the export with the correct folder or field mapping.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong Contacts folder: Outlook can list contacts from multiple accounts, shared mailboxes, or additional folders. Selecting a similarly named folder may create a valid CSV that contains the wrong people. Before exporting, open the folder in Outlook and check a few contacts that should be included. Then select that same folder in the wizard.

Expecting a CSV to be a complete Outlook backup: CSV is a table of contact information, not a full copy of Outlook. It does not preserve the original Outlook folder structure or all Outlook-specific details and relationships. Distribution lists, contact photos, and special fields may not transfer in the way you expect. If you need to move contacts into another program, check which fields that program accepts. If you need to preserve Outlook data for Outlook, consider an Outlook data file instead.

Overwriting an earlier export: Reusing the same filename and location can replace a previous CSV or make it difficult to tell which version is current. Use a distinctive filename and, if you are comparing exports, include a date. Keep an untouched copy of an important export before editing it in a spreadsheet.

Assuming every field is included: Custom fields or fields not included in the wizard’s mapping can be missing. Check the output before relying on it, particularly when the export is for a business system that requires specific columns.

Tips

Do a small quality check before sharing. Open the exported CSV and inspect several rows across different columns. Check that the first row contains useful column headings and that phone numbers, postal codes, and email addresses look intact. Some spreadsheet programs may treat numbers with leading zeros as numeric values; preserve those values as text if they matter.
Use the field mapping deliberately. Mapping is helpful when the receiving service expects a particular set of columns. For example, a basic address-book transfer may need first name, last name, and email address, while a customer database might also need company and phone fields. Map only the data you intend to transfer, and verify the column headings in the saved file.
Keep the original export unchanged. If you need to rearrange columns or remove duplicates, make a working copy first. Editing the only CSV can make it harder to recover fields or compare the exported data with Outlook later.
Be careful with contact privacy. A CSV is easy to open and copy. Store it somewhere appropriate, share it only with people who need it, and remove extra personal details if the destination does not require them.
Use the right file for the job. Choose CSV when another application needs a table of contact details. Choose a PST-style Outlook data export when your purpose is to retain Outlook data for Outlook, while checking the backup and restore requirements for your situation.

Troubleshooting

The Import/Export command is unavailable or the wizard does not open: Confirm that Outlook 2013 is installed and open as the desktop application. If Outlook is managed by a workplace, an administrator may restrict export features. Ask the organization’s support team whether exporting is allowed and whether you should use a shared mailbox or another approved process.

Your Contacts folder is missing or empty: Look at the account and folder list in Outlook and expand the relevant mailbox. The contacts may be in a different account, a separate Contacts folder, or a shared folder you have not opened. Check the folder by selecting it in Outlook before reopening the wizard. If the contacts are stored in a different service, they may need to be exported from that service rather than from Outlook.

The CSV is missing: Return to the wizard and note the full destination path on the export screen. In File Explorer, check that folder and search for the filename if necessary. Make sure you have permission to save there; if a protected or network location causes an error, try a folder you can access, such as Documents, then move the completed file securely.

Some contacts or fields are absent: Check whether you selected the right folder and whether the missing contacts are actually in a subfolder. If so, repeat the export and enable Include subfolders if available. For missing columns, reopen Map Custom Fields and map the required Outlook fields. Some Outlook-specific items do not translate to CSV, so confirm whether the receiving program supports them before trying repeated exports.

Names or characters look garbled in Excel: The CSV may be opening with a character encoding or delimiter that Excel has not interpreted as expected. Instead of double-clicking the file, use Excel’s text import option, such as Data > From Text in Excel 2013, and select the appropriate delimiter and file origin in the import prompts. Check the preview before loading. If the CSV uses a different regional list separator, commas may not split the columns as expected; choose the delimiter shown in the preview or check the file in a text editor.

The exported file has an unexpected number of rows: Look for a header row, which names the columns and is not itself a contact. Also check whether you selected a folder with extra contacts or excluded subfolders. Compare a few known names rather than judging only by the row count, because empty fields and contact types can affect how the receiving program displays records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export Outlook 2013 contacts to Excel?
Yes. Export the Contacts folder as a CSV, then open the CSV in Excel. CSV is a plain-text table format; after checking the columns, you can save a separate copy as an Excel workbook if you need spreadsheet formatting or formulas.

Does exporting contacts delete them from Outlook?
No. Exporting creates a separate file and does not remove the contacts from the Outlook folder. You can check Outlook after the export to confirm the original contacts are still there.

Can I export only some contacts?
The wizard exports a selected folder rather than offering a simple one-contact-at-a-time selection in the export steps. If you need only a subset, you can put the chosen contacts in a separate folder and export that folder, or export the folder and carefully remove unwanted rows from a copy of the CSV.

Will the CSV include contact groups or distribution lists?
Do not assume that Outlook distribution lists will transfer as ordinary contact rows. CSV is designed for tabular contact fields and may not preserve list membership or Outlook-specific group behavior. Check the destination program’s instructions and plan to recreate lists there if necessary.

Can I use these steps in Outlook for Mac?
No. These menu paths are for Outlook 2013 on Windows; Outlook 2013 did not have a Mac edition. Mac Outlook versions have different menus and capabilities, so use the export instructions for the exact Mac version installed.

What is the difference between CSV and PST?
A CSV is a portable table of contact fields that many programs can import. A PST is an Outlook data file used for Outlook data storage and transfer. Choose CSV for a contact-list handoff, and PST when you specifically need an Outlook data file; neither should be treated as a substitute for checking that your important data has been preserved.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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