How to Export Contacts in Outlook 365 to a CSV File

To export Outlook 365 contacts as a file you can open in Excel or import into another service, use People > Manage contacts > Export contacts in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. In classic Outlook for Windows, use File > Open & Export > Import/Export and choose Comma Separated Values (CSV). Before starting, check which account and contacts folder you want to export; the export usually includes only the folder you select.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Microsoft 365 account that contains the contacts. If your organization manages your account, its administrator may restrict exporting.
A destination for the export file, such as a folder on your computer. CSV files contain readable contact details, so choose a secure location.
For classic Outlook on Windows, the desktop app and permission to save a file. For a Mac, use Outlook on the web if you need a CSV file; Outlook for Mac’s archive export is a different format.

Step-by-Step

Choose the Outlook version and account. In new Outlook, open the People section using the People icon in the navigation pane. In Outlook on the web, sign in to your Microsoft 365 account in a browser and open People. In classic Outlook for Windows, open the desktop app and select the account containing the contacts. If you have several accounts, verify the account name before continuing; exporting the wrong account can produce a valid file with the wrong contacts.
Export from new Outlook or Outlook on the web. In People, select Manage contacts, then choose Export contacts. If the command is not visible, look for it in the People page toolbar or its menu; the exact placement can vary as the interface is updated. Choose the contacts folder to export. Select All contacts if you want the contacts available in that account, or select a specific folder if you only need a subset. Choose Export and, if prompted, select where to save the CSV file. The browser may save it to Downloads automatically.
Export from classic Outlook for Windows. Select File > Open & Export > Import/Export. In the Import and Export Wizard, select Export to a file and choose Next. Select Comma Separated Values and choose Next. If you do not see that option, check that you are using classic Outlook rather than new Outlook, which has a different export interface.
Select the contacts folder. In the wizard, select the Contacts folder under the correct mailbox or account, then choose Next. Some accounts display more than one folder, such as Contacts and a separate contacts folder under another mailbox. Select the one that holds the people you need. If the wizard offers Include subfolders, enable it only if you also want contacts in subfolders. Do not select Calendar or another folder by mistake.
Name and save the CSV file. Choose Browse, select a location, and enter a clear file name, such as Outlook-contacts-November.csv. Confirm the destination and choose Next. If Outlook asks how to handle duplicate items, select the option that suits your export; for a fresh file, the duplicate setting generally matters less than it does when importing. Select Finish to create the file. If a date range prompt appears, follow the wizard’s instructions; contact exports are not usually limited by a date range.
Check field mapping if Outlook offers it. The wizard may show a Map Custom Fields button. Outlook can export standard fields automatically, but mapping lets you check whether fields such as email address, mobile phone, company, and job title are included. Select Map Custom Fields to review the source fields and destination columns. Drag a field into the destination list if it is missing, then choose OK to return to the wizard. If you do not need a customized export, leave the default mapping unchanged.
Verify the exported file. Open the CSV using Excel or a text editor and confirm that it has the expected number of contacts and useful columns. Check several records, especially those with multiple email addresses, phone numbers, or non-English characters. Avoid saving over the original export until you have confirmed it looks right. If the file opens in Excel with all information in one column, use Excel’s import options rather than changing the original file; see Troubleshooting below.

On a Mac: Outlook for Mac has different export options from classic Outlook for Windows, and its File > Export feature may create an Outlook archive file (.olm), not a CSV. If the destination requires CSV, sign in to Outlook on the web with the same account and follow the People export steps above. An OLM archive is useful for moving Outlook data between Outlook for Mac installations, but it is not a substitute for a CSV contact list.

Common Mistakes

Exporting the wrong folder or account. Outlook can contain multiple mailboxes, contact folders, and shared folders. A successful export does not mean it included every contact you expected. Check the folder name and account before finishing, and compare the file with a few known contacts afterward.
Assuming a CSV is a complete Outlook backup. CSV is a table of contact fields, not a full mailbox archive. It does not preserve messages, calendars, contact photos, or every Outlook-specific property in the same way an Outlook archive might. Use it for transferring or reviewing contact data, not as the only backup of all Outlook content.
Opening and resaving the file without checking formats. Spreadsheet software may interpret phone numbers, postal codes, or values beginning with zeros as numbers and alter them. Keep an untouched copy of the original CSV. If editing a copy in Excel, check important values before saving or importing it elsewhere.
Expecting every field to appear. Different systems support different contact fields, and an export may not include custom fields or every alternate value. Review the column headings and test a few records before relying on the file for a migration.
Sharing the file casually. A contacts CSV can include names, email addresses, phone numbers, and business details. Store it somewhere access-controlled and delete extra copies when they are no longer needed, in line with your organization’s rules.

Tips

Make the filename identify the source and date. For example, use Outlook-work-contacts-2026-11.csv. This makes it easier to distinguish a fresh export from an older file and reduces the chance of importing the wrong copy.
Export a specific folder when appropriate. If you maintain separate personal and work contact folders, export only the one needed for the task. This avoids mixing records and makes the resulting list easier to check.
Keep a clean original. Save the downloaded export unchanged, then make a separate working copy for cleanup or formatting. That gives you a source file to return to if an import or spreadsheet edit goes wrong.
Check column headings before importing elsewhere. The receiving service may ask you to match columns such as First Name, Last Name, and E-mail Address. Mapping carefully prevents a phone number or company name from ending up in the wrong field.
Use a controlled test for a large migration. If the destination permits it, import a small sample first and review the result. Confirm that names, email addresses, phone numbers, and any required notes landed in the correct places before importing the full list.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Export contacts. Confirm you are in People, not Mail or Calendar. In new Outlook or the web version, check Manage contacts and the toolbar menus. If the option is still missing, try Outlook on the web with the same account. A work or school administrator may have disabled exporting, so contact your IT team if the command is unavailable across interfaces.
The exported file is empty or missing expected people. Recheck the selected mailbox and folder. Contacts saved in another account, a shared mailbox, or a separate folder may not be included. Open People and browse the folder itself to confirm the contacts are there, then export that folder. In classic Outlook, make sure you selected the Contacts folder rather than a similarly named folder.
Outlook cannot save the file. Choose a location you can write to, such as Documents or Downloads, and use a simple file name without unusual characters. Check that the destination drive has space and that the file is not already open or locked by another app. Try a different folder if the save dialog reports an access or permission error.
The CSV opens in one column in Excel. Do not assume the data is lost. In Excel for Windows, select Data > From Text/CSV, choose the file, check the preview and delimiter, then load it. If you only need to inspect it, a text editor can also show whether commas separate the fields. Regional settings can affect how CSV delimiters are interpreted.
Names or characters look wrong. Some spreadsheet programs guess the file encoding or convert values automatically. Keep the original unchanged and import the CSV through Excel’s Data > From Text/CSV dialog, checking the preview before loading. If characters still display incorrectly, export again from Outlook on the web or ask the destination service which CSV encoding it accepts.
Some contact details are missing. Review the CSV headings and compare an affected person with the contact record in Outlook. If using classic Outlook, return to the export wizard and inspect Map Custom Fields. A destination application may also omit fields it does not support, so distinguish missing data in the CSV from data that was dropped during a later import.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file type does Outlook export contacts to?
New Outlook and Outlook on the web export contacts as a CSV file. Classic Outlook for Windows can also export a CSV through the Import and Export Wizard. Outlook for Mac’s archive export is generally an OLM file, so use the web version when you specifically need CSV.

Can I export only selected contacts?
The web and new Outlook export flow lets you choose a contacts folder, but it may not offer a checkbox for individual people. Put the required contacts in a dedicated folder first if you need a defined subset. In classic Outlook, exporting a selected folder is the most straightforward approach.

Does exporting contacts remove them from Outlook?
No. Exporting creates a separate file and leaves the contacts in Outlook. Deleting the CSV afterward also does not delete the contacts from your account.

Can I export contacts from Outlook on the web without installing Outlook?
Yes. Sign in to the account in a browser, open People, then use Manage contacts > Export contacts. Save the downloaded CSV to a location you can find again.

Can I use the CSV to import contacts into another account?
Usually, yes, but the receiving service determines which columns and formats it accepts. Review its import instructions, map fields carefully, and test with a small sample when possible. Keep the original export in case you need to retry.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

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

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.