How to Export Contacts From Outlook

To export Outlook contacts, use People > Manage contacts > Export contacts in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or use File > Open & Export > Import/Export in classic Outlook for Windows to create a CSV file. Before starting, confirm which Outlook version you use and where the contacts are stored; the export creates a separate copy you can back up, open in a spreadsheet, or import into another service.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account and contact folder you want to export. For a work or school account, your organization may limit exporting.
A computer or browser with Outlook signed in. The instructions below cover Microsoft 365 on Windows, Outlook on the web, and the main Mac difference.
A place to save the resulting file, such as your Downloads folder. A CSV file is suitable for most contact imports and can be viewed in Excel.
Enough time to check the exported file and store it somewhere private. Contact files can contain personal details such as phone numbers, addresses, and birthdays.

Step-by-Step

Check which Outlook you are using. In Windows, the classic Outlook desktop app has a File tab at the upper left and the Import/Export wizard. New Outlook has a redesigned interface and a People section, but no classic File tab. Outlook on the web runs in your browser. If you are unsure, look for the File tab: if it is there, use the classic Outlook steps below; otherwise, try the new Outlook or web steps.
Confirm the contacts are in the account you intend to export. Open People, also called Contacts in some Outlook versions, and inspect the folders or contact lists. Work and personal accounts can be open in the same app, so check the account name before exporting. Contacts saved only on a phone, in another account, or in your organization’s address directory may not be included in a mailbox export. If you see several folders, decide whether you need one folder or all contacts.
For new Outlook on Windows, open People. Select the People icon in the navigation pane. If it is not visible, use the app launcher or the navigation options to locate People. Select Manage contacts, then choose Export contacts. The exact placement can vary as Microsoft updates the interface, but the export command is in the contacts management menu, not in the email message settings.
Choose the contacts to export in new Outlook. In the export pane or dialog, select the contact folder or choose all contacts, depending on the options shown. If you only need a particular list, select that folder rather than exporting everything. Select Export to create the file. Outlook generally downloads a CSV file; check your browser’s downloads area or the Downloads folder for it. If a save dialog appears, choose a memorable location and keep the suggested CSV format.
For Outlook on the web, open the People page. Sign in to the correct Microsoft account in your browser and open People from the app launcher or the navigation rail. In Outlook.com, the People page may also be available at outlook.live.com/people. For a work or school mailbox, open Outlook on the web provided by your organization and choose People. Verify the account avatar or email address before continuing.
Export from Outlook on the web. In People, select Manage contacts and then Export contacts. Choose the contact folder or all contacts if the page asks. Select Export; the browser downloads a CSV file. If the page offers a choice of folder, make sure you have selected the folder that contains the contacts rather than a different or empty folder. Check the browser’s downloads list if the file does not appear on screen.
For classic Outlook on Windows, start the export wizard. Select File > Open & Export > Import/Export. In the Import and Export Wizard, select Export to a file, then select Next. Choose Comma Separated Values and select Next again. If you do not see the wizard, confirm that you opened classic Outlook rather than new Outlook or Outlook on the web.
Select the contact folder. Choose the Contacts folder associated with the correct mailbox. If your contacts are in a subfolder, expand the mailbox and select that specific folder. The wizard may show other folders such as Calendar or Inbox; selecting one of those will not export your contacts. If there is a checkbox to include subfolders, select it only if you want contacts from the subfolders as well.
Choose the CSV file location and name. Select Next, then use Browse to choose a folder and enter a clear file name, such as Outlook-Contacts-November.csv. Select Next to review the destination. Avoid saving the only copy in a temporary location or on a shared computer. If Outlook asks whether to replace an existing file, confirm only if you are sure the older export is no longer needed.
Finish the classic Outlook export. Select Finish. If Outlook displays a field-mapping option, you can select Map Custom Fields to inspect which Outlook fields will go into the CSV columns. For a normal contact export, the default mapping is usually suitable. If you need a custom field, drag it to the corresponding destination field and confirm the mapping before continuing. Wait for the wizard to finish before closing Outlook.
Check the exported file. Open the CSV in Excel or a text editor and verify that it contains the expected names and email addresses. Check a few records from the beginning, middle, and end, and look for blank rows, missing fields, or unexpected characters. Do not edit your only export copy; make a duplicate first. If you plan to import it into another service, follow that service’s instructions for matching CSV columns.

On a Mac: Outlook for Mac has traditionally exported contacts through File > Export as part of an Outlook data archive with the .olm extension, rather than as a standard CSV. Available options depend on the Outlook for Mac version and whether you are using new Outlook. If your File menu does not offer a contacts export, use Outlook on the web and its Manage contacts > Export contacts option to create a CSV, if that option is available for your account. An .olm archive is useful for moving Outlook data between compatible Outlook for Mac installations, but it is not a direct substitute for a CSV when another service requests a spreadsheet-style contact file.

Common Mistakes

Exporting from the wrong account. Outlook can display several mailboxes together. A CSV may be valid but contain contacts from a different account than expected. Check the mailbox and folder before starting.
Selecting the wrong folder. The classic wizard lists mail, calendar, and other folders alongside Contacts. Choose the contact folder itself, not the mailbox root, Inbox, or a similarly named folder with no records.
Expecting every address Outlook has seen. An export is not necessarily a list of everyone who has emailed you. The autocomplete suggestions in the To field, an organization’s directory, and contacts stored in another account may not be included as saved contacts.
Assuming CSV preserves every Outlook feature. A CSV transfers contact fields as rows and columns, but it does not preserve Outlook folders, categories, pictures, or all specialized data in the same way as an Outlook archive. Keep the original account or a separate backup if those details matter.
Overwriting the previous export. Reusing a filename can replace an older file. Add a date to the name or save each export in a separate folder so you can identify which copy is current.

Tips

Make a small test export first. If you are unfamiliar with the process, export a small contact folder and check the columns before exporting a large address book. This can reveal whether the destination service will accept the data you need.
Keep an untouched backup. Save the original CSV as exported, then make a copy if you need to rearrange columns or remove personal information. Spreadsheet software can change how phone numbers, postal codes, or dates display, so avoid treating a reformatted copy as your only backup.
Review sensitive data before sharing. A contact export may include more than names and email addresses. Open the file and inspect the columns before uploading it to a third-party service or sending it to someone else.
Use the correct format for the destination. Most services that ask for contacts accept CSV, but they may require specific column headings or a sample template. Download the destination service’s template and map fields to it rather than guessing.
Remember that export is a snapshot. Changes made in Outlook after you export will not automatically update the CSV. Create a fresh export when you need a current copy, and avoid importing an old file if it could create duplicate contacts.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Export contacts. Make sure you are on the People page, not in the email inbox. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, look under Manage contacts. If you are using classic Outlook for Windows, use the Import/Export wizard instead. If neither option is available, your account type or organization’s policies may restrict exporting; ask your Microsoft 365 administrator whether the feature is allowed.

The CSV is empty or has fewer contacts than expected. Reopen People and check the selected account and folder. Look for contacts in another mailbox, a subfolder, or a separate personal account. Some information, such as the organization’s global address list or autocomplete suggestions, is not the same as saved contacts and may not be included. In classic Outlook, return to the wizard and confirm that you selected Contacts rather than another folder.

The file did not download. Check the browser’s downloads list, the Downloads folder, and any download-blocking prompt. If the browser asked where to save the file, check that location. Try the export again and choose a folder you can access. In classic Outlook, use the path shown in the wizard’s destination step to find the file.

Names or characters look wrong in Excel. CSV files may be interpreted using regional settings or character encoding, and Excel can change the display of long numbers or leading zeros. Instead of double-clicking the file, open Excel and use Data > From Text/CSV to import it, then check the encoding and preview. Set phone or postal-code columns to text where needed. Keep the original CSV unchanged in case you need to start over.

Some fields are missing. Check whether those fields exist on the Outlook contact card and whether the export format supports them. In classic Outlook, inspect Map Custom Fields before finishing. In web-based exports, the available CSV fields are determined by Outlook, so a field not offered by the exporter may not be included. For a migration, compare the output with the destination’s required fields before deleting or changing the source contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Outlook export contacts as a CSV file?
Yes. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and classic Outlook for Windows can export contacts as CSV using the relevant steps above. The CSV format is widely used to move contact details between services.

Can I export only some Outlook contacts?
Yes, if those contacts are in a separate folder that you can select during export. In the web or new Outlook export flow, choose the specific folder when prompted. In classic Outlook, select the relevant Contacts folder in the wizard. If the contacts are mixed together, create or organize a folder first, where your account permits it.

Will exporting contacts remove them from Outlook?
No. Exporting creates a separate file and does not normally delete the original contacts. You can keep the CSV as a backup or use it elsewhere. Deleting the file afterward also does not affect the contacts in Outlook.

Can I export contacts from Outlook to Excel?
Export the contacts to CSV, then open or import that file in Excel. CSV is a text-based table format rather than a full Excel workbook. If you need an Excel workbook, open the CSV and use Excel’s Save As command to save a separate .xlsx copy, while keeping the original CSV for compatibility.

Why are email recipients missing from my export?
Outlook’s contact export includes saved contacts in the selected account and folder, not necessarily every address in the autocomplete list or organization directory. Add important addresses as contacts first, or check whether they are saved in a different account or contact folder.

Can I export Outlook contacts on a phone?
Mobile Outlook apps may let you view or sync contacts, but the export controls described here are intended for desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web. Use a computer browser to open the account’s People page and export a CSV when that option is available.

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

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