How to Export Contacts in Outlook 2010

To export contacts in Outlook 2010 on Windows, choose File > Open > Import, select Export to a file, choose Comma Separated Values (Windows), then select your Contacts folder and save the CSV file. You can open that file in Excel or use it to move contact details to another service. Before you start, check which Contacts folder contains the people you want and choose a safe location for the exported file.

What You’ll Need

Outlook 2010 installed on a Windows computer, with the Outlook profile that contains the contacts you want to export.
Permission to access the relevant mailbox or Contacts folder. If it is a shared mailbox, you may need the folder owner or administrator to grant access.
A destination folder with enough free space, such as Documents or a removable drive. If you plan to move the file to another computer, confirm you can access that location there too.
Optional: Excel or another spreadsheet program to inspect a CSV file. You do not need Excel to run the Outlook export wizard.

Step-by-Step

Find the right Contacts folder. In Outlook, switch to the Contacts view using the Contacts button in the lower-left Navigation Pane. Look through the folders shown in the Navigation Pane, especially if you have several email accounts or a shared mailbox. Select the folder that actually contains the contacts you want. Outlook may show folders with similar names, so do not assume the first Contacts folder is the one you need. If you want to export only a particular group, check whether those entries are in a separate Contacts subfolder.
Open the Import and Export Wizard. Click the File tab, select Open, and click Import. This opens the Import and Export Wizard. In Outlook 2010, this command is under File > Open > Import; it is not the same as opening a contact or using the Send/Receive commands.
Choose an export action. In the wizard, select Export to a file, then click Next. This tells Outlook to create a separate file rather than bring data into your current mailbox. If the wizard opens on another page, use Back until you see the list of actions.
Select the file type. Choose Comma Separated Values (Windows), then click Next. A CSV file is a practical choice for transferring basic contact fields to many email programs, spreadsheet applications, and online address books. If your goal is a fuller Outlook-to-Outlook transfer, you can instead choose Outlook Data File (.pst); see the Tips section for when that option may suit you better.
Select the source folder. In the folder list, expand the mailbox or data file that contains your contacts, then click its Contacts folder. Verify the folder name and account before continuing. Selecting the mailbox name, Calendar, or another folder will not export the contacts you intended. If the contacts you want are inside a subfolder, select that subfolder rather than its parent.
Decide whether to include subfolders. If the wizard offers the Include subfolders checkbox, select it only when you want contacts from the selected folder and its nested folders. Leave it cleared if you want only contacts directly inside the selected folder. If you selected one specific Contacts subfolder in the previous step, it is usually simplest to leave the option cleared unless that folder itself contains more folders you need.
Choose the CSV file location and name. Click Next, then use Browse to select a destination folder and enter a clear file name, such as Outlook-Contacts-November-2026.csv. Include the .csv extension if Outlook does not add it automatically. Save to a location you can find again, such as Documents, rather than a temporary folder. If you are exporting to a USB drive, make sure the drive is connected and has enough free space.
Review the export field mapping. Click Next and, if needed, choose Map Custom Fields. The mapping window shows Outlook fields on one side and CSV fields on the other. Outlook normally maps commonly used fields automatically, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers. If a field you rely on appears unmapped, drag it to the corresponding destination field. Expand the lists and scroll through them to check less common fields such as department, notes, or additional phone numbers. Click OK when finished.
Complete the export. Click Finish. Wait for Outlook to finish creating the file; the wizard may not show a separate progress window for a small contact list. Go to the destination folder and confirm that the CSV file exists and has a recent modified time. If you are moving contacts, copy the file to the other computer or service only after checking that the export completed.
Check the result before relying on it. Open the CSV in Excel or another spreadsheet program, or use the destination service’s contact import preview. Confirm that expected names and email addresses appear in separate columns and that a few phone numbers, addresses, and notes look right. Close the file without saving changes if you only opened it to inspect it; spreadsheet software can change data formats when it saves a CSV.

For an Outlook Data File instead of a CSV, follow the same wizard but select Outlook Data File (.pst) at the file-type step. Select the Contacts folder and save the .pst file. That format is designed for Outlook data and is generally more suitable when the destination is another Outlook profile. Keep the original file until you have confirmed that the receiving Outlook profile can access the contacts.

Common Mistakes

Exporting the wrong Contacts folder: A profile can contain contacts in more than one mailbox or data file. Check the folder’s location in Outlook before starting, and verify a few expected names in the export afterward.
Choosing the wrong file type: CSV is convenient for many apps but is not a complete Outlook backup. If you need an Outlook-specific data file, choose PST instead. Conversely, a PST may not be accepted by a website or a non-Outlook mail program that expects CSV.
Including subfolders unintentionally: The checkbox can bring in contacts from folders you did not mean to include. Select it only when you need those nested folders, then review the export contents.
Assuming every Outlook detail transfers through CSV: A CSV carries tabular contact fields, but it is not a guarantee that categories, linked items, formatting, or every Outlook-specific property will carry over to another program. Check the destination app’s import documentation for supported fields.
Editing the CSV and overwriting the original: Excel may interpret phone numbers, postal codes, or other values as numbers or dates. Keep an untouched copy of the exported file, and do not save over it unless you understand how the receiving app expects the data.
Exporting without checking the file: A file can be created successfully but contain the wrong folder or omit fields you care about. Inspect a sample and, for a large or important list, check the total number of entries against Outlook.

Tips

Use a descriptive filename. Include the source account or mailbox and date, for example Work-Contacts-2026-11-03.csv. This helps distinguish a current export from an older copy.
Keep a protected original. Store one copy somewhere secure before importing or modifying the file. Contacts can contain personal information, so use an approved storage location and avoid leaving an unprotected copy on a shared computer.
Choose CSV for cross-platform use. CSV is usually the straightforward choice when a service offers an Import contacts or Upload CSV option. Each service may require particular column names or a template, so check its instructions before importing a large list.
Choose PST for Outlook-to-Outlook use. A PST is often a better fit if you need to move Outlook data between profiles. Importing a PST is a separate operation in the receiving Outlook profile; exporting it does not automatically add contacts to another account.
Do a small test when possible. If the receiving service supports a preview, review several entries before confirming the import. Look for duplicate records and check how it handles multiple email addresses, phone numbers, and blank fields.
Know the Mac difference. Outlook 2010 is a Windows release. Outlook for Mac 2011 is a different product and does not use the same File > Open > Import wizard, so these exact steps do not apply to it.

Troubleshooting

The Import command is missing or disabled: Confirm that the desktop Outlook 2010 application is open, rather than Outlook Web App or another mail program, and that you are signed in to a working Outlook profile. If your organization manages Outlook, an administrator may have restricted access or the profile may need repair. Close and reopen Outlook, then check File > Open again.
You cannot find the contacts in the folder list: Return to the Contacts view and check the Navigation Pane for other mailboxes or data files. Make sure the shared mailbox is added and that you have permission to view its Contacts folder. If the contacts are actually in a different folder, select that folder in the export wizard instead.
The exported file is empty or has too few entries: The wizard may have used an empty Contacts folder or a parent/child folder different from the one you intended. Recheck the source folder and the Include subfolders choice. Also check whether some contacts are stored in a different account or in another Contacts subfolder.
Some fields are missing: Run the export again and inspect Map Custom Fields. Drag any required Outlook fields to matching CSV fields, then export to a new filename so you do not overwrite the first file. Some destination apps do not support every Outlook field, so a field may exist in the CSV but still be ignored during import.
The file cannot be saved: Use Browse and select a folder where your Windows account can write, such as Documents. Check that the destination drive is connected, that the filename does not already refer to a read-only file, and that there is free space. Try a simple filename without unusual characters.
Names or numbers look wrong in Excel: Close the CSV without saving if Excel has reformatted values. Keep the original export and use the receiving app’s import tool, which may let you assign columns or treat values as text. For a CSV opened in Excel, use the import controls rather than double-clicking when you need to manage how columns are interpreted.
The receiving program rejects the CSV: Check whether it requires a particular header row, encoding, or column arrangement. Some services provide a downloadable CSV template. Make a copy of your export and adapt that copy to the template, rather than changing the only original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export Outlook 2010 contacts to Excel?
Yes. Export the Contacts folder as Comma Separated Values (Windows), then open the resulting .csv file in Excel. Keep the original unchanged, because Excel can alter formats when a CSV is saved.

Does exporting contacts delete them from Outlook?
No. Exporting creates a separate file and leaves the contacts in Outlook. You can verify this by returning to the Contacts view after the export.

Can I export only selected contacts?
The export wizard is designed around selecting a folder, rather than choosing individual entries in that wizard. If you need only a subset, create or use a separate Contacts folder containing those entries, then export that folder. Check for duplicates before making copies of contacts.

Should I use CSV or PST?
Use CSV when a spreadsheet, website, or another non-Outlook program needs a contact file. Use PST when moving Outlook data to another Outlook profile or keeping an Outlook-oriented archive. Confirm that the destination supports the format before exporting.

Will the export include contact groups or distribution lists?
Do not assume a CSV will preserve a group as a reusable Outlook distribution list. CSV is a table of fields, and support for groups varies by destination. If groups are important, check the target program’s instructions and consider an Outlook-to-Outlook PST transfer.

Where does Outlook save the exported file?
It saves the file to the location you choose on the wizard’s Save exported file as page. If you cannot find it, repeat the wizard up to that page to check the path, or search Windows for the filename you entered.

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

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

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