ThisCalculator

Everyday

Import Google and Yahoo Contacts: Full Guide

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

Import Google and Yahoo Contacts: Full Guide

This guide explains how to import your contacts from Google Contacts and Yahoo Mail into another email service, a CRM, or a phone. You’ll learn the exact export and import steps for both services, plus how to handle common problems like duplicate entries and CSV formatting issues. The process takes about 10 minutes per account and works for most major destinations including Outlook, iCloud, and Gmail itself.

Why You Might Need to Import Contacts

People usually import contacts when switching email providers, setting up a new phone, or moving contacts into a customer relationship management (CRM) tool. Google and Yahoo both let you export your contacts as a file, which you then upload to the new service. The export file contains names, email addresses, phone numbers, and any other fields you stored. The import process is similar across most platforms, but the exact menu names vary.

How Google Contacts Export Works

Google Contacts stores your contacts in your Google account. To export them:

  1. Go to contacts.google.com and sign in.
  2. Click Export in the left sidebar (if you don’t see it, click the three-line menu icon).
  3. Choose which contacts to export: Selected contacts, All contacts, or a specific group.
  4. Pick the format: Google CSV (for Google products), Outlook CSV (for Outlook or most other services), or vCard (for Apple devices and many phones).
  5. Click Export and download the file.

The Google CSV format includes custom labels and groups, while the Outlook CSV uses a simpler column structure. vCard is a single file with a .vcf extension that contains all contacts—most address books accept it directly.

How Yahoo Mail Export Works

Yahoo Mail also allows exporting contacts, but the path is slightly different:

  1. Open Yahoo Mail and click the Contacts icon (a person silhouette) in the top-right.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) and select Import/Export.
  3. Choose Export and select the format: CSV (comma-separated values) or vCard (.vcf).
  4. Click Export now and save the file.

Yahoo’s CSV export includes fields like First Name, Last Name, Email, and Phone. The vCard option is useful for iCloud and phone imports.

How to Import Into Common Destinations

Once you have the exported file, importing is usually straightforward. Here are the steps for the most common targets:

  • Gmail (Google Contacts): Go to contacts.google.com, click Import in the left sidebar, select the file (CSV or vCard), and click Import.
  • Outlook.com: Go to outlook.com, click the People icon, then Manage → Import contacts. Choose the file and follow the prompts.
  • iCloud: Log in to iCloud.com, open Contacts, click the gear icon, choose Import vCard, and select the .vcf file.
  • iPhone/iPad: On the device, go to Settings → Contacts → Import SIM Contacts (if using SIM) or use the iCloud import above. For a direct phone import, save the vCard to Files and tap it—iOS will ask to add the contacts.
  • Android Phone: Open the Contacts app, tap the three-line menu, select Import, choose the file (usually .vcf), and pick the account.
  • CRM (like HubSpot or Salesforce): Most CRMs have an import feature in their contacts section. Export as CSV, then upload and map the columns to the CRM’s fields.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Importing rarely goes perfectly the first time. Here are the most frequent issues and their fixes:

  • Duplicate contacts: After importing, you may see duplicates. Google Contacts has a Merge & fix tool that automatically finds and merges duplicates. Outlook has a similar Clean up feature. For other services, you may need to merge manually or use a third-party tool.
  • CSV encoding issues: If names with special characters (like é or ü) appear garbled, the file may be saved in the wrong encoding. In Google Contacts, the CSV is UTF-8, which is fine for most modern services. If you’re importing into an older program, try saving the CSV as UTF-8 with BOM (using a text editor like Notepad++).
  • Missing phone numbers: When exporting from Yahoo, some fields may be empty if you didn’t fill them. Check the CSV file in a spreadsheet before importing to ensure the data is there.
  • File too large: Some services have a limit on the number of contacts you can import at once (e.g., Gmail allows up to 10,000 per import). If you have more, split the CSV into smaller chunks.
  • vCard not recognized: Some services prefer CSV over vCard. Try converting the vCard to CSV using a free online converter or a spreadsheet program.

How to Choose Between CSV and vCard

The format you choose matters. Here’s a quick comparison:

  • CSV (Comma-Separated Values): Best for transferring between email services (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) and CRMs. It stores data in columns, making it easy to edit in Excel or Google Sheets. However, it may not preserve custom fields perfectly.
  • vCard (.vcf): Best for phones and Apple devices. It stores each contact as a block of text and preserves more fields (like photos and custom labels). Most phone address books import vCard directly.

If you’re moving from Google to Outlook, use the Outlook CSV option. If you’re moving to an iPhone, use vCard. If you’re unsure, export both and try the one that works.

Safety and Privacy Considerations

Your contacts contain personal data—email addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes home addresses. When exporting and importing, keep these points in mind:

  • Only export from a trusted device and a secure connection (look for the padlock in your browser).
  • Delete the exported file after a successful import, especially if it contains sensitive information.
  • If you’re importing into a CRM, check the service’s privacy policy to understand how they handle your data.
  • Never share your contacts file with anyone you don’t trust—it can be used for spam or phishing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import Google contacts into Yahoo Mail?

Yes. Export from Google as a CSV file, then in Yahoo Mail go to Contacts → Settings → Import/Export → Import, and upload the file. Yahoo accepts both CSV and vCard formats.

How do I import Yahoo contacts into Gmail?

Export from Yahoo as a CSV file, then go to Google Contacts → Import, and upload the file. Google will map the fields automatically. You may need to review the imported contacts for any missing data.

Why are my imported contacts showing up as numbers only?

This usually happens when the CSV file has a column that the destination service doesn’t recognize. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet and check the headers. Make sure the email column is labeled correctly (e.g., “E-mail Address” for Outlook). If needed, rename the columns to match the destination’s expected format.

Will importing contacts create duplicates?

It can, especially if you already have some of those contacts in the destination. Most services offer a duplicate detection tool. For Gmail, use the “Merge & fix” feature. For Outlook, use “Clean up” under the People section. If your service doesn’t have that, you may need to manually delete duplicates or use a third-party app.

How long does it take to import contacts?

Typically a few seconds to a minute, depending on the number of contacts and the service’s speed. For very large lists (over 10,000), it may take longer. If it times out, split the file into smaller parts.

Can I import contacts from a SIM card?

Yes, but that’s separate from Google/Yahoo. On Android, go to Contacts → Settings → Import → SIM card. On iPhone, go to Settings → Contacts → Import SIM Contacts. This only works for contacts stored on the SIM, not from email accounts.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.