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How to export Google Contacts (CSV or vCard)

Last updated: November 5, 2026

Google Contacts can save your contacts as one file on your computer. You then drop that file on our printer to get a phone list or address book. This guide walks you through every click.

Before you start

  • You need: a computer (Windows, Mac or Chromebook) and your Google account. The Contacts app on a phone can’t do this.
  • Time: about 2 minutes.
  • Nothing changes in your account. Exporting only makes a copy; your contacts stay exactly as they are.

Step by step

  1. Open Google Contacts. Go to contacts.google.com and sign in if asked.
    You’ll see: a list of your contacts, with a menu on the left (Contacts, Frequently contacted, Labels…).
  2. Choose which contacts to export.
    • Everyone: you don’t need to tick anything; step 3 lets you pick “Contacts” (all of them).
    • Some people: point at a contact and tick the box that appears in front of their name. Tick as many as you like.
    • One label (for example “Family”): click the label on the left first.
  3. Open the export window. At the top right of the list, click ⋮ More actions and choose Export. (If you ticked contacts, the ⋮ button appears in the bar above the list.)
    You’ll see: a small window called “Export contacts”.
  4. Pick the contacts and the format.
    • At the top, choose Contacts (everyone), Selected contacts or a label.
    • Under “Export as”, choose Google CSV. (vCard also works with our printer.)
  5. Click Export.
    You’ll see: a file called contacts.csv download, usually to your Downloads folder.
Google Contacts · computer
  1. ⋮ More actions
  2. Export
  3. Google CSV
  4. Export

Check that it worked

  • Open your Downloads folder: there should be a file called contacts.csv (or contacts (1).csv if you’ve exported before).
  • You don’t need to open it. If you do, it opens in Excel or Numbers and looks messy, with lots of columns. That’s normal; the printer tidies it up.

What might confuse you

  • “I can’t find Export.” It’s behind the ⋮ (three dots) button, not in the left menu. On a work or school account, your administrator may have turned exporting off.
  • “Google CSV, Outlook CSV or vCard?” Pick Google CSV. Our printer reads all three, but Google CSV keeps the most detail.
  • “The file has fewer people than I expected.” You probably exported a label or “Selected contacts”. Run the export again and choose Contacts. People listed under Other contacts (people you emailed but never saved) are not included.
  • “My phone numbers have several in one cell, separated by :::” That’s how Google stores several values. The printer splits them for you.
  • “I only have my phone.” Open contacts.google.com in your phone’s browser and switch to the desktop site (Chrome: ⋮ › Desktop site; Safari: aA › Request Desktop Website), then follow the same steps.

Next: print it

Go to Print Google Contacts, drop contacts.csv on the page, choose Phone book, Address book or Compact list, and print. The file is read in your browser; nothing is uploaded.

Print your exported contacts →

Frequently asked questions

Which format should I choose, Google CSV or vCard?
Either works with our contacts printer. Google CSV is best for spreadsheets and re-importing to Google; vCard is best for iPhone, iCloud and other contact apps.
Can I export Google Contacts from my phone?
Not from the Contacts app on iPhone. Open contacts.google.com on a computer. On Android, the Contacts app can export a .vcf file from its settings.
Why are some contacts missing from the export?
The export only includes the contacts or label you selected. “Other contacts” (people you emailed but never saved) are listed separately in Google Contacts.

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