Gmail’s saved addresses are managed in Google Contacts, not through a regular “Export contacts” command in Gmail Settings. For a normal address-book download, use Google Contacts; for a wider Google-account archive, use Google Takeout. Choose Google CSV for a Google Contacts backup and vCard (.vcf) when moving contacts to another address-book app or provider.
Which export method should you use?
| Goal | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Back up selected contacts or your address book | Google Contacts | Fast, selective, and offers Google CSV, Outlook CSV, or vCard. |
| Move a small group to another account | Google Contacts | You can select individual contacts or several contacts. |
| Create a broader Google-account archive | Google Takeout | It packages Contacts with any other Google products you choose. |
| Move contacts to Apple Contacts or another address book | vCard | vCard is commonly accepted by address-book applications and email providers. |
Exporting creates a copy. It does not delete contacts from your Google Account.
Method 1: Export contacts from Google Contacts
Google’s current desktop instructions use Google Contacts → select contacts → More actions → Export. The labels can vary slightly by account type.
- Open contacts.google.com and sign in to the Google Account containing the contacts.
- Select the contacts to download: tick one checkbox for a single person, tick several for a subset, or select a contact and use the selection actions to choose All.
- Click More actions in the upper-right area, then choose Export.
- Choose Google CSV, Outlook CSV, or vCard.
- Click Export and save the downloaded file in a private, clearly named folder.
Google identifies Google CSV as its backup option. CSV files are also useful for spreadsheet work, but the destination service may require a particular column layout. Outlook CSV is intended for Microsoft-oriented workflows. vCard is usually the better choice for Apple Contacts and other address-book applications.
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Export addresses listed under Other contacts
Google can automatically save addresses of people you email under Other contacts instead of your main Contacts list. If someone appears in Gmail’s autocomplete suggestions but not in your normal address book:
- Open Google Contacts.
- Choose Other contacts in the left navigation.
- Select the entries you need.
- Choose More actions → Export, then select a format.
“Other contacts” is not shown in the Contacts interface on iPhone, iPad, or Android, so use a computer browser for the complete workflow.
Method 2: Export with Google Takeout
Takeout is better when the contact download is part of a broader account backup. Google creates an archive copy; it does not remove the original data. Changes made after an export request starts may not appear in that archive.
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- Open Google Takeout and confirm that the correct account is active.
- Review the selected products and deselect everything you do not need.
- Select Contacts, if it is available, then click Next step.
- Choose a delivery method: an email download link, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Box.
- Choose a One-time archive.
- Choose ZIP or TGZ if prompted, and select the archive size if Google offers that option.
- Click Create export.
- When Google finishes, download the archive, extract it, open the Contacts folder, and locate the vCard file.
Takeout exports contacts as vCard, a format commonly used by email providers and address-book software. Check the selected products before creating the archive so you do not unintentionally download unrelated account data.
Choosing between Google CSV, Outlook CSV, and vCard
| Destination or purpose | Recommended format | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Google Contacts backup | Google CSV | Google specifically recommends it for backup. |
| Another Google Account | Google CSV or vCard | Both are supported import formats in Google Contacts. |
| Apple Contacts | vCard | Designed for address-book exchange. |
| Another email provider | vCard or that provider’s stated CSV format | Field mapping varies by provider. |
| Spreadsheet editing | CSV | Editing can change formatting and affect re-import. |
Google’s import guidance is available at Google Contacts help. It documents fields for multiple email addresses, phone numbers, labels, and notes, but another service may import only a primary value, rename labels, or omit custom fields.
Moving the file into another account
- Keep the original export unchanged and make a duplicate for testing.
- Use the destination service’s own import page or template where available.
- Import a small sample first and check names, phone numbers, multiple email addresses, notes, labels, and contact photos.
- After confirming the mapping, import the remaining contacts.
For Google Contacts, Google’s current guidance says to split imports larger than 3,000 contacts into multiple CSV files and notes a 25,000-contact limit. These are Google Contacts limits, not universal limits for every destination service. Do not remove the required header row from Google’s template. Spreadsheet programs can also alter leading zeros in phone numbers, quotation marks, line breaks, encoding, and date-like values.
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Labels, groups, and custom fields
Google’s template includes a Labels field; multiple label values can be separated with :::. That syntax does not guarantee another provider will recreate Google labels as groups. Treat labels, notes, custom fields, and multiple values as items to verify after import.
Why contacts may appear to be missing
- Other contacts: Automatically saved addresses may be outside the main Contacts list.
- Wrong account: Another signed-in Google Account may contain the person, or contacts may be displayed from a separately synced account.
- Work or school Directory: Directory entries are not necessarily personal contacts and may not be exportable.
- Device or SIM storage: Phone and SIM contacts may remain local unless saved or synced to the Google Account.
- Autocomplete is not an address book: A Gmail recipient suggestion does not necessarily represent a complete saved contact.
Google explains account syncing and automatically saved contacts at this help page. Device and SIM behavior is covered at Google’s contacts guidance.
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For contacts available through the Android Contacts app, Google’s device path is:
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- Open Contacts.
- Tap Menu → Settings → Export.
- Choose one or more accounts.
- Tap Export to .VCF file.
This may include device, SIM, or multiple-account contacts depending on the phone’s configuration. See Google’s Android instructions.
iPhone and iPad
The most complete official route is Google Contacts in a desktop browser. Do not assume the Gmail mobile app can export the entire Google address book.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Work, school, and Workspace restrictions
Workspace administrators may control whether users can download data from particular Google products. You may also be unable to select an entire organization Directory. Personal contacts and directory users have different permissions. If an export control is missing or directory data is unavailable, contact your administrator. Google describes Workspace contacts at Google Workspace Help.
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Troubleshooting export and import problems
The Export button is missing
- Go to contacts.google.com, not Gmail Settings.
- Verify the active Google Account.
- Select at least one contact.
- Open More actions and look for Export.
- Try a desktop browser instead of a mobile app.
- Check for Workspace administrator restrictions or directory-only entries.
- Use Takeout if you need a broader account archive.
The CSV opens with scrambled columns or altered numbers
Keep the original file, duplicate it before editing, preserve the header row, and use the destination service’s template. Test-import a few records before changing the full file. Avoid saving a CSV repeatedly in spreadsheet software when exact formatting matters.
The import creates duplicates or loses fields
Undo the test if the destination permits it, remove duplicates using that service’s tools, and review field mapping. No export format guarantees that labels, notes, custom fields, photos, or every phone and email value will transfer identically.
Protect the exported file
A CSV or vCard can contain names, email addresses, phone numbers, postal addresses, notes, and organization details. Store it in a private folder, use protected storage where appropriate, remove temporary copies from shared computers, and avoid unfamiliar converter websites. When using Takeout cloud delivery, choose only a provider you trust; Google’s guidance warns against sharing account data with untrusted third parties (Google Account Help).
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