With Outlook installed: Import each VCF file via File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Import a vCard file (.vcf). Then export the Contacts folder as a PST via File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Export to a file, Outlook Data File (.pst). Without Outlook: Use a dedicated VCF to PST converter tool that reads your VCF files and creates a Unicode PST directly. The converter approach is the only practical option for bulk conversion because Outlook only imports one VCF at a time.
Introduction
Converting VCF contacts to a PST file creates a portable Outlook-compatible archive that you can open on any computer with Microsoft Outlook, share with colleagues, or store as a backup. Unlike simply importing contacts into Outlook (which adds them to your live mailbox), creating a PST file gives you a standalone file on disk that can be moved, copied, and archived independently.
The problem is that Outlook has no built-in “Convert VCF to PST” function. It can import VCF files one at a time into your Contacts folder, and it can export that folder as a PST, but there is no single-step conversion. If you have 500 contacts in VCF files, the manual approach means importing them one by one, which is not practical.
We have built VCF conversion tools at Univik since 2013 and have handled thousands of VCF to PST conversions for users migrating contacts from Google, iCloud, Android, and other platforms into Outlook. Whether you need to convert a single vCard to PST or run a batch VCF file to PST conversion for an entire company, this guide covers three methods. These range from the free Outlook-only approach (best for small batches) to a VCF to Outlook PST converter tool that handles bulk files directly without Outlook installed.
VCF vs PST: What Each Format Stores
Understanding what these two formats actually contain helps explain why the conversion is not a simple rename or file format swap.
| Feature | VCF (vCard) | PST (Personal Storage Table) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Contact sharing and exchange | Outlook data storage and archival |
| Data types | Contacts only | Contacts, emails, calendar, tasks, notes |
| File structure | Plain text (one or many contacts) | Binary database with folder hierarchy |
| Typical file size | 1 KB to 5 MB | 50 KB to 50+ GB |
| Opens with | Any text editor, Contacts apps | Microsoft Outlook only |
| Encoding | UTF-8 or quoted-printable | Unicode (modern) or ANSI (legacy) |
| Versions | vCard 2.1, 3.0, 4.0 | ANSI (Outlook 97-2002), Unicode (2003+) |
When you convert VCF to PST, the process reads the plain-text vCard properties (N, FN, TEL, EMAIL, ADR, ORG, TITLE) and writes them into the binary PST structure as Outlook contact items. The PST file then contains a Contacts folder with each vCard entry mapped to the corresponding Outlook contact fields.
3 Methods to Convert VCF to PST
Method 1: Outlook Import + Export to PST (Free, Small Batches)
This is the free method using only Microsoft Outlook. The downside is that Outlook imports VCF files one at a time, so this is only practical for up to about 20 to 30 contacts. For larger batches, use Method 2 or Method 3.
Import VCF files into Outlook Contacts. Open Outlook. Go to File, Open and Export, Import/Export. Select “Import a vCard file (.vcf)” and click Next. Browse to your VCF file, select it, and click Open. The contact is added to your Contacts folder. Repeat for each VCF file.
Export the Contacts folder as PST. After all VCF files are imported, go to File, Open and Export, Import/Export again. Select “Export to a file” and click Next. Choose “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click Next. Select the Contacts folder, click Next, and choose a save location. Click Finish.
Verify the PST file. Open the exported PST in Outlook via File, Open and Export, Open Outlook Data File. Browse to the PST you just created and confirm all contacts are present with correct names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Outlook Limitation: One VCF at a Time
Outlook’s Import/Export Wizard only accepts one VCF file per import operation. If your contacts are in a single multi-contact VCF file (many BEGIN:VCARD blocks in one file), Outlook may only import the first contact and silently ignore the rest. To work around this, split the VCF into individual files first, or use Method 2 or Method 3 which handle multi-contact files natively.
Method 2: Windows Contacts CSV Workaround (Bulk, Free)
This method uses Windows Contacts as an intermediary to handle multiple VCF files at once, then exports them as CSV for Outlook to import in bulk. It requires more steps but handles any number of contacts without paid tools.
Import VCF files into Windows Contacts. Open Windows Contacts (press Win+R, type wab, press Enter). Click Import in the toolbar. Select “vCard (VCF File)” and click Import. Navigate to your VCF files and select them. Windows Contacts accepts multi-select, so you can import all files at once.
Export as CSV from Windows Contacts. In Windows Contacts, click Export. Select “CSV (Comma Separated Values)” and click Export. Choose a save location and filename. Select the fields you want to include (Name, Email, Phone, Company, etc.) and click Finish.
Import CSV into Outlook. Open Outlook. Go to File, Open and Export, Import/Export. Select “Import from another program or file,” then “Comma Separated Values.” Browse to the CSV file. Map fields if prompted (First Name to First Name, Email to E-mail Address, etc.). Click Finish.
Export Outlook Contacts as PST. Go to File, Open and Export, Import/Export. Select “Export to a file,” then “Outlook Data File (.pst).” Select Contacts, choose a save location, and click Finish. Your VCF contacts are now in a standalone PST file.
This method is free but has a weakness: field mapping through CSV can lose some data. Custom fields, contact photos, and multi-value properties (like multiple phone types) may not survive the VCF to CSV to PST chain. For lossless conversion, use Method 3.
Method 3: VCF Converter Tool (Direct Conversion, No Outlook Needed)
A dedicated VCF converter tool reads your VCF files and creates a PST file directly, without requiring Outlook to be installed. This is the most practical option for bulk conversion and for preserving all contact fields.
Open the converter and add your VCF files. Use Add Files to select individual VCF files or Add Folder to load an entire directory of VCF contacts. The tool parses all contacts and displays them in a preview panel.
Select PST as the output format. Choose “Outlook PST” from the export options. The converter creates a Unicode PST file that is compatible with Outlook 2003 and all later versions including Outlook 2024 and Microsoft 365.
Choose the destination and convert. Browse to a save location, click Convert, and wait for the process to complete. The output is a .pst file that you can open in Outlook or share with anyone who has Outlook installed.
In our testing, a converter tool processed a folder of 2,800 individual VCF files (exported from iCloud) into a single PST in under 30 seconds, with all fields including phone types, addresses, organization, and notes preserved correctly. The same task using Method 1 (manual Outlook import) would have required 2,800 individual import operations.
Method Comparison Table
| Criteria | Outlook Import + Export | Windows Contacts CSV | Converter Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requires Outlook | Yes | Yes (for step 3-4) | No |
| Handles multi-contact VCF | No (first contact only) | No (split first) | Yes |
| Batch conversion | One file at a time | Yes (via Windows Contacts) | Yes |
| Preserves phone TYPE labels | Yes | Partial (CSV mapping) | Yes |
| Preserves contact photos | Yes | No (lost in CSV) | Yes |
| Number of steps | 2 per file + 1 export | 4 total | 3 total |
| Cost | Free | Free | Paid (free trial) |
| Best for | 1-20 contacts | 20-200 contacts | 200+ contacts |
VCF to PST Field Mapping
When VCF contacts are converted to PST, each vCard property maps to a specific Outlook contact field. Here are the standard mappings that Outlook and converter tools use.
| VCF Property | Outlook PST Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FN (Full Name) | Full Name / File As | Display name shown in Contacts |
| N (Name) | First, Middle, Last, Prefix, Suffix | Structured name parsed into parts |
| TEL;TYPE=CELL | Mobile Phone | Maps TYPE to Outlook phone field |
| TEL;TYPE=WORK | Business Phone | |
| TEL;TYPE=HOME | Home Phone | |
| TEL;TYPE=FAX | Business Fax | |
| E-mail Address | First email maps to Email 1 | |
| ORG | Company | |
| TITLE | Job Title | |
| ADR;TYPE=WORK | Business Address | Street, City, State, ZIP, Country |
| ADR;TYPE=HOME | Home Address | |
| URL | Web Page | |
| NOTE | Notes | |
| BDAY | Birthday | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
| PHOTO | Contact Picture | Only via direct import or converter tool |
If your VCF file uses non-standard TYPE labels or X- custom properties, those fields may not map automatically. A converter tool typically handles more mappings than the Outlook Import Wizard.
PST File Compatibility Across Outlook Versions
Not all PST files are the same. There are two PST formats, and using the wrong one can prevent the file from opening in certain Outlook versions.
Unicode PST (Recommended)
Supported by Outlook 2003 and all later versions (2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, Microsoft 365). Maximum file size: 50 GB. Supports international characters natively. This is the format created by modern Outlook versions and by converter tools. Always choose Unicode PST for new conversions.
ANSI PST (Legacy)
Used by Outlook 97 through 2002. Maximum file size: 2 GB. Limited character encoding support. Only create an ANSI PST if you specifically need to open the file in Outlook 2002 or earlier. Modern converter tools and Outlook versions create Unicode PST by default.
What to Do After Conversion
Open the PST in Outlook to verify. Go to File, Open and Export, Open Outlook Data File. Browse to your new PST file. It will appear in the Outlook folder pane as a separate data file. Open the Contacts folder within it and spot-check several contacts to confirm names, phone numbers, emails, and addresses are correct.
Merge into your main mailbox (optional). If you want the contacts in your primary Outlook profile rather than a separate PST, select all contacts in the PST Contacts folder (Ctrl+A), copy them (Ctrl+C), navigate to your main Contacts folder, and paste (Ctrl+V). Then close the separate PST via right-click, Close.
Check for duplicates. If you imported VCF contacts that already exist in your Outlook, you will have duplicate entries. Use Outlook’s built-in duplicate detection (it prompts during CSV import but not during VCF import) or clean up manually. For large contact lists, exporting to CSV and using a spreadsheet to find duplicates by email address is the fastest approach.
Common Problems and Fixes
Outlook only imports the first contact from a multi-contact VCF. Outlook’s Import Wizard does not support multi-contact VCF files (files with multiple BEGIN:VCARD blocks). You need to either split the VCF into separate files (one contact per file) or use a converter tool that handles multi-contact files directly.
Phone numbers end up in the wrong Outlook field. This happens when the VCF does not include TYPE parameters on TEL properties, or uses non-standard labels. Without TYPE=CELL, TYPE=WORK, or TYPE=HOME, Outlook may assign all numbers to “Other Phone.” To fix this, edit the VCF file and add the correct TYPE labels before importing, or use a converter tool that normalizes phone types automatically.
Contact names show garbled characters in the PST. The VCF file uses Windows-1252 or ISO-8859-1 encoding without proper CHARSET declaration, but the PST expects Unicode. Convert the VCF to UTF-8 encoding before conversion (use Notepad++, Encoding menu, Convert to UTF-8). See our guide on fixing VCF import errors for a full encoding diagnostic.
PST-Specific Issues
“The file is not an Outlook data file” error when opening PST. The PST was created in a format incompatible with your Outlook version. If you are using Outlook 2003 or later, make sure the PST is Unicode format. If the PST was created by a third-party tool, verify it generates proper Unicode PST files. Some older or low-quality converters produce malformed PST headers that newer Outlook versions reject.
Contact photos missing in the PST. The Outlook Import Wizard preserves photos when importing VCF files one at a time, but the Windows Contacts CSV method (Method 2) loses photos because CSV does not support binary data. If contact photos are important, use Method 1 (for small batches) or a converter tool (Method 3) that writes PHOTO data directly into the PST contact items.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert VCF contacts to PST format?
To convert vCard to PST, import the VCF files into Outlook’s Contacts folder (File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Import a vCard file), then export the Contacts folder as a PST (File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Export to a file, Outlook Data File). To import VCF to PST in bulk without the one-at-a-time limitation, use a dedicated VCF to PST converter tool.
Can I convert VCF to PST without Outlook installed?
Yes. A standalone VCF to PST converter tool creates the PST file directly from your VCF data without needing Microsoft Outlook installed on the computer. The output PST can then be opened on any computer that has Outlook.
How is “convert VCF to PST” different from “import VCF to Outlook”?
Importing VCF to Outlook adds contacts directly to your live Outlook mailbox. Converting VCF to PST creates a standalone .pst file on disk that can be stored, shared, or opened in Outlook on any computer. For a guide on importing contacts directly into your Outlook profile, see our import VCF to Outlook guide.
Why can Outlook only import one VCF file at a time?
Microsoft designed the Import/Export Wizard to handle single-file operations. The VCF import specifically expects one file path per operation. This is a long-standing limitation in all Outlook versions from 2007 through Microsoft 365. The workaround is to use the Windows Contacts CSV method (Method 2) for moderate batches, or a converter tool (Method 3) for large-scale conversions.
What is the difference between Unicode and ANSI PST files?
Unicode PST files support international characters natively and have a 50 GB size limit. They work with Outlook 2003 and later. ANSI PST files are limited to 2 GB and have restricted character encoding. Always create Unicode PST files for modern use. Outlook 2007 and later create Unicode PST by default.
Will contact photos be preserved in the PST?
It depends on the method. Direct Outlook VCF import (Method 1) preserves embedded photos. The CSV workaround (Method 2) loses photos because CSV does not support binary image data. Converter tools (Method 3) typically preserve photos by writing them directly into the PST contact item structure.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. All methods tested with Outlook 2024 (Microsoft 365) on Windows 11. VCF files tested from iCloud, Google Contacts, Samsung, and Thunderbird exports. PST files verified for opening in Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365.
To convert VCF to PST, use the Outlook two-step method (import then export) for small batches of up to 20 contacts. For larger sets, the Windows Contacts CSV workaround handles bulk import for free, though it may lose contact photos and some field mappings. For the most reliable bulk conversion with full field preservation, a dedicated converter tool creates the PST directly without Outlook.
Three things to remember: Outlook only imports one VCF at a time (split multi-contact files first or use a converter), always create Unicode PST files for compatibility with Outlook 2003 and later, and verify the PST after creation by opening it in Outlook and spot-checking contacts for correct field mapping.
