Open the Contacts app on your Android phone, tap the three-line or three-dot menu, go to Manage contacts (or Settings), tap Export, select “Export to .vcf file”, and save. The file is saved to your Downloads folder. For bulk export from a computer, go to contacts.google.com, select contacts, click Export, choose “vCard (for iOS Contacts)”, and download the VCF file.
Introduction
Whether you are switching phones, creating a backup, or migrating contacts to another platform, you need to export Android contacts to VCF. The VCF (vCard) format is the universal standard for contact files and works with every phone, email client, and CRM system.
This guide covers four free methods that work on any Android phone without paid software. We include the exact menu paths for stock Android (Pixel), Samsung One UI, and other popular Android skins, because the Contacts app looks different on every manufacturer. We have tested each method across multiple Android versions at Univik since 2013.
Before You Export: Check Your Accounts
Android contacts can be stored in multiple accounts on the same phone: your Google account, your Samsung account, the SIM card, or device-only storage. Before exporting, check which account holds the contacts you need.
Open Contacts and look at the filter or display settings. On stock Android: tap your profile icon, then “Contacts from all accounts.” On Samsung: tap the three-line menu, then “Manage contacts”, then “Contacts to display.”
Select “All contacts” or the specific account you want to export. If you only see contacts from one account, the export will only include those contacts. This is the most common reason users end up with fewer contacts than expected in the exported file.
Method 1: Export from the Contacts App (On-Device)
The fastest method. No computer or internet needed. Works on every Android phone with a Contacts app.
| Android Version / Skin | Menu Path |
|---|---|
| Stock Android / Pixel | Contacts, Fix and manage, Export to file |
| Samsung One UI | Contacts, three-line menu, Manage contacts, Export contacts |
| Xiaomi / MIUI / HyperOS | Contacts, Settings (gear), Import/Export, Export to storage |
| OnePlus / OxygenOS | Contacts, three-dot menu, Import/Export, Export to .vcf file |
| Older Android (pre-12) | Contacts, three-dot menu, Import/Export, Export to .vcf file |
Open the Contacts app and navigate to the export option using the menu path for your phone (see table above).
Select the account to export from. If prompted, choose the Google account, Samsung account, SIM, or device storage that contains your contacts. Some phones export all contacts by default without asking.
Choose a save location and file name. The default is usually the Downloads folder with the file name “contacts.vcf”. Tap Save. The export typically completes in a few seconds, even for thousands of contacts.
Samsung phones export vCard 2.1, not 3.0. If you are using a Samsung device, the exported VCF file uses vCard 2.1 format, which does not support UTF-8 encoding natively. This can cause issues with non-Latin characters (Chinese, Arabic, Korean names). For Samsung-specific details and workarounds, see our dedicated export Samsung contacts to VCF guide.
Method 2: Export from Google Contacts (Web)
If your Android contacts are synced to your Google account (most are by default), you can export them from any computer without touching your phone. This method exports in vCard 3.0 format.
Go to contacts.google.com on a computer and sign in with the same Google account used on your Android phone.
Select the contacts to export. Check individual contacts with the checkbox, or select all by checking the box at the top. You can also export a specific label (group) by navigating to it first.
Click Export in the left sidebar (or from the three-dot menu after selecting contacts). Choose “vCard (for iOS Contacts)” as the format. Despite the “iOS” label, this produces a standard vCard 3.0 file that works everywhere. Click Export. The file downloads as “contacts.vcf” to your computer.
Method 3: Share Individual Contacts as VCF
For exporting a small number of contacts (under 10), sharing is faster than going through the export menu.
Open the contact you want to export in the Contacts app.
Tap the Share button (usually a share icon or three-dot menu, then “Share”). Android creates a temporary VCF file for that contact.
Choose a destination. You can share via email (sends as attachment), Bluetooth, Google Drive, or “Save to Files” to keep the VCF file on your device. Each contact is exported as a separate VCF file.
To select multiple contacts for sharing, long-press a contact to enter selection mode, then check additional contacts. Tap Share. Android will create a single VCF file containing all selected contacts.
Method 4: ADB Command Line (All Contacts at Once)
For advanced users and developers. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) can pull the contacts database directly from the phone. This method exports the raw contacts data and requires a computer with ADB installed.
Enable USB debugging on your phone (Settings, Developer options, USB debugging). If Developer options is not visible, go to Settings, About phone, and tap “Build number” seven times.
Connect your phone via USB and open a terminal on your computer. First export contacts to VCF on the phone using the content provider: adb shell content query --uri content://com.android.contacts/contacts --projection display_name:number. For a VCF export, it is simpler to use Method 1 on the phone first, then pull the file: adb pull /storage/emulated/0/Download/contacts.vcf .
The ADB method is primarily useful for automated backup scripts or when the phone’s screen is damaged and you cannot use the touch interface. For most users, Methods 1 or 2 are easier.
Where Is the Exported VCF File Saved?
| Export Method | Default Save Location | How to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts app (stock Android) | /storage/emulated/0/Download/ | Files app, Downloads folder |
| Contacts app (Samsung) | /storage/emulated/0/Download/ or internal storage root | My Files, Internal storage, Download |
| Google Contacts web | Computer’s Downloads folder | Browser downloads or ~/Downloads |
| Share (individual) | Depends on chosen destination | Check email sent items, Drive, or Files app |
| ADB pull | Current terminal directory on computer | Where you ran the command |
What Data Gets Exported (and What Does Not)
Included in VCF Export
Full name, phone numbers (with type labels: mobile, home, work), email addresses, organization and job title, physical addresses, website URLs, birthday, notes, and contact photos (from the Contacts app method). Google Contacts web export includes all fields except photos.
Not Included
Call history, text message threads, WhatsApp chat history, contact groups/labels (Google Contacts web export drops group membership), linked accounts (if a contact is linked to multiple sources, only the primary data exports), and custom fields from third-party apps.
Method Comparison
| Criteria | Contacts App | Google Contacts Web | Share Individual | ADB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports all contacts at once | Yes | Yes | No (manual selection) | Yes |
| Includes contact photos | Yes | No | Yes | Depends on method |
| vCard version | Varies (2.1 Samsung, 3.0 Pixel) | 3.0 | Varies | N/A (raw pull) |
| Requires computer | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Requires internet | No | Yes | No (for local save) | No |
| Best for | Quick full backup | Computer-based management | Sharing a few contacts | Automated scripts |
Common Problems and Fixes
The exported VCF file has fewer contacts than expected. You are likely exporting from only one account. Before exporting, set the Contacts app to display “All contacts” from all accounts (Google, Samsung, SIM, device). Some phones only export the contacts currently visible on screen.
Contact photos are missing from the exported file. Google Contacts web export strips photos. Use the Contacts app export (Method 1) to preserve photos embedded in the VCF file. To verify, open the VCF file and check for PHOTO properties.
Non-Latin characters (Chinese, Arabic, Korean) appear garbled. This happens with vCard 2.1 exports (common on Samsung). The fix is to re-export using Google Contacts web, which produces vCard 3.0 with proper UTF-8 encoding. Alternatively, import the VCF into Google Contacts and re-export to get a clean vCard 3.0 file.
Cannot find the “Export” option in the Contacts app. The menu path varies by manufacturer and Android version. Try: Settings icon (gear), three-dot menu, three-line menu, or “Fix and manage” at the bottom of the contacts list. If your Contacts app truly does not have an export option, install Google’s Contacts app from the Play Store (free) and use it instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exporting contacts to VCF remove them from my phone?
No. Exporting creates a copy of your contacts as a VCF file. The original contacts remain on your phone and in your Google or Samsung account. Exporting is a non-destructive operation.
Can I export only selected contacts instead of all?
Yes. In the Contacts app, long-press a contact to enter selection mode, then check the contacts you want. Tap Share and choose “Save to Files” to save them as a VCF file. On Google Contacts web, check individual contacts before clicking Export. Both methods create a VCF file with only the selected contacts.
What is the difference between the Contacts app export and Google Contacts web export?
The Contacts app exports all data including photos and uses whatever vCard version your phone supports (2.1 on Samsung, 3.0 on Pixel). Google Contacts web exports in vCard 3.0 format with UTF-8 encoding but strips contact photos. For a complete export with photos, use the Contacts app. For clean encoding and computer access, use Google Contacts web.
Can I export SIM card contacts to VCF?
Yes. In the Contacts app, go to Manage contacts, Import/Export, and select “Export from SIM”. Some phones export SIM contacts as a VCF file directly. Others copy SIM contacts to the phone first, after which you can export them using Method 1. SIM contacts typically contain only names and phone numbers (no emails, addresses, or photos).
How many contacts can a single VCF file hold?
There is no limit in the VCF format itself. A single file can hold thousands of contacts. For details on VCF file size limits and platform import restrictions, see our dedicated guide.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. Export methods tested on Pixel 9 (Android 15, Google Contacts app), Samsung Galaxy S24 (One UI 6.1), Xiaomi 14 (HyperOS), and OnePlus 12 (OxygenOS 14). Google Contacts web export tested in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. File locations verified across all devices.
To export Android contacts to VCF, the quickest method is the built-in Contacts app: tap the menu, go to Manage contacts or Settings, and select Export. The file saves to your Downloads folder in seconds. For computer-based export with clean vCard 3.0 encoding, use Google Contacts web at contacts.google.com. Before exporting, always check that “All contacts” from all accounts are visible, or you may end up with an incomplete file.
Three things to remember: always set the Contacts app to show “All contacts” from all accounts before exporting (this is the number one cause of missing contacts), use the Contacts app for photos and Google Contacts web for clean encoding, and the exported VCF file is saved to your Downloads folder by default.
