To export contacts from a Samsung phone to VCF: Open the Contacts app, tap the three-line menu (or the three-dot menu on older models), go to Manage contacts, tap Export contacts, select Internal storage or your preferred location and tap Export. The file saves as “Contacts.vcf” in your Downloads folder. This works on all Galaxy S, A, Z, M and F series phones.
Introduction
Samsung Galaxy phones store contacts across multiple accounts: the device itself, your Google account, your Samsung account, and sometimes the SIM card. When you need to export contacts from your Samsung phone to a VCF file for backup, device switching, or sharing, you need to know which account your contacts are stored in and which export method preserves all the data.
This guide covers four ways to export Samsung contacts as VCF, explains why Samsung’s default export uses vCard 2.1 (and how to fix compatibility issues), and shows you where the exported file is saved. We have tested these steps across Galaxy S24, S23, A54 and Z Fold series running One UI 6 and One UI 7 at Univik since 2013.
Before You Export
1
Check where your contacts are stored. Open the Contacts app, tap the three-line menu, then tap the account filter at the top. You will see options like “All contacts”, “Device”, “Google” and “Samsung account”. If contacts are spread across multiple accounts, the Samsung Contacts app will export all visible contacts regardless of account. If you want to export only from one account, filter first.
2
Sync before exporting. If your contacts are stored in Google or Samsung Cloud, make sure sync is up to date. Go to Settings, Accounts, select your Google or Samsung account and tap Sync now. This ensures the latest contacts are included in the export.
Method 1: Samsung Contacts App (On-Device)
This is the fastest and most common method. It exports all visible contacts to a single VCF file directly on your phone.
1
Open the Contacts app. This is the dedicated Contacts app (blue icon with a person silhouette), not the Phone app. On some Samsung models, you can also access it from the Phone app by tapping the Contacts tab.
2
Go to Manage contacts. Tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) in the bottom left or the three-dot menu in the top right (varies by One UI version). Select “Manage contacts” from the menu.
3
Tap “Export contacts”. On the Manage contacts screen, tap “Export contacts” (or “Import/Export contacts” on older One UI versions, then select Export).
4
Choose a save location. Select “Internal storage” to save to your phone’s Downloads folder. You can also choose an SD card, Google Drive or other cloud storage if available. Tap Export to confirm.
5
Find the file. The VCF file saves as “Contacts.vcf” (or a dated filename like “Contacts_20260214.vcf”) in your Downloads folder. Open the My Files app to locate it. From here you can share it via email, Bluetooth or copy it to a computer via USB.
Method 2: Google Contacts Web (All Synced Contacts)
If your Samsung contacts are synced to your Google account, you can export them from any browser. This method exports in vCard 3.0 format, which has better compatibility than Samsung’s default vCard 2.1.
1
Go to contacts.google.com on your phone’s browser or a computer. Sign in with the same Google account synced on your Samsung phone.
2
Select contacts. Click the checkbox at the top to select all, or choose specific contacts individually.
3
Export as vCard. Click the three-dot menu, then Export. Choose “vCard (for iOS Contacts)” as the format and click Export. The file downloads as “contacts.vcf”. See our import VCF to Google Contacts guide for restoring contacts later.
Google Contacts does not export contact photos. Even if your Samsung contacts have profile photos synced to Google, the exported vCard file will not include them. If contact photos are important, use Method 1 (Samsung Contacts app) instead, which preserves embedded photos in the VCF file.
Method 3: Samsung Smart Switch (PC Backup)
Smart Switch is Samsung’s official backup tool. While it primarily creates a full device backup, you can extract the contacts VCF file from the backup folder.
1
Install Smart Switch on your Windows PC or Mac from samsung.com/smartswitch. Connect your Samsung phone via USB cable.
2
Click Backup. Smart Switch will back up your phone’s data including contacts, messages and app data. Wait for the backup to complete.
3
Find the VCF file in the backup folder. On Windows, navigate to C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\Samsung\SmartSwitch\backup\. Look for a file named “Contact.vcf” or a contacts folder containing .vcf files. On Mac, check ~/Documents/Samsung/SmartSwitch/backup/.
Method 4: Share Individual Contacts as VCF
If you only need to export a few specific contacts rather than your entire address book, you can share them individually.
1
Open the Contacts app and tap on the contact you want to export.
2
Tap Share. The contact card will be saved as a .vcf file. Choose how to share it: email, messaging, Bluetooth, Nearby Share or save to Files. To export multiple specific contacts, long-press to select them, then tap Share.
Samsung Exports vCard 2.1: Why It Matters
Samsung Default: vCard 2.1
The Samsung Contacts app exports in vCard 2.1 format. This is the oldest vCard version and has limitations: it uses quoted-printable encoding (which can garble international characters on some systems), does not include contact group/category labels, and has limited support for multiple email types. Most modern platforms still accept vCard 2.1, but some fields may not transfer correctly.
Google Contacts: vCard 3.0
Exporting via Google Contacts (Method 2) produces vCard 3.0, which uses UTF-8 encoding for better international character support, includes more structured fields, and is the version expected by iCloud and most CRM platforms. If you plan to import the VCF into an iPhone or Apple Contacts, vCard 3.0 is the safer choice.
If you need to convert your Samsung vCard 2.1 export to version 3.0, the easiest workaround is to import the VCF into Google Contacts and then re-export it. Google automatically upgrades the format to vCard 3.0 during re-export. For more about vCard versions, see our guide on how to create a VCF file.
Where Is the VCF File Saved?
After exporting via Method 1, the VCF file is saved in your phone’s internal storage. The exact location depends on your One UI version and the option you selected during export:
| Export Destination | File Location | How to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Internal storage (default) | /storage/emulated/0/Download/ | Open My Files app, tap Downloads |
| SD card | /storage/sdcard/ | My Files, SD card folder |
| Google Drive | Google Drive root or chosen folder | Open Google Drive app |
| Smart Switch backup | PC: Documents/Samsung/SmartSwitch/backup/ | File Explorer on PC |
To transfer the VCF file to a computer, connect your Samsung phone via USB, select “File transfer” (MTP) mode, and navigate to the Download folder.
Method Comparison
| Criteria | Samsung Contacts App | Google Contacts Web | Smart Switch | Share Individual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports all contacts at once | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (select individually) |
| vCard version | 2.1 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| Includes contact photos | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Includes group labels | No | No (labels become separate) | No | No |
| Requires computer | No | No (browser) | Yes | No |
| Best for | Quick full backup | iPhone compatibility | Full device backup | Sharing a few contacts |
Common Problems and Fixes
The exported VCF file has fewer contacts than expected. The Samsung Contacts app only exports contacts that are currently visible. If you have filtered contacts by account (showing only Google or only Device contacts), the export will include only that filtered set. Tap the filter at the top and select “All contacts” before exporting to include everything.
Special characters appear garbled after importing the VCF. Samsung’s vCard 2.1 export uses quoted-printable encoding, which can cause display issues with non-Latin characters (Arabic, Chinese, Korean, accented European names) on some platforms. The fix is to re-export via Google Contacts (Method 2) which uses UTF-8-encoded vCard 3.0, or import the file into Google Contacts and re-export.
Contact groups and categories are missing from the VCF. Samsung’s Contacts app does not export group labels in the vCard 2.1 format. The CATEGORIES property is only supported in vCard 3.0 and 4.0. If groups are important, note them manually before exporting, or use Google Contacts labels and export from Google Contacts web.
SIM export only saves name and phone number. If you exported to SIM instead of to a VCF file, only the contact name and primary phone number are saved. Email addresses, photos, addresses, notes, and all other fields are lost. SIM cards have limited storage (typically 250 contacts, 20-character names). Always export to internal storage or SD card for a complete backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export contacts from a specific Samsung account only?
Yes. Before exporting, open the Contacts app and tap the account filter (three-line menu, then the dropdown at the top). Select the specific account (Device, Google, or Samsung account). Only the contacts from that account will be visible and included in the export.
Does the exported VCF file include contact photos?
When exporting via the Samsung Contacts app (Method 1), photos are embedded in the VCF file. When exporting via Google Contacts web (Method 2), photos are not included. If photos matter, use Method 1 and verify by checking the VCF file size (a file with photos is significantly larger).
How do I export Samsung contacts to CSV instead of VCF?
Samsung’s Contacts app only exports to VCF format. To get CSV, first export as VCF using Method 1, then convert the VCF to CSV. Alternatively, use Method 2 (Google Contacts web) which offers both vCard and Google CSV export options.
Will this work on older Samsung phones like the Galaxy J or A series?
Yes. The Samsung Contacts app export feature works on all Galaxy series (S, A, Z, M, F, and J). Older models running One UI 3 or earlier may show the menu as “Import/Export contacts” instead of “Manage contacts”, but the steps are otherwise the same.
How do I import the VCF file into a new phone?
On a new Samsung or Android phone, open Contacts, go to Manage contacts, and tap Import contacts. Select the VCF file from your Downloads folder. For importing into other platforms, see our guides for iPhone, Google Contacts, or Outlook.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. Export steps tested on Galaxy S24 Ultra (One UI 7), Galaxy A54 (One UI 6.1), Galaxy Z Fold5 (One UI 6), and Galaxy S23 (One UI 6). VCF files verified for vCard version, photo inclusion, and import compatibility across iCloud, Google Contacts, and Outlook.
To export contacts from a Samsung phone to VCF, use the Contacts app’s built-in export (Manage contacts, Export contacts) for a quick full backup, or use Google Contacts web for better vCard 3.0 compatibility with iPhones and Apple devices. The Samsung app exports vCard 2.1 by default, which works for most purposes but may not include contact groups and can garble international characters on some platforms. If compatibility matters, re-export through Google Contacts to upgrade the format.
Three things to remember: Samsung exports vCard 2.1 by default (re-export through Google Contacts for vCard 3.0 if importing to iPhone), the Samsung Contacts app includes photos in the VCF (Google Contacts export does not), and always check the account filter is set to “All contacts” before exporting to avoid missing contacts.
