Microsoft Teams does not support direct VCF file import. The fastest workaround: import the VCF file into Outlook (desktop or Outlook.com), and the contacts will automatically sync to Teams through your Microsoft 365 account. If you do not use Outlook, convert the VCF to CSV first, then import the CSV into Outlook.com or use the Teams People app to add contacts manually.
Introduction
If you have tried to import VCF to Microsoft Teams, you have probably discovered there is no “Import contacts” button that accepts .vcf files. Teams relies on your organization’s directory (Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure AD) and your Outlook/Exchange contact list for its People app. There is no way to upload a VCF file directly into Teams.
This guide explains why and walks through three workarounds that get your VCF contacts into Teams. We have tested each method with Teams desktop, Teams web and Teams mobile across Microsoft 365 Business and personal accounts at Univik since 2013.
Why Teams Does Not Support Direct VCF Import
How Teams Gets Contacts
Teams pulls contacts from two sources: your organization’s directory (all employees appear automatically) and your personal Outlook/Exchange contacts (synced through Microsoft 365). Teams also supports syncing contacts from Google Contacts and Skype in the personal/free version. There is no file upload option for any contact format.
What This Means for VCF Files
To get VCF contacts into Teams, you must first get them into one of Teams’ contact sources: Outlook, Outlook.com, Exchange or Google Contacts. The VCF file is the input for those platforms, and Teams then reads from them. This indirect approach is the only way to make VCF contacts appear in Teams.
Method 1: Import VCF to Outlook (Auto-Syncs to Teams)
This is the most reliable method. When you import contacts into Outlook (desktop or web), they automatically sync to Teams through your Microsoft 365 account. Teams reads from the same contact store as Outlook.
1
Import VCF into Outlook. Follow our complete import VCF to Outlook guide. For Outlook Desktop, double-click the VCF file to open each contact and click Save and Close. For bulk imports, use Outlook.com (web) or convert to CSV first.
2
Wait for sync. Contacts typically sync to Teams within 5-15 minutes after being added to Outlook. If you are using Outlook Desktop with Exchange, the sync happens through Exchange Online. If you are using Outlook.com, the sync happens through your Microsoft account.
3
Verify in Teams. Open Teams, go to the People app (search for “People” in the left sidebar or the app bar), and search for one of the imported contacts by name or email. They should appear as personal contacts. You can also find them when composing a new chat or scheduling a meeting.
This method works for both work and personal accounts. If you use Teams with a Microsoft 365 work account, contacts sync from your Exchange mailbox. If you use Teams with a personal Microsoft account (Teams free), contacts sync from Outlook.com. In both cases, the Outlook contact store is the bridge between your VCF file and Teams.
Method 2: Convert VCF to CSV, Then Add to Teams
If you do not use Outlook Desktop, you can convert the VCF to CSV and import through Outlook.com (web). The contacts then sync to Teams.
1
Convert VCF to CSV. Use a VCF to CSV converter to create a CSV file with columns for First Name, Last Name, Email, and Phone. This is necessary because Outlook.com’s web import accepts CSV but not multi-contact VCF files for bulk import.
2
Import CSV into Outlook.com. Go to outlook.live.com and sign in. Click the People icon in the left sidebar. Click Manage contacts, then Import contacts. Select “From a file” and choose your CSV file. Map the columns if prompted and click Import.
3
Contacts sync to Teams. After importing to Outlook.com, the contacts will appear in Teams within minutes. Search for them in the People app or when starting a new chat.
Method 3: Add Contacts Manually via the People App
For a small number of contacts (under 20), adding them directly in Teams is faster than going through Outlook.
1
Open the People app in Teams. Click the “…” (More apps) in the left sidebar and search for “People”, or find it in your pinned apps. Right-click People and select Pin for quick access.
2
Click “Add contact”. In the top left corner, click Add contact. Type the person’s name, email address, or phone number. If they are in your organization’s directory, Teams will suggest them automatically. For external contacts, enter their details manually.
3
Save and categorize. After adding, you can assign the contact to a category (group) and add them to speed dial or favorites. Repeat for each contact. These are “local contacts” stored in your Teams instance.
To reference the VCF data while adding contacts manually, open the VCF file in a text editor or import it into Google Contacts to view the contact details in a readable format.
How Contacts Work in Microsoft Teams
Understanding where Teams contacts come from helps explain why VCF import is not available and which workaround will work best for your situation.
| Contact Source | How They Appear in Teams | Can You Add Contacts Here? |
|---|---|---|
| Organization directory (Entra ID / Azure AD) | All employees appear automatically in search and People | No (managed by IT admin) |
| Outlook / Exchange contacts | Sync automatically to Teams People app | Yes (import VCF/CSV to Outlook) |
| Local Teams contacts | Visible only in your Teams instance, not synced elsewhere | Yes (add manually, one at a time) |
| Google Contacts (personal Teams) | Sync when enabled in Teams settings | Yes (import VCF to Google first) |
| Skype contacts (legacy) | Migrated from Skype if previously connected | No longer applicable |
The Outlook/Exchange path (Method 1) is the most complete because those contacts appear everywhere in Microsoft 365: Teams, Outlook, the web, and mobile apps. Local Teams contacts (Method 3) are only visible inside Teams and cannot be exported.
Method Comparison
| Criteria | VCF to Outlook (Sync) | VCF to CSV to Outlook.com | Manual Add in Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supports bulk contacts | Yes (via CSV or bulk VCF) | Yes | No (one at a time) |
| Contact photos preserved | Yes (Outlook Desktop) | No (CSV strips photos) | No |
| Contacts available in Outlook too | Yes | Yes | No (Teams only) |
| Requires Outlook Desktop | Yes (or Outlook.com) | No (web only) | No |
| Sync time to Teams | 5-15 minutes | 5-15 minutes | Immediate |
| Best for | Large contact lists with full data | Users without Outlook Desktop | Under 20 contacts |
Common Problems and Fixes
Contacts imported to Outlook do not appear in Teams. Allow 15-30 minutes for sync. If contacts still do not appear, check that you imported them into the same Microsoft account that is signed into Teams. If you use separate accounts for Outlook and Teams (common with work + personal accounts), the contacts will not sync between them.
Outlook.com shows “invalid file” when importing VCF. Outlook.com’s web interface has limited VCF support. For multi-contact VCF files, convert to CSV first using a VCF to CSV converter and import the CSV instead. Single-contact VCF files usually work if you drag them into the browser window.
Contacts appear in Teams search but not in the People app. You may need to enable or pin the People app. In Teams, click “…” (More apps), search for “People”, right-click it, and select Pin. Also verify that the contacts are saved in your Outlook contacts folder, not in a subfolder or a different mailbox.
External contacts cannot be found when scheduling meetings. Teams prioritizes organization directory contacts over personal Outlook contacts in search. Type the full email address of the external contact rather than just their name. If the contact still does not appear, verify they were imported into the Outlook contacts folder (not the GAL or a distribution list).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import VCF contacts directly into Microsoft Teams?
No. Microsoft Teams does not have a VCF import feature. Teams reads contacts from your organization directory (Entra ID), your Outlook/Exchange contact list, or manually added local contacts. To get VCF contacts into Teams, you must first import them into Outlook or Outlook.com, and they will sync to Teams automatically.
Will my Outlook contacts automatically appear in Teams?
Yes, if both Outlook and Teams are connected to the same Microsoft 365 account. Contacts you add to Outlook (desktop or web) sync to the Teams People app within 5-15 minutes. This is the recommended approach for getting VCF contacts into Teams.
Can I import contacts to Teams using Google Contacts instead of Outlook?
Yes, for personal (free) Teams accounts. Go to Teams Settings, People, Sync contacts, and enable Google Contacts sync. First import your VCF file into Google Contacts, then enable the sync in Teams. This method is not available for Microsoft 365 work or school accounts.
Can local Teams contacts be exported?
No. Contacts added directly in the Teams People app (local contacts) cannot be exported to VCF, CSV, or any other format. They exist only within your Teams instance. For this reason, we recommend using the Outlook import method (Method 1), which keeps contacts in your Outlook contact store where they can be exported and backed up.
Does Teams support contact groups from VCF files?
Not directly. VCF files do not carry group membership information in a way that Teams can use. However, after importing contacts to Outlook, you can create contact groups in Outlook (distribution lists), and these groups will be accessible in Teams for scheduling and messaging.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. Methods tested on Teams desktop (Windows, Mac), Teams web, and Teams mobile (iOS, Android) with Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, and Teams Free accounts. Sync timing measured between Outlook.com and Teams People app.
To import VCF to Microsoft Teams, the best approach is to import the VCF file into Outlook first (desktop or Outlook.com), then let the contacts sync automatically to Teams through your Microsoft 365 account. Teams does not support direct VCF import, so Outlook serves as the bridge. For users without Outlook Desktop, convert the VCF to CSV and import through Outlook.com. For a handful of contacts, add them directly in the Teams People app.
Three things to remember: Teams does not support direct VCF import (use Outlook as the bridge), contacts sync from Outlook to Teams automatically within 5-15 minutes if both use the same Microsoft 365 account, and contacts added directly in Teams cannot be exported so always import through Outlook to keep a backup-friendly copy.
