Yahoo Mail does not support direct VCF import. It only accepts CSV files for contact import. To get VCF contacts into Yahoo Mail: convert the VCF file to CSV using a converter tool or Google Contacts (import VCF to Google, export as CSV), then import the CSV into Yahoo via Contacts > More Options > Import from CSV. The CSV file must be under 5 MB. Alternatively, link a Google or Outlook.com account to Yahoo Mail to access those contacts directly.
Introduction
If you have tried to import a VCF file into Yahoo Mail and found no option for it, you are not missing anything. Yahoo Mail’s contact import feature only supports CSV files and linked account imports (Google, Outlook, AOL). There is no VCF upload option anywhere in the Yahoo Mail interface. This has been the case since Yahoo redesigned its contact management system, and the official Yahoo help documentation confirms that CSV is the only supported file format for contact import.
This guide walks through three working methods to get your VCF contacts into Yahoo Mail, all of which involve either converting the file format or using an intermediary platform. Each method preserves core contact data (names, phone numbers, emails, addresses) though some fields may require manual mapping.
Why Yahoo Mail Cannot Import VCF Files Directly
Yahoo’s contact system uses a flat CSV structure internally, which maps cleanly to spreadsheet-style column headers (First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone). VCF files, by contrast, use a hierarchical property-based structure that can contain multiple values per field, embedded photos, and version-specific encoding. Rather than building a VCF parser into their import system, Yahoo chose to accept only CSV, which requires no complex parsing logic.
This means the conversion step is unavoidable. The good news is that VCF to CSV conversion is well-supported by multiple tools and platforms, and the data loss during conversion is minimal for standard contact fields. Photos and custom X-properties are the main fields lost during the VCF-to-CSV conversion because CSV has no standard way to store binary data or vendor-specific properties. For a detailed overview of VCF to CSV conversion, see our VCF to CSV guide.
Method 1: Convert VCF to CSV, Then Import to Yahoo
Best for: Users who want full control over the conversion and have a VCF file ready.
Step 1: Convert VCF to CSV. Use any of these approaches: Univik vCard Converter (desktop tool, supports batch conversion with field mapping), Google Contacts (import VCF then export as Google CSV), or an online converter. The output must be a CSV file with standard column headers that Yahoo recognizes.
Step 2: Verify the CSV file. Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets. Confirm that names, emails, and phone numbers appear in separate columns with clear headers. Yahoo expects columns like “First Name”, “Last Name”, “Email”, “Phone”, etc. If columns have non-standard headers (like “FN” or “TEL”), rename them to match Yahoo’s expected format. Also verify the file is under 5 MB, which is Yahoo’s import size limit.
Step 3: Import to Yahoo Mail. Log into Yahoo Mail at mail.yahoo.com. Click the Contacts icon in the left sidebar (the person silhouette). Click the “More options” icon (three dots). Select “Import from CSV file (5MB max)”. Browse to your CSV file, select it, and click Open. Yahoo processes the file and adds the contacts to your address book. A confirmation message shows the number of contacts imported.
Method 2: Import via Google Contacts (Linked Account)
Best for: Users who already have a Google account and want a simple workaround.
Step 1: Import VCF to Google Contacts. Go to contacts.google.com, click “Import” in the left sidebar, upload your VCF file, and confirm. Google Contacts handles all vCard versions and encoding formats natively. For detailed steps, see our Google Contacts import guide.
Step 2: Link Google to Yahoo Mail. In Yahoo Mail, click the Contacts icon, then the “More options” icon (three dots). You should see an “Import” option next to Google. Click it and follow the on-screen prompts to sign into your Google account and authorize Yahoo to access your contacts. Yahoo imports your Google contacts into Yahoo Mail.
This method has the advantage of preserving more contact fields than the CSV conversion path because Google handles the VCF parsing correctly before passing the data to Yahoo. However, the linked account import pulls all Google contacts, not just the ones from your VCF file. If you have existing Google contacts you do not want in Yahoo, create a separate Google account for this import.
Method 3: Import via Outlook.com (Linked Account)
Best for: Users who prefer Microsoft services or already have an Outlook.com account.
Step 1: Import VCF to Outlook.com. Go to outlook.live.com/people, click “Manage contacts”, then “Import contacts”. Upload your VCF file. Outlook.com processes multi-contact VCF files and handles all vCard versions.
Step 2: Link Outlook to Yahoo Mail. In Yahoo Mail, click the Contacts icon, then “More options”. Click “Import” next to Outlook.com/Hotmail. Sign into your Microsoft account and authorize Yahoo to access your contacts. The contacts from Outlook.com are imported into Yahoo Mail.
Like Method 2, this imports all contacts from the linked account, not just the VCF file you uploaded. Use a dedicated Outlook.com account if you need to keep the import isolated from your existing Microsoft contacts.
Yahoo Contact Fields and CSV Column Mapping
Yahoo Mail recognizes a specific set of CSV column headers. When converting VCF to CSV, ensure your output columns match these names for automatic mapping.
| Yahoo Field | CSV Column Header | VCF Source Property |
|---|---|---|
| First name | First Name | N (second component) |
| Last name | Last Name | N (first component) |
| Phone (mobile) | Mobile Phone | TEL;TYPE=CELL |
| Phone (home) | Home Phone | TEL;TYPE=HOME |
| Phone (work) | Work Phone | TEL;TYPE=WORK |
| Company | Company | ORG |
| Job title | Job Title | TITLE |
| Address | Home Street, Home City, Home State, Home ZIP | ADR components |
| Birthday | Birthday | BDAY |
| Notes | Notes | NOTE |
If your CSV uses different column headers, Yahoo may not map the fields automatically. In that case, rename the column headers in Excel or Google Sheets to match Yahoo’s expected names before importing. Yahoo does not provide a manual field mapping interface during import; the mapping is based entirely on column header names.
Common Problems and Fixes
CSV import fails with “file too large” error. Yahoo limits CSV imports to 5 MB. If your file exceeds this, split it into smaller files. Open the CSV in Excel, copy rows into separate files (each under 5 MB), and import each file individually. Also remove any photo columns (which inflate file size but are not supported by Yahoo).
Contacts import with special characters causes failure. Yahoo’s official documentation warns that contacts containing special characters like accent marks or dashes can cause import failures. If you have international names with accents, try removing diacritical marks from the CSV file before importing. Alternatively, use the Google Contacts linked account method (Method 2), which handles international characters correctly.
Fields appear in wrong columns after import. The CSV column headers do not match Yahoo’s expected names. Open the CSV in a spreadsheet, rename headers to match the field mapping table above (First Name, Last Name, Email, Mobile Phone, etc.), save, and re-import. Yahoo uses header names, not column position, for field mapping.
Google/Outlook linked import option not visible. The linked account import feature requires the newer version of Yahoo Mail. If you are using the classic or basic version, switch to the standard version. Also ensure third-party cookies are enabled in your browser, as the OAuth sign-in for Google and Outlook requires them.
Verifying Imported Contacts
After importing, click the Contacts icon in Yahoo Mail and scroll through the list to verify the contact count and data quality. Spot-check a few contacts by clicking on them to verify that phone numbers, emails, and addresses mapped correctly. Yahoo shows a total contact count at the top of the contacts list. If the count is lower than expected, some contacts may have been skipped due to formatting issues or the special character limitation.
Yahoo stores up to 5,000 contacts. If your VCF file contains more than 5,000 contacts and the Yahoo account already has existing contacts, you may hit this limit. Yahoo does not warn you when the limit is reached during import; it silently stops adding new contacts. Check the total count after import to confirm all contacts were added.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Yahoo Mail import VCF files directly?
No. As of February 2026, Yahoo Mail only supports CSV file import and linked account imports (Google, Outlook, AOL). There is no VCF/vCard import option in the Yahoo Mail interface. You must convert VCF to CSV before importing, or use a linked account workaround.
What is the maximum number of contacts Yahoo Mail supports?
Yahoo Mail supports up to 5,000 contacts per account. The CSV import file size limit is 5 MB. If your contact list exceeds either limit, split the import into multiple batches. Contacts from linked accounts (Google, Outlook) count toward the 5,000 limit.
Will contact photos transfer to Yahoo Mail?
No. Yahoo Mail contacts do not support embedded photos from CSV imports or linked account imports. Contact photos from VCF files are lost during the VCF-to-CSV conversion. Yahoo Mail does display profile photos for contacts who have a Yahoo account with a profile picture, but these are pulled from Yahoo’s system, not from imported data.
Can I export contacts back from Yahoo Mail as VCF?
No. Yahoo Mail exports contacts only in CSV format. To get a VCF file from Yahoo contacts, export as CSV from Yahoo, then convert the CSV to VCF using a converter tool. This round-trip (VCF to CSV to Yahoo, then Yahoo CSV to VCF) will lose photos and custom fields that were in the original VCF.
Is there a way to keep Yahoo and Google contacts in sync?
Yahoo’s linked account import is a one-time operation, not an ongoing sync. If you add new contacts in Google after the initial import, they will not automatically appear in Yahoo. To update Yahoo contacts, repeat the linked account import or export a new CSV from Google and import it to Yahoo. For continuous sync between platforms, third-party contact management tools like ContactsMate or SyncGene offer automated solutions.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. Yahoo Mail contact import tested on mail.yahoo.com (standard version) in Chrome 131 and Safari 18. CSV import limit confirmed at 5 MB. Linked account import tested with Google Workspace and Outlook.com (free). Yahoo official help reference: help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN28070.html.
Getting VCF contacts into Yahoo Mail requires one extra step because Yahoo does not support direct VCF import. Method 1 (VCF to CSV conversion) gives you the most control and works with any VCF file. Method 2 (Google Contacts) is the easiest workaround if you have a Google account. Method 3 (Outlook.com) is the Microsoft equivalent. In all cases, core contact fields (names, emails, phones, addresses) transfer successfully, while photos and custom properties are not supported by Yahoo’s contact system.
Fastest path: import your VCF file into Google Contacts (contacts.google.com > Import), then use Yahoo Mail’s linked account import to pull the contacts from Google into Yahoo. No CSV conversion needed, no file size limits, and Google handles all VCF encoding and version differences automatically.
