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How to open a VCF file on Android

To open a VCF file on Android, open the Contacts app, tap Organize, then Import from file, and pick the .vcf file. The contacts in it are saved to the account you choose, and sync to Google Contacts if that's a Google Account.

Digital business cardUpdated 3 min read

Import a VCF file on Android

These are Google's steps for its Contacts app:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. At the bottom, tap Organize.
  3. Tap Import from file.
  4. If you have more than one account on the phone, pick the one to save the contacts to.
  5. Find and select the VCF file.

Choose your Google Account if you want the contacts backed up and available on other devices. Google says contacts saved to your Google Account sync with Google Contacts and all your Android devices.

Phones from Samsung and other makers often come with their own contacts app. The idea is the same, but the menus have different names, so check your phone maker's help pages, or install Google's Contacts app.

Import on a computer instead

If the file is on your computer, or holds a lot of contacts, import it in your browser:

  1. Go to Google Contacts.
  2. On the left, click Import, then Select file.
  3. Choose the .vcf file and click Import.

Sign in to the same Google Account on your phone and the contacts appear there.

Export contacts to a VCF file on Android

To move contacts to another phone or app, Google's Contacts app can write them to a .vcf file:

  1. Open the Contacts app.
  2. At the bottom, tap Fix & manage, then Export to file.
  3. Choose one or more accounts to export from.
  4. Tap Export to .VCF file.

To share one person, open the contact, tap Contact settings at the top right, then Share contact. For your own details, open Your info, then Share. Google notes that the other person receives a VCF file either way.

Restore contacts on a new phone

You often don't need a VCF file at all. If your contacts are in your Google Account, Google says they show up on the new phone after you sign in.

For contacts that were stored on the old phone or its SIM card, Google's restore steps are:

  1. Open Settings, then tap Google.
  2. Tap Set up & restore, then Restore contacts.
  3. Pick the account and the old phone, then tap Restore.

Google adds two limits: the new phone must run the same Android version or a later one, and contacts from apps like WhatsApp come back only when you reinstall those apps.

If the file won't import

  • Check it's a contact file. On a computer, open it in a text editor. It should start with BEGIN:VCARD. The same .vcf extension is used for genetic variant data, which no contacts app can read.
  • Try Google Contacts on a computer. It reads files from most phones and apps.
  • Look in the notes. Google says that if a detail is missing after an import, it may be in the contact's notes.

Make a VCF file to send

The maker below creates a .vcf file for one person, plus a QR code. The example is a fictional florist. Type your own details, download the contact card and send it in any chat or email. It's made in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.

Digital business card

Open the full tool

Related guides

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Questions

How do I open a VCF file on Android?

Open the Contacts app, tap Organize, then Import from file. Pick the account to save to, then select the .vcf file. Every contact in the file is added.

What app opens a VCF file on Android?

Google's Contacts app imports it. Phones from other makers have their own contacts apps with a similar import option, but the menu names differ.

How do I get all my contacts back on my new Android phone?

If they're saved to your Google Account, they appear once you sign in. For contacts on the old phone or SIM, Google's steps are Settings, Google, Set up & restore, Restore contacts.

Where is the VCF file stored on Android?

Wherever it was saved: usually Downloads for a file from the web or an email. When you import, the file picker lets you browse to it.