The short answer
- vCard is a contact interchange format that stores details such as names, phone numbers, email addresses and photos, with compatibility depending on the vCard version.
- On Windows or Mac, check your address book or email client's import options for vCard support, then select the VCF file. On a phone, check the contacts app for a vCard import option. Support varies: inspect the VERSION property and confirm which version the receiving app accepts. A text editor can help inspect the property lines but does not perform a contact import.
- A VCF is a plain-text contact file and is generally low risk, but a readable VCF does not authenticate its sender or its contents. vCard provides neither authentication nor confidentiality. Protect birthdays, addresses and phone numbers during transfer, and treat URI links in contact properties with care.
VCF (vCard) contact files
VCF and VCARD are registered extensions for vCard; its registered MIME type is text/vcard. Under RFC 6350, vCard 4.0 uses UTF-8 text and property lines enclosed by BEGIN:VCARD and END:VCARD. Address books, email clients and customer relationship management software can use the format.
Converting VCF contacts to CSV requires mapping vCard properties to columns; vCard does not define a CSV layout, so column names and which fields are kept depend on the tool you use. Keep the original file and compare the resulting fields. Version conversion can also lose information: vCard 4.0 removed older properties including NAME, MAILER, LABEL and CLASS.
How to open it
On Windows or Mac, check your address book or email client's import options for vCard support, then select the VCF file. On a phone, check the contacts app for a vCard import option. Support varies: inspect the VERSION property and confirm which version the receiving app accepts. A text editor can help inspect the property lines but does not perform a contact import.
On Windows or Mac, check your address book or email client's import options for vCard support, then select the VCF file. On a phone, check the contacts app for a vCard import option. Support varies: inspect the VERSION property and confirm which version the receiving app accepts. A text editor can help inspect the property lines but does not perform a contact import.
Converting VCF contacts to CSV requires mapping vCard properties to columns; vCard does not define a CSV layout, so column names and which fields are kept depend on the tool you use. Keep the original file and compare the resulting fields. Version conversion can also lose information: vCard 4.0 removed older properties including NAME, MAILER, LABEL and CLASS.
File safety
A VCF is a plain-text contact file and is generally low risk, but a readable VCF does not authenticate its sender or its contents. vCard provides neither authentication nor confidentiality. Protect birthdays, addresses and phone numbers during transfer, and treat URI links in contact properties with care.
An unknown sender, a name ending in two extensions, or contents that do not match the extension — check before you open it.
Converting it
Converting VCF contacts to CSV requires mapping vCard properties to columns; vCard does not define a CSV layout, so column names and which fields are kept depend on the tool you use. Keep the original file and compare the resulting fields. Version conversion can also lose information: vCard 4.0 removed older properties including NAME, MAILER, LABEL and CLASS.
Convert a copy, never the original, then compare quality, metadata, and layout against what you started with.
Common questions
What is a vCard file used for?
A vCard exchanges contact details for a person or another entity. It can contain names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and photos. VCF and VCARD are its registered file extensions.
How do I open a VCF contact file?
Use the import option in an address book or email client that supports vCard. Check the file's VERSION property against the app's supported versions. To inspect the underlying property lines, open a copy in a text editor.
How do I import a VCF file on Windows?
In your Windows address book or email client, look for an import option that explicitly accepts vCard or VCF, then select the file. If that option is absent, check the application's documentation; the extension alone does not guarantee compatibility.
How do I import a VCF file on Mac?
Check your Mac address book or email client's import options for vCard support and select the VCF file there. Confirm that the application accepts the version shown in the file's VERSION property.
How do I open a VCF file on a phone?
Check your phone's contacts app for an import option that accepts vCard files. If it offers one, select the VCF file. Import availability and supported vCard versions depend on the app.
Why does my VCF file show garbled characters or fail to import?
Check VERSION first: vCard versions are not strictly compatible. For a 4.0 file, verify UTF-8 encoding and the BEGIN:VCARD and END:VCARD boundaries. These checks can identify a mismatch, but they do not guarantee that the receiving app supports every property.
vCard 3.0 vs 4.0: which version should I use?
Use a version accepted by the receiving application. Do not assume strict compatibility between 3.0 and 4.0. Version 4.0 requires UTF-8 and removes older properties such as NAME, MAILER, LABEL and CLASS, so conversion may require mapping.
How do I convert VCF contacts to CSV?
Use a conversion workflow that maps the vCard properties you need to CSV columns. vCard does not define a CSV layout, so column names and which fields are kept depend on the tool you use. Keep the VCF original and check whether each required contact field appears in the result.
Why is contact information missing after vCard conversion?
Version conversion is not necessarily lossless. vCard 4.0 removed NAME, MAILER, LABEL, CLASS and other older properties. Compare the original and converted files to find fields that need explicit mapping or were omitted.
Is a VCF file from a stranger safe to open?
Low format risk does not make an unknown contact trustworthy. vCard does not authenticate the sender or protect confidential information. Handle embedded URI links cautiously and protect personal details when transferring or sharing the file.
Related formats
Sources
RFC 6350: vCard Format Specification · IETF / RFC Editor