How To FAQ: Transfer Contact List from Microsoft Outlook to Google Contacts

[QrafTee]

There are four versions of Microsoft Outlook that I'm covering... hopefully I got them all right--since I haven't used Outlook Express in many years.

Microsoft Outlook 2010 (Beta)
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on File
3. Click on Open
4. Click on Import (Yes, I said Import; I have no idea why they don't have an Export button)
5. Click on Export to a File
6. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
7. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
8. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
9. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
10. Click on Contacts
11. Click on Import
12. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
13. Click Import

Microsoft Outlook 2010 (Technical Preview)
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on the Microsoft Logo (top left MS icon)
3. Click on Open
4. Click on Import (Yes, I said Import; I have no idea why they don't have an Export button)
5. Click on Export to a File
6. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
7. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
8. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
9. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
10. Click on Contacts
11. Click on Import
12. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
13. Click Import

Microsoft Outlook 2000/2002/2003/2007
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on File
3. Click on Import and Export
4. Click on Export to a File
5. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
6. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
7. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
8. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
9. Click on Contacts
10. Click on Import
11. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
12. Click Import

Outlook Express
1. Open Outlook Express
2. Click on File
3. Highlight Export and click Address Book
4. Click on Text File (Comma Separated Values)
5. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
6. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
7. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
8. Click on Contacts
9. Click on Import
10. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
11. Click Import

I'd like to thank Android Forums member mplevy for "inspiring" me to write this FAQ.

Also, I'd like to thank Android Forums member syntrix for informing me that Outlook 2000 shares a similar method to Outlook 2003 for transferring contacts to a .csv file.

 

[justjimjpc]

There are four versions of Microsoft Outlook that I'm covering... hopefully I got them all right--since I haven't used Outlook Express in many years.

Microsoft Outlook 2010 (Technical Preview)
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on the Microsoft Logo (top left MS icon)
3. Click on Open
4. Click on Import (Yes, I said Import; I have no idea why they don't have an Export button)
5. Click on Export to a File
6. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
7. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
8. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
9. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
10. Click on Contacts
11. Click on Import
12. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
13. Click Import

Microsoft Outlook 2007
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on File
3. Click on Import and Export
4. Click on Export to a File
5. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
6. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
7. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
8. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
9. Click on Contacts
10. Click on Import
11. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
12. Click Import

Microsoft Outlook 2003
1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Click on File
3. Click on Import and Export
4. Click on Export to a File
5. Click on Comma Separated Values (Windows)
6. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
7. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
8. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
9. Click on Contacts
10. Click on Import
11. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
12. Click Import

Outlook Express
1. Open Outlook Express
2. Click on File
3. Highlight Export and click Address Book
4. Click on Text File (Comma Separated Values)
5. Save exported file as: Contacts (it should already be converted to CSV so including .csv is redundant)
6. Click on the appropriate Contacts files you require.
7. Log into Gmail/Google Voice
8. Click on Contacts
9. Click on Import
10. Browse for the Contacts (.csv) file
11. Click Import

I'd like to thank Android Forums member mplevy for "inspiring" me to write this FAQ.

Thanks for the great contribution... keep up the good work.

 

[syntrix]

Outlook 2000 procedure is the same as your 2003 procedure. This is about as basic as it all gets.

Don't forget the various tools that allow direct contact syncs to google, should be a sticky here somewhere.

 

[91rangerturbo]

i would just like to say thank you for posting this. It should be a sticky!!

 

[johnlgalt]

U Been repped.

Excellent writeup.

I think you might have just inspired me to do a write up for Thunderbird users, but that would be a shame, as the procedure is nearly identical to this one, with one minor exception.

 

[wrench]

Does the csv export method result in all contacts being created in Gmail, or just the ones with email addresses? There was a Microsoft document that claimed only contacts with email addresses would be transferred in this manner.

Also, does the data in ALL the fields get transferred? Outlook Contacts has a LOT of fields, including a notes field. Does Gmail map all these properly?

 

[ladyivory78]

Thank you so much! You wouldn't believe how much I use this in my daily work to support customers who call in for help transferring contacts.