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How to import multiple vcard contacts into iphone4

How to import multiple vcard contacts into iphone4

iPhone 4, iOS 6.0.1

Posted on Dec 23, 2012 6:02 AM

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Posted on Dec 23, 2012 6:06 AM

it is better to export all the contacts to one vcard file and then import all of them in one go.

I think the easiest way to import one or multiple vcard files is to e-mail these files to your e-mail address, get this e-mail on your iPhone, click on attachment and click import/add or whatever appears when you open an attached vcard file(s)

24 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 23, 2012 6:06 AM in response to SatyakMurthy

it is better to export all the contacts to one vcard file and then import all of them in one go.

I think the easiest way to import one or multiple vcard files is to e-mail these files to your e-mail address, get this e-mail on your iPhone, click on attachment and click import/add or whatever appears when you open an attached vcard file(s)

Jan 18, 2013 3:58 PM in response to Munas

Great answer Munas. I'm doing the same thing but my vcard file is too big to email (2000+ entries!).


I've put the .vcf file on the iPad (dropbox) but there's no app associated with that extension (.vcf) which is a bit of a bummer. Is that a simple app which will import a large .vcf?


OR (at the PC end with crappy Outlook 2003) can I share the contacts with iTunes which will, in turn share them with the iPad !?

Jan 18, 2013 4:24 PM in response to applerab

Strange...

I've been importing ~5000 contacts with no problems via email...


What you can do is to use your computer:


- if you use iCloud, then import these contacts to iCloud Contacts

Log in to iCloud. http://www.icloud.com

Click Contacts

Drag the .vcf file into the window under All Contacts. The page will highlight with a blue rectangle when you drag the .vcf onto it. (It may tale a while since you have many contacts). Alternatively, you may click on "gear" icon at the bottom of a "Contacts book" and select Import vCard file from there.

On your iPhone, go to Settings > iCloud and make sure Contacts is listed as ON.

Note: it might be that the contact pictures if you have ones will be lost.


- if you wish to have your contacts on Google:

Login to your google account that you want to hold your contacts http://contacts.google.com

Click on More

Chose Import

On your iPhone configure/add CardDav account (Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account ... > Other > Add CardDAV account

If I remember correctly the server is google.com and the rest are your credentials and Description - call it whatever you think it is the best.

Note 1: If you have enabled double security you may need to check how to add contacts using it - it might be that you need to add credentials that generates security generator (I do not use it so I could not tell a lot about it)

Note 2: If you get could not connect using SSL or similar error message - just click OK


Be aware, that to sync contacts to your phone from the Internet (no matter from iCloud or Google) may take several hours, therefore do not panic - better do it before you go to sleep and in the morning your iPhone should have all the contacts.

Jan 20, 2013 9:43 AM in response to applerab

Yes this one of possibilities, however it lacks flexibility. In order you to have your contacts in sync you have to have access to your computer and sync it.

However, when contacts are synced with iCloud you do not need to access your computer, all syncronization is done via WiFi or mobile data without you even thinking about it.

May 26, 2013 10:29 PM in response to SatyakMurthy

I had a Nokia C6-01 and had to import the contacts to my Iphone 4S. This is how I did it

1. Open Nokia Suite and Click on Contacts

2. Select all contacts. Click on File -> Import Contacts .Specify the folder that you are creating . For ex: C:\vcards.

Now you have multiple .vcf files in this folder.

To combine the multiple .vcf into a single .vcf


a . Open command line interface (click Start -> Run, or windows button + r and type cmd to launch it).

b. Navigate to the folder where multiple vCard files are by entering cd "C:\vcards", if the folder is there.

c. Enter the command copy /a *.vcf combinedfile.vcf in the command prompt.


3. Now add this file as an attachment and mail it to your email address. Open the email on your iphone and click on the attachment.

4. It will prompt you to add the contacts. Now you have all the contacts on your Iphone.

Jan 17, 2014 12:33 AM in response to chips1009

Thank you for the hint Mithila.Holla.


I first created vcf file from https://www.icloud.com/#contacts,


1. click setting button which is on left down side of the link -> 'Select All'

2. click again setting button -> Export vCard


This would create an vcf file on your PC.


After this, I followed Mithila.Holla's approach by email.


(On Gmail app, i couldn't download the .vcf file n import my contacts, so i did via Email that was configured using 'Mail' setup)


With these steps, I Could 'create new contacts' with the help of the .vcf file which was on my email acccount successfully.


Regards,

Praveen.

Jan 31, 2014 4:59 PM in response to Munas

Munas has a very good answer. Just to add a little, if you have a log of vCards like I did there is a simple Windows commandline trick that can be used to combine them into one file that can be uploaded to the iCloud website.


Go to the folder containing the vCards, hold shift and right click and select 'Open command line window here' from the menu.


type the following inti the window that opens:


copy /a *.vcf AllContacts.vcf


This will copy all of the vcf files into one vcf file that can be easily uploaded to the website.

How to import multiple vcard contacts into iphone4

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