How to Convert MSG Contacts to vCard / VCF Format Easily?
Learn how to convert MSG contacts to vCard files. In this article, we will explain two primary methods to convert MSG contacts to VCF/vCard files with all details (name, phone number, email address etc.). So, follow along with us to learn more and find your ideal solution.
Managing contacts efficiently for hassle-free communication across platforms is important. Microsoft Outlook saves individual contacts in MSG format, however, this file format is not universally supported. On the other hand, vCard (VCF) files are widely recognized and accepted across various email clients, Smartphones as well as platforms like Gmail, iCloud, all Android and Apple devices.
If you want to use MSG contacts files outside of Outlook, you’ll need to convert them into vCard files. Let us explain the importance of vCard files and suggest both manual and professional methods.
Why Convert MSG Contacts to vCard?
- Cross-platform Support: While MSG contacts files can only be accessed with Outlook, vCard contacts files are supported by Outlook, Thunderbird, Gmail, iPhone, Android, iCloud Etc.
- Easier Data Sharing: Sharing contacts in .vcf files is simple as compared to the MSG files. They are lightweight and can easily be opened.
- Migration Needs: When migrating from Outlook to Thunderbird, iCloud or other platforms, vCard files act as a bridge, since they are recognized by all.
- Backup Needs: Backing up contacts in MSG files limits their recovery. With vCard, you’ll have the freedom to recover them, as it’s a universal format for storing contacts.
How to Convert MSG Contacts to VCF / vCard Files?
If you have Outlook installed on your machine, and only a few files to convert in vCard, the manual solution is best for you. However, if you’re no longer setup with MS Outlook and have orphaned MSG files, the MSG to vCard converter solution is ideal for you.
We’ll explain both the methods in detail below and suggest you to carefully go through them.
Method 1: Export MSG Contact Files to vCard Manually with Outlook
- Double click the MSG file to open it in Outlook. Or drag the MSG files onto Outlook Window, preferably in the people/contacts module.
- Now, click the “File” and select “Save as”
- In the Save as window, select vCard Files (*.vcf) as the file type.
- Select a location to save the vCard files
- Click Save.
- Repeat the process for each contact file.
So, that’s how to manually convert MSG contacts to vCard files. However, it seems to be simple and efficient, this method has certain limitations, which you can read below.
Limitation of the Method
- Requires you to configured with Microsoft Outlook application
- It is time consuming and hectic.
- It’s not preferable for large datasets, since it can only export one MSG contacts file as vCard at once.
- Sometimes not all details like contacts photo, email address are preserved.
- Does not give you any option to choose vCard versions.
If you have hundreds MSG contacts files to convert into VCF files, and looking for a more standalone and time-saving approach, discover it below.
Method 2: Use Automated MSG to vCard Converter
The PCDOTS MSG Converter is the most preferable solution to convert MSG contacts to vCard files. Unlike the manual process, it does not require you to repeat the process for each contact file. It lets you export hundreds of MSG contacts to VCF files in one go without any hassle. It’s a trustworthy software that preserves all contact details such as name, phone number, email IDs, company, address etc. during conversion.
The software is available to download from the button above. It offers the easy steps to export multiple or selective MSG contacts to vCard / VCF files, which you can review below with their native screenshots.
Steps to Batch Convert MSG Contacts to vCard Files
- Download, install and launch the MSG to vCard converter on Windows machine.
- Click the Open menu and select Email Data Files >> MSG Files >> Choose Files or Choose Folders.
- Browse to the location where your MSG files are saved. Select and import them into the software.
- MSG files will appear in the left panel of the application.
- Now, click the Export menu and select vCard from the drop-down menu.
- Click the browse button and specify location to save the files and then click the Save button.
Done! Here’s how efficiently you can convert MSG contacts to VCF files using the automated software. If you want to learn more about the software and why it’s preferable over the manual method, keep reading.
Benefits of the MSG to VCF Converter Software
- Unlike the manual method, it converts multiple MSG files to vCard in a single operation.
- Allows you to choose the vCard version: 2.1, 3.0 and 4.0
- Convert MSG contacts to vCard with all embedded details like name, photo, IDs, address etc.
- Allows you to view MSG files before converting into vCard / VCF files.
- It does not require MSG files to be configured with Microsoft Outlook application.
- Comes with simple UI and useful for both technical and non-technical users.
- Compatible with Windows 11, Windows 1o and all below editions.
In Conclusion
MSG files are ideal to keep contacts until they are configured with Outlook. However, if you want to use MSG contacts outside of Outlook, converting them to vCard is needed. Thus, in the text above, we offer both manual and automated solutions to convert MSG contacts to vCard files. While the manual way is limited to converting one file at a time, and is time consuming for large sets, the MSG to vCard converter is time-saving with large data. The software makes the conversion easier and efficient and offers you the best results. It’s available in a free version that you can download from the link above.
If you have any questions, you can ask us any time.
