Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. Zimbra can export your contacts to CSV on its own, no extra software. In the Zimbra web client, open Preferences, then Import / Export, choose Contacts and the CSV format, and export. If you only have an exported .tgz or several accounts to do, a converter reads it and writes the contacts to CSV. Either way, the CSV opens anywhere.
On this page
The free way, built into Zimbra
Good news first, you probably do not need any extra software. Zimbra has a contacts export built into the web client, and it writes CSV directly, for free.
Sign in to the Zimbra Web Client, open Preferences, then Import / Export. Under Export, choose Contacts as the type, pick the Comma-Separated Values format, and if you want, select a single address book rather than everything. Click Export and Zimbra downloads a .csv of your contacts. That is the whole job for most people.
Zimbra’s own Import and Export writes a contacts CSV in a few clicks.
“This is one of the cases where Zimbra already does what you need, the Import and Export screen exports contacts straight to CSV, so for a single account with web access there is nothing to buy. Where a tool earns its place is the awkward cases, you only have a .tgz export and cannot log in, or you are moving the address books of a dozen accounts at once. For one person exporting their own contacts, use Zimbra’s own export.” Shubham Dixit, Data Migration reviewer (draft, pending approval)
CSV or vCard?
Zimbra’s export offers both, and which you pick depends on where the contacts are going. CSV is the spreadsheet friendly one, and it is what Outlook and Google Contacts expect when you import. vCard is the format Apple Contacts and most phones prefer. If you are not sure, CSV is the safe general choice, and you can always export the other later since the original contacts stay in Zimbra.
Where the CSV goes next
The point of a CSV is that almost everything reads it, so once you have the file your contacts are free to move.
One CSV imports into the big address books, or opens as a plain spreadsheet.
From a .tgz, a converter
There are a few cases where Zimbra’s own export is not an option, you only have an exported .tgz file and cannot log in to the account, the account is closed, or you need the address books from many accounts at once. For those, a converter reads the .tgz and writes the contacts to CSV without Zimbra. The PCDOTS Zimbra Converter loads a .tgz, finds the contacts, and exports them to CSV or vCard in bulk. It runs on Windows and does not need Zimbra installed. A free version handles the first ten items so you can test it first.
The tool route, for a .tgz file or several accounts without logging in.
Here are the steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run the software on Windows, then open the menu.
Step 2. Choose Zimbra and load your exported .tgz files.
Step 3. Open the Export menu and select CSV.
Step 4. Choose a destination folder and Save.
A very large address book can make a heavy CSV. If a huge file is awkward to import, the CSV Splitter can break it into smaller files first. For related Zimbra jobs see save Zimbra emails as PDF and migrate Zimbra to Office 365, and for another address book to CSV, convert vCard to CSV.
The methods compared
Match the route to your access and how many accounts you are exporting.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbra Import / Export | One account, web access, free | Built in, CSV or vCard |
| Zimbra Converter tool | A .tgz, no access, or many accounts | Windows, reads the .tgz |
| CSV Splitter | A very large CSV to import | Splits into smaller files |
Frequently asked questions
Does Zimbra export contacts to CSV on its own?
Yes. In the Zimbra web client, open Preferences, then Import / Export, choose Contacts and the Comma-Separated Values format, and export. No extra software is needed.
Where is the export option in Zimbra?
Under Preferences, on the Import / Export screen. Set the type to Contacts, pick CSV, optionally choose one address book, and click Export.
Should I choose CSV or vCard?
CSV for Outlook, Google Contacts or a spreadsheet, vCard for Apple Contacts and most phones. CSV is the safe general choice.
How do I export contacts if I only have a .tgz file?
Use a converter that reads the .tgz and writes the contacts to CSV, since you cannot use Zimbra’s own export without logging in to the account.
Can I import the CSV into Outlook or Google?
Yes. Both accept a contacts CSV, use File then Import in Outlook, or Import in Google Contacts, and map the columns if asked.
My CSV is too big to import. What now?
A very large address book makes a heavy CSV. Split it into smaller files with a CSV splitter, then import each in turn.
Your Zimbra contacts, portable in a CSV
There is no need to overthink this one. For your own account, Zimbra already carries the whole job, open Preferences, use Import and Export, pick Contacts and CSV, and the file is yours in a few clicks, at no cost. Reach for a converter only when Zimbra’s own export is off the table, a .tgz with no login, or many accounts to do together. Once the CSV is saved, your contacts are portable, ready to drop into Outlook, Google, a phone or a spreadsheet, and safely off the server as a file you keep.
