How to Export contacts from Outlook 2010

This article outlines the steps for exporting a contact list to a csv file when can be emailed to other individuals who can then import the list into their own email account. (see How To Import Contacts From a .csv File or .pst File To Outlook 2010)


  1. At the top of your Outlook ribbon, choose the File tab.

    In Outlook 2010, choose the File tab.

  2. Choose Options.

    Choose Options.

  3. In the Outlook Options box, choose Advanced.

    Choose Advanced.

  4. Under the Export section, choose Export.

    On the Advanced page, choose Export

  5. In the Import and Export Wizard, select Export to a file, and then choose Next.

  6. Under Create a file of type, choose the type of export that you want. The most common is Comma Separated Values (Windows), also known as a .csv file. Then click Next.

    Choose to export a .csv file (Windows)

    If you are exporting contacts for use in another copy of Outlook, choose an Outlook Data File (.pst).

  7. Under Select folder to export from, you may need to scroll up, and then select the contact folder that you want to export. Choose Next when you're done.

    NOTE    Unless you chose to export to an Outlook Data File (.pst), you can only export one folder at a time.

    Choose the contacts you want export
  8. Under Save exported file as, click Browse, select a destination folder, and in the File name box, type a name for the file.

    Type a name for your contacts file

  9. Click OK.

  10. In the Export to a File dialog box, click Next.

  11. Choose Finish to start exporting your contacts immediately. Outlook doesn't display any message when the export process is complete but the Import and Export Progress box goes away.

    A picture of the export progress box.

  12. When the export is finished, choose OK to exit the Outlook Options box.

  13. Go to the location on your computer where you saved your contacts, for example, in the Documents folder.

    Type a name for the file you're exporting

  14. If you exported your contacts as a .csv file, you can use Excel to see what was exported from Outlook. You'll likely have a lot of empty cells. That's normal.

    An example of what a csv file looks like after contacts are exported from Outlook

  15. Generally we recommend closing the file without saving any changes; otherwise the file might get messed up and you won't be able to use it for importing. If that happens you can always run the export process again and create a new file.

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