Step-by-Step Guide to Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail

Summery: If you use both Outlook and Gmail accounts, moving your contacts from one to the other can save time and keep everything in one place. Importing Outlook contacts to Gmail is easy and doesn’t take long. This guide will show you how to import Outlook contacts to Gmail in just a few steps. If you are also looking for a quick way to check this export Outlook contacts to PDF.

But before that, let’s quickly look over some reasons.

How to Import Contacts from Outlook to Gmail – Why?

Before get into the process, let’s firstly understand why you might want to transfer Outlook contacts to Gmail:

• Combined: Save all your contacts in one position for simple access.
• Switching Platforms: Moving from Outlook to Gmail as your primary email service.
• Devices: Syncing Gmail syncs seamlessly with Android and other Google services.
• Back up: Make Sure your contacts are safe & secure and accessible from anywhere.

Based on the above reasons, we hope you understand the necessity of importing contacts from Outlook to Gmail. Now, let’s see how to go about it.

Manual Method to Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail

You can manually move contacts from Outlook to Gmail with simple steps. First, you need to export Outlook contacts to CSV file, and then import the CSV file to Gmail. You can do this by following these steps:

Step 1: Export Contacts from Outlook

• Launch Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
• In the left pane, click people or Contacts, depending on the edition of Outlook you are using.

Export Contacts:

Outlook 2016, 2019, or Office 365:

1. Click File in the upper-left corner.
2. Select Open & Export from the left menu.
3. Click Import/Export to open the wizard.
4. Choose the Export to a file and select Next.
5. Select Microsoft Excel or CSV (comma-separated values). CSV is the most supported format.
6. Select Contacts and click Next.
7. Choose a destination to save the file, give it a name, and hit Finish.
8. Your contacts will be saved to your computer as a .csv file.

Step 2: Import CSV Contacts to Gmail Account

• In your web browser, start Gmail and sign into your Google Account.
• Press the Google Apps icon (dotted box) and click on the Contacts.
• Otherwise, you can go to Google Contacts directly.

• In Google Contacts, find the Import option in the left pane (you may need to click More to see it)
• Click on the Import.

• Tick the Choose File option and find the .csv file you exported from MS Outlook.

• Select the file and click Open.

Google will process your file and import contacts from Outlook to Gmail, which may take a few minutes depending on how many contacts you have.

Restrictions of Manual Ways

• File Format Compatibility: Outlook exports contacts as .csv files, which need to be compatible with Gmail’s import format.
• Data Loss Risk: Some contact details like profile pictures or categories may not transfer correctly.
• Manual Export: Requires manually exporting contacts from Outlook and importing them into Gmail.
• Limited Fields: Gmail may not map all Outlook fields, potentially losing certain data (e.g., multiple phone numbers).
• Size Limit: Gmail has import limits, such as a max file size for CSV imports.

Quick Process to Export Contacts from Outlook to Gmail

First we transfer Outlook contacts to Gmail , then transfer this file to a Gmail account. All the steps are as follows:

• Download the vCard Export Tool.
• Press the Add file button to choose your Outlook contacts file.

• Select the Google CSV export option. Choose the desired destination.

• Start the process to export Outlook contacts to Gmail account.

• Finally, transfer the converted Gmail CSV file to Gmail account.

Conclusion Thought

Contacts play an important role in both our professional and personal lives. They also help us share information and schedule meetings in real time. This article provides all the necessary information on how to import Outlook contacts to Gmail. Moreover, with the help of a blog, users can easily import contacts from Outlook to Gmail account without any hassle or data loss.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q: Will the imported contacts from Outlook retain their details in Gmail?

Yes, when you import Outlook contacts to Gmail, the majority of contact details, such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, and addresses, are retained. However, some fields or custom data may not perfectly map between the two services.

Q: Can I sync my Outlook contacts with Gmail?

While Gmail does not natively support syncing contacts with Outlook, you can sync them using third-party applications or tools like Google Contacts Sync or Outlook Google Calendar Sync. Alternatively, you can use the manual import-export process periodically to keep contacts updated.

Q: What if my contacts are stored in Office 365 or Outlook.com?

1. Sign into an Outlook.com or Office 365 account.
2. Go to People (your contacts).
3. Click Manage > Export contacts.
4. Download your contacts as a CSV file.
5. Import the CSV file into Gmail as described above.

Q: Can I transfer only a specific contact file from Outlook to Gmail?

Yes, you can selectively export specific contacts from Outlook by organizing them into a separate folder and then exporting that folder to a CSV file. Once done, you can import only those contacts into Gmail.

Q: Will I need to manually update contacts after importing them?

Once your contacts are in Gmail, they should sync automatically with your Google account. However, if you make changes in Outlook or add new contacts, you will need to repeat the export/import process unless you use a sync tool.