Home » Blog » How To » Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail: Manual & Automated Ways

Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail: Manual & Automated Ways

  Rollins Duke
Rollins Duke   
Published: March 13th, 2026 • 5 Min Read

Quick Summary: To transfer Outlook contacts to Gmail manually, you first need to export Outlook contacts into CSV and then import CSV contacts to Gmail. To follow this manual way, use the Outlook Open and Export > Import/Export functionality and the Gmail contacts import CSV feature.

Secondly, for large-scale batch migration, an automated migrator is suggested for accurate field mapping and contacts data handling. Based on individual and professional requirement you may go with any one of the manual or automated methods for importing Outlook contacts to Gmail. Now, let us begin by discussing the manual solution.

Manual Way: Export Outlook Contacts and Import to Gmail

The manual solution to copy Outlook contacts into Gmail consists of two stages: exporting the Outlook contacts. The second is importing the exported contacts via the Google Contacts built-in import feature. For detailed step-by-step guidance, follow the steps described below.

How to Export Outlook Contacts to Gmail? Working Steps

Stage 1: Export Outlook Contacts

  1. Open the Classic Outlook email client.
  2. And then, press the File tab >> Import and Export >> Open & Export option.
  3. Now choose the “Export to a File” option.
  4. After that, select the “Comma Separated Values” option and hit the “Next” icon.
  5. Now select the contacts and then browse the saving location to import Outlook contacts to Gmail.

Now you will get all the Outlook contacts in CSV format at the selected location.

Stage 2: Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail

  1. Open Gmail contacts.
  2. And then hit the “Import” icon from the left panel.
  3. Lastly, browse the location of the CSV file to import.

Note: This method allows users to move Outlook contacts to Gmail via CSV. Therefore, there are chances that Outlook contacts’ photos may not be preserved. To overcome this challenge, you may try the pro solution.

Export Outlook Contacts to Gmail Automated Solution

If you are a highly informed user and want to preserve all Outlook contacts while importing to Gmail. Then, you may use the advanced solution, such as the PST file converter by BitRecover. Using this tool, you can directly export Outlook contacts to vCard and then import them into Gmail.

Following this professional solution ensures your Outlook contacts will be preserved during the migration. If you choose this solution, there are zero chances of photo loss, character corruption, or broken-field mapping during the migration process.
import outlook contacts to gmail

How to Transfer Outlook Contacts to Gmail Automatically?

  1. At the start, run and install the export tool on your PC.
  2. Next, choose Convert configured Outlook mailbox data.
  3. Then, select the contacts folder from the Outlook data tree.
  4. After that, select the saving option as VCF from the list menu.
  5. Thereafter, choose the storage destination and hit convert.
  6. Now, go to the Google Contacts and find the import option.
  7. Finally, click on Select File to browse the exported VCF and click Import.

Why VCF is Better than CSV to Import Outlook Contacts to Gmail?

CSV is a common text-based file format that often fails when handling complex contact structures. However, VCF is an RFC 6350-based format that easily handles Base64 images and UTF-8 for international characters. Therefore, if you are handling a complex contact dataset, VCF is suggested over CSV for Outlook contacts to Gmail export tasks.

Common Reasons to Move Outlook Contacts to Gmail Account

  • Cross-Platform Access: Use any internet-connected device to access contacts.
  • Google Integration: Easy connection to Google services, including Calendar and Drive.
  • Contact management: Advanced tools for maintaining contacts updated and organized.
  • Easy Migration: Gmail provides facilities for a simple import method.
  • Extended Viability: A popular platform with regular updates.
  • Convenience: Provides a single platform for managing both personal and business contacts.

Final Thoughts

Contact plays an important role in our professional as well as personal life. Also, it helps to share information and schedule meetings in real time. This write-up covers all the required details on how to import Outlook contacts to Gmail. Also, with the help of this blog post, the user can easily export contacts from Outlook contacts to Gmail account without any hassle or any loss of data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1: Can I convert various Outlook mailbox contacts by using this utility?

Ans: Yes, you can quickly import Outlook contacts to Gmail in bulk with the help of this tool.

Ques 2: Is MS Outlook installation required for Outlook contacts to Gmail conversion?

Ans: No, Microsoft Outlook is not needed to import Outlook contacts to a Gmail account.

Ques 3: Can I download the tool on both Mac and Windows?

Ans: Yes, you can easily download the software on any version of Mac and Windows.

Ques 4: Is there any limitation on no of Outlook contacts imported to Gmail at once?

Ans: Yes, Gmail has a limit on importing contacts. If you are importing Outlook contacts via CSV, the limit is 3000. However, if you are transferring Outlook contacts using VCF, then Gmail’s limit is 1000 per batch.


Live Chat