How to Export Contacts From Windows Mail

Don't leave your contacts behind when you change email services

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on October 19, 2021
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • In Windows 8, select Tools > Windows Contacts > Export > CSV > Export, enter a file name and choose Save > Next > Name > Finish.
  • Since the People app contains the mail list in Windows 10 & 11, you cannot export contacts from the Windows 10 & 11 Mail app.

This article explains how to save your Windows Mail 8 and earlier contacts to a CSV file in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

Export Contacts and Email Addresses From Windows Mail

If you've built one address book in Windows Mail, you shouldn't have to build that same address book again, even if you switch email programs or email services. You can export Windows contacts to a file format called CSV (comma-separated values), from which most other email programs and email services can import your contacts.​ To save your Windows Mail 8 and earlier contacts to a CSV file in Windows 8:

  1. Select Tools > Windows Contacts from the menu in Windows Mail.

  2. Select Export in the toolbar.

  3. Make sure CSV (Comma Separated Values) is highlighted.

  4. Select Export. Choose a folder to receive the exported contacts or open a new folder.

  5. Type a folder name such as "Windows Mail contacts" under the File name.

  6. Click Save and then select Next.

  7. Make sure the address book fields you want to be included are checked. Note that Windows Mail does not export first and last names separately, even though there are First Name and Last Name fields. Choose Name instead.

  8. Click Finish. Close the remaining windows.

Export Contacts From the Windows 10 and Windows 11 People App

You can't export your contacts located in the People app of a Windows 10 and Windows 11 computer to a CSV file. However, you can do this from your online Microsoft account and the online People app. From there, you choose Manage > Export Contacts to export the contacts to a CSV file. Go to the other email service and use the Import command to import your contacts to that service.

Was this page helpful?