Export Mac Mail Address Book Contacts to CSV File

There are two ways to get your contacts into the CSV file format. You can either use a dedicated tool that exports a CSV file from the start, or you can export the contacts into the VCF format first and then convert the VCF file to CSV. We show you how to do both using any Mac with OS X Snow Leopard (10.6) or later.

Export Contacts Directly to CSV Format

Exporting information contained in the Contacts application requires a helper application. Some paid helper apps, such as AB2CSV and Address Book to CSV, are available in the Mac App Store. Others are available from third-party vendors.

This example uses the application AB2CSV, which saves your contacts to a CSV file without having to create a VCF file first.

1. Download AB2CSV from the Mac App Store—the price is $0.99—and launch it.

2. Select Mode in the AB2CSV menu bar and click CSV in the drop-down menu.

3. To configure which fields to export, go to AB2CSV in the menu bar and select Preferences in the drop-down menu.

4. Click OK in the pop-up window that asks you to grant the app access to your contacts.

5. Select the CSV tab.

6. Select the fields you want to export by checking the boxes in front of the categories.

7. Click File on the menu bar followed by Export. Pick a location for the CSV file. It will have a .csv extension.

Convert the VCF File to CSV

If you'd rather not install an application or pay for an app to make a CSV file, export the Contacts application's VCF file and then use an online utility to format the VCF file as a CSV file. To do that, you first have to create the vCard file.

1. Open the Contacts application from the Dock or the Applications folder.

2. Choose the list in the left pane that you want to export, such as All Contacts.

3. From the Contacts menu bar, select the File > Export > Export vCard.

4. Name the exported list of contacts and choose a location for the file. Click Save.

Now that the contacts are in the VCF format, use an online VCF to CSV converter such as ACConvert to make the CSV file.

Upload your VCF file to the website and select CSV as the output format. Click the Convert Now button when you're done to make the CSV file.

Why Export Contacts to CSV?

By default, the Contacts or Address Book program on a Mac exports entries to the vCard file format with a VCF file extension. However, CSV is a more common format that works with many email clients, so having an Apple Contacts list in CSV format makes it easier to import it into other email clients or view them in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel.