How to Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel

Do you need to send an email to a large list of email addresses on Outlook? If you have a directory of contacts in an Excel spreadsheet that you'd like to import to Outlook, you've come to the right place. This wikiHow article will teach you how to bulk import contacts to Outlook from Excel using a csv file.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Saving your Contacts as a CSV File

  1. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 1
    1
    Open the Excel spreadsheet with your contacts. In the Excel application, open the worksheet with the contacts you wish to import to Outlook.
    • Make sure that your spreadsheet columns are labeled "First Name," "Last Name," "Phone Number," "Email Address," etc. These labels will make the import process much more simple.
    • If you want to learn how to import contacts from Excel to a Microsoft Word mailing list, check out [(https://www.wikihow.com/Mail-Merge-in-Microsoft-Word) this article.]
  2. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 2
    2
    Click the "Save as" button. At the very top of your spreadsheet, you will see an icon of a memory card with a pencil across it. Clicking on this icon will pull up the "Save as..." menu.
    • On a Mac computer, you can also access this menu by clicking File > Save as... in the bar at the top of your computer screen.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 3
    3
    Save the spreadsheet as a CSV. Open the "File Format" option list and click the option to save your spreadsheet as a CSV, or a .csv, which is a comma-separated values file. Once you have selected the CSV option, press "Save".
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Importing the CSV to Outlook

  1. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 4
    1
    Open Outlook. Enter the Outlook app on your computer.
    • You will need the Outlook app to import the CSV file, so download the app if you don't yet have it installed.
  2. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 5
    2
    Click "File" > "Open & Export" > "Import / Export". In the menu at the top of your Outlook app, click "File", then "Open & Export," and then "Import / Export".
    • If you can't see the "File" option in the Outlook menu, be sure that you are using the application as opposed to the website. [1]
  3. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 6
    3
    Choose "Import from another program or file". Select the option to import data from another program or file, and then click "Next".
  4. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 7
    4
    Click "Browse" and select the CSV file. Find and select the CSV file you exported from Excel from your computer documents.
  5. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 8
    5
    Choose whether to replace, create, or not import duplicate contacts. Below the CSV file, you will see a list of options relating to "duplicates". Duplicates are contacts that already exist in your Outlook. Make a selection from these options before clicking "Next".
    • The options of “Allow duplicates to be created” and “Do not import duplicate items” will not cause any contacts already in your Outlook to be lost. The option to “Replace duplicates with items imported” may cause you to lose some pre-existing Outlook contacts.
  6. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 9
    6
    Select "Contacts" as the import destination. In the next window, you will choose the import destination for the CSV file. "Contacts" should be automatically selected. Once you have ensured that this file will be imported to your contacts folder, click "Next".
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Mapping the CSV to the Outlook Contact Fields

  1. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 10
    1
    Click "Map Custom Fields". This action will open the field-mapping menu, where you will match the columns of your CSV file with different fields of contact information.
  2. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 11
    2
    Match the values in the "From" and the "To" columns. The column names from the CSV file you imported will be listed under "From". The Outlook contact fields will be listed under "To". Match up these values by dragging the titles from the left to the corresponding fields on the right.[2] Once you are done mapping these values, click "OK".
    • This process will be much easier if you labeled your spreadsheet columns with "Last Name", "First Name", "Email Address", and so on in before exporting it as a CSV file.
  3. Image titled Import Contacts to Outlook from Excel Step 12
    3
    Click "Finish". Once you have clicked the "Finish" button, the contacts will be imported to your Outlook account.
    • You can access your list of contacts by clicking on the icon of people in the bottom Outlook menu.
    4. Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Transfer Microsoft Office to Another Computer
How to
Transfer Microsoft Office to Another Computer
Unprotect a Word Document Without the Password
How to
Unprotect a Word Document Without the Password
Duplicate a Page in Word4 Simple Ways to Duplicate a Page in Word: Windows & Mac
Install Microsoft OfficeHow to Install Microsoft Office: Subscribe and Download
Print Mirror Image
How to
Print Mirror Image
Change Transparency in PowerPoint
How to
Change Transparency in PowerPoint
Get Microsoft Office For Free7 Ways to Use Microsoft Office for Free: Web, Mobile, & Desktop Versions
Copy a Table from Word
How to
Copy a Table from Word
Send Large Files Through Outlook
How to
Send Large Files Through Outlook
Update Microsoft Office on Mac3 Simple Ways to Update Microsoft Office on a Mac
Insert a Comment Box in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
How to
Insert a Comment Box in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
Convert PowerPoint to Word
How to
Convert PowerPoint to Word
Set, Reset, Remove and Recover the Password of Excel Files
How to
Set, Reset, Remove and Recover the Password of Excel Files
Customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Microsoft Word (Windows 7)
How to
Customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Microsoft Word (Windows 7)
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/outlook/5040-outlook-import-contacts-from-excel.html
  2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/import-and-export-outlook-email-contacts-and-calendar-92577192-3881-4502-b79d-c3bbada6c8ef

About This Article

Maddie Holleman
Written by:
Maddie Holleman
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Maddie Holleman. Maddie Holleman is a Technology Writing Intern for wikiHow. Alongside writing many articles on technology and social media, Maddie has previously worked as a social media strategist and publicist for two organizations and has been using social media for years. She is currently pursuing a degree in Anthropology and Digital Studies at Davidson College. This article has been viewed 5,888 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 3
Updated: November 14, 2021
Views: 5,888
Categories: Microsoft Office
Advertisement