Google Contacts accepts CSV and vCard files, but a successful upload does not prove that names, phone numbers, and email addresses landed in the correct fields. Inspect a small sample before importing the whole address book.
Keep a backup and a clean source file
Export the destination account’s existing contacts before a substantial import. Keep the original source file unchanged so you can compare it with any edited CSV.
For a CSV you build yourself, use Google’s linked sample template. Preserve the header row: those headings map values to contact fields. Do not assume that a visually similar spreadsheet column name will be interpreted the same way.
Import into the intended account
On a computer, open Google Contacts, confirm the account, and choose Import, Select file. Select the CSV or .vcf file, then import it. Google’s current guidance limits one import to 3,000 contacts and the account to 25,000 contacts; split a larger import deliberately.
Every row containing entered data can create a contact, so remove accidental data rows from a working copy. Keep multiple email addresses and phone numbers in the appropriate numbered fields rather than combining them into one cell without a supported format.
Inspect the result before repeating anything
Check several entries with accents, international phone numbers, multiple addresses, and notes. Google’s guidance suggests looking in Notes when an imported detail is not where expected. Confirm both the visible values and their field labels.
If the mapping is wrong, stop before importing the same full file again; repeated imports can add duplicates. Correct the source or template and plan how to remove only the failed import’s entries. Do not delete the account’s entire contact list. For employer data, use approved storage and transfer methods rather than uploading the CSV to an unrelated online converter.
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References
Reviewed against the linked product guidance, standards, and identified vendor or public-authority guidance on October 29, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.