Top 3 Ways to Convert PST to VCF (vCard) Format Without Data Loss

Summary: At times, users find old PST archive files saved in their system backups. With no Outlook installed, the user is unable to access the PST file. Therefore, I decided to convert PST to VCF to access them directly on other platforms and devices. But, how does the user do this conversion? In this blog, we’ll explore the top three techniques for converting PST to vCard format. We will look at both manual and automated methods using the PST Migrator Tool. The tool efficiently converts the contacts even from an orphaned PST File. 

Why Convert PST to vCard?

Convert PST to VCF is highly beneficial for a number of use cases. Below are the following reasons why:

• PST files require MS Outlook to open them. Whereas a VCF file format is accessible across platforms and devices. 
• vCard files are easy to share. Sharing specific contacts with someone is easy instead of sharing the entire PST file. 
• With vCard, one can easily make contact recovery and migration smooth for both mobile and online users.
• Usually, users are interested in retrieving the contacts from the PST file. A VCF file is perfect for importing selective contacts only. 
• Also, with the VCF format, contacts can be synced across different cloud services like Google Contacts, iCloud, and Office 365. 

How to Convert PST to VCF?

Manually Convert PST Contacts to VCF One by One

This process involves converting PST contacts to vCard (VCF) using MS Outlook. It is a simple method that uses no third-party tool and is suitable for exporting few selected contacts. 

Below are the steps to begin exporting the contacts:

1. Open MS Outlook on your system. Ensure that the PST file is imported into it.
2. Now, select either People or Contacts.
3. After that, select the contacts to export or convert.
4. Navigate to File > Save As and choose the location to save the file.
5. Then, in the Save As type option, choose vCard Files (*.vcf).

Manually Convert PST Contacts to vCard in Bulk

This method exports multiple contacts from an Outlook PST file to vCard format in one go. 

Use the following steps to start the process:

Step 1: Export Contacts from Outlook to CSV

1. To start with, open Outlook.
2. After that, head to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
3. Choose Export to a file > Comma-Separated Values and click Next.
4. Now, select the desired contacts from your PST file and then click Next again.
5. Tap on Browse, choose the save location, and hit Finish.

Step 2: Import CSV into Windows Contacts and Export to VCF

1. First, press Win+R and type: wab and tap Enter.
2. Now, click on the Import button and choose CSV (Comma-Separated Value). Click Import.
3. Afterwards, find and select the exported CSV file from Outlook.
4. Click Next > Finish.
5. Navigate to Export and select vCard. Then, click on Export.
6. Choose the saving location for the output file.

Drawbacks of the Manual Methods

• Importing the contacts one by one is a time-consuming and tedious task. 
• Using the second method, one can easily export contacts in bulk, but execute a lengthy process.
• Make sure the mapping is done properly while importing CSV.

Instantly Convert PST to VCF File Format Using an Automated Tool

The PST to VCF Converter is a go-to-tool that converts PST contacts to vCard (VCF) in bulk without hassle. It is a powerful utility that converts contacts into various file formats efficiently. The tool also supports direct migration to email services like Gmail and Office 365, and many more. Plus, its key features include smart filters, duplicate removal, batch import, and preview mode. With these features, the tool simplifies every step, ensuring efficient and accurate processing. 

Simplified steps to convert PST to vCard:

1. Download and run the tool.
2. Now, opt for the Single File option and click on Next to continue.
3. After that, click on Select Files, go to your PST file location, and open it.
4. Then, click Next, and from the tree-like hierarchical structure, choose the desired file/folder to convert.
5. Afterwards, press Next to continue and choose VCF from the File Format.
6. You can use the additional features to customize your VCF file.
7. Conclude the process by clicking on the Convert button. 

Conclusion

Converting PST to VCF significantly improves the accessibility and portability of contacts across various devices and platforms. Here, we looked at two primary ways, one is manual and another is automated. The manual approach is efficient for converting a small number of contacts. Furthermore, manual conversion increases the risk of data corruption and is prone to errors. However, the Cigati PST to vCard Converter is a superior solution to convert PST to VCF format. It minimizes both the risk of errors and manual efforts, while ensuring data integrity as well.

You May Also Read: Convert PST to CSV

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