How to move contacts from Microsoft's Outlook to Apple's Address Book

So you want to move your contacts from Windows to Mac. This can be a difficult thing to do but thanks to Gmail, there is a very easy way to do this.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your PC
• Your Mac
• Internet access on both computers
• A Gmail account

1. Launch Outlook

2. Click File >> Import and Export

3. Select 'Export to a file' from the list of choices.
   Click Next.

4. Select 'Comma Separated Values(Windows)' from the list of choices.
   Click Next.

5. Select 'Contacts' from the list of sources to export from.
   Click Next.

6. Enter a name for your exported contacts file to be saved as.
   Click browse so you know where it will be saved or if you want to change where it will be saved.
   Click Next.

7. Go to gmail.com and log in. If you don't have an account, sign up for one and follow their instructions.

8. Once you are logged in to your account, click 'Contacts'.

9. On the right side of the screen you will see 'Import, Export, Print'.
   Click Import.

10. Click browse and navigate to the contacts file you just made in Outlook.
    Import the file.
    
    NOTE: Gmail will alert you if anything didn't import properly. For sanity's sake you may want to browse through your contacts to be sure they look to be correct. Its rare but you may have to adjust a few contact entries.

11. At this point you can continue from your Mac.

12. Once you are confident that your contacts in Gmail are nice, neat and correct, click Export.
    Select these to options:
    Everyone (My Contacts + Suggested Contacts)
    and
    vCard format (for importing into Address Book or other applications)
    Click Export at the bottom of the page.

13. A download window will pop up asking if you want to save or open contacts.vcf.
    Select Save.

14. Open Address Book.

15. Click File >> Import >> vCards

16. Locate your contacts.vcf and click import.
    
    
    NOTE: Address Book will alert you if there are any issues and will allow you a chance to review the issues.

[Groove]

on 9/28/2009 Glad they worked out for you! Enjoy your Mac!

[ecomo12500]

on 9/19/2009 Great instruction. I am a lifelong Microsoft user and totally new to Apple (present from my wife). Was a bit confused on how to on how to migrate all my agenda info to the new computer. Your instructions worked brilliantly well. Thanks