How to Open VCF File? Detailed Guide with 7 Effective Techniques

Today, we will be learning how to open VCF file on PC using various methods. VCF files, also known as vCard files, are used to save information on contacts that is easily read and can be imported by email services like Gmail, Outlook, etc. Here, we will be explaining the methods for opening the files in detail with the help of these email services.

As we all know, VCF files are plain text files that include information like the name of the contacts, email address, phone number, etc. These files are often exported or imported in some address book programs, making it easier to share one or more contacts. In order to open vCard file on a computer, it is important to import these to various email services. Let’s take a look at the methods to view these files but before that, check out the user query as mentioned below.

User Query

“I have a ton of VCF files that I need to open but I’m not able to. These store a lot of information about my contacts and I need to access them. I have tried a lot of ways but none of the methods work. I don’t want to import these files to any email client since these are some of the contacts that I want to keep separately. Is there any way that I can use to open these up? Please help!”

Understand how users can open these files without having to import them in any email client.

7 Best Techniques to Open VCF File on PC

Taking into consideration the above-mentioned user query, we have brought here the perfect solution for those who do not want to import the VCF files to any email clients. We will also be mentioning the methods to open these files in email services as well. Let’s check out these methods. 

The first solution is the one that doesn’t require users to export these files to email services yet; open the files easily. In the other two methods, you will be shown the processes to first import the contact files to the respective email clients to open and access the contact data stored in them.

Read Other Blog: How to Print Contacts from VCF File?

Let’s get started.

Technique 1: Open vCard File on PC via Gmail

Follow the order of instructions as given below:

• Login to your Gmail account and go to the Contacts option.

• You will be redirected to a new window where you have to click on the Import option.
  Or, you can choose the Import Contacts option.

• Now, click on the Select File option and choose the files to import.

• Press the Open button to add the files and hit Import.

In this way, you will be able to open files on your Gmail account. If you do not have a Gmail account and Outlook for desktop instead, check out the next method

Technique 2: Open VCF File Using Outlook for Desktop

Go through the steps as listed below:

i: Launch Outlook and click on the File tab and choose the Open and Export option

• From there, select the Import/Export option and a wizard will open up.
• In the Import/Export wizard, choose the Import a vCard file (.vcf) option and hit Next.

• Click the VCF file to be imported and hit on the Open tab.

• The file will be imported into Outlook and you can access and read the contact information.

Technique 4: Using Spreadsheet Software (Excel, Google Sheets)

If you want to analyze the data in a more structured tabular format, you can import the VCF file into a spreadsheet tool.

1. Open Excel on your computer.
2. Click File > Open.
3. Open the vCard or VCF file and choose Open.
4. Select Delimiter and set Tab or Space as the separator (if required).
5. The data in the VCF or vCard files will be displayed in columns.
6. Click Next and finally click Finish.

Technique 5: Open vCard File on PC Using Google Sheets

• Open Google Sheets.
• Go to File > Import.
• Choose the VCF file from your local PC or Google Drive.
• Select Tab or Space as the separator.
• The contacts will be displayed in tabular format.
• Right-click the VCF file.
• Select Open With.
• Choose your favorite text editor (Notepad, Sublime Text, etc.).
• The VCF file will open, & you will be able to view its contents.

Technique 6: Open VCF File on Computer Using Notepad

• Open the Notepad program on a Windows.
• Tick the file and  choose Open from the list.
• Navigate to the VCF/vCard contact file you need to open.
• Under “Files of type,” select “All Files.”
• Choose the VCF file you need and hit Open.

Limitation of Manual Methods

• Manual methods are time-consuming and error-prone, especially when working with large files or complex variant calls.
  These processes can be time-consuming & difficult, especially when working with a large number of samples or variants.
• While some specialized programs can help with VCF analysis, these tools often require:
  Training or experience to use them effectively.

So, here are the 4 best manual methods to open vCard files on your computer. However, if you need to view and open the contacts file in a different mode, you can use the automatic solutions listed below.

Technique 7: Expert Solution to Open VCF Files on Windows

This technique is a tool that allows users to display all the contacts that you have stored in a vCard file along with the images. You just have to download the SysTools VCF Viewer Tool to open and view single or multiple contact files containing all the information. It is capable enough to preview all the information of each and every vCard contact, along with the option to sort the contacts from the desired folder.

The software offers various features and functionalities, such as viewing the modified or altered VCF files and opening the files of all the vCard versions of various platforms. It is also able to view and read the files in bulk and preview the count of contacts contained by a single VCF file.

Working Steps of this Software

Let’s take a look at the workings of this tool that shows how to open a VCF file:

1: Download the software on your Windows OS.

Free Download

2: Click on the Add File or Folder option to browse for the files.

3: Choose the file(s) to view and click on the Open button

4: Preview the details of the files on the software panel

This is how easily you can view the files on the software dashboard after adding the files. There is a File Mode and a Folder Mode. The steps mentioned above are for the users who want to add single or multiple files to open. If you have a folder containing VCF files, you can go for the Folder Mode to view these files. The steps remain the same; you just have to add the folder and wait for the software to scan them.

Concluding Words

There are ways to open and view the details of the contacts stored in vCard files that are mentioned in this blog and are the most known and used ways. If, in case a user doesn’t want to go through the trouble of importing the files to email clients, they can use the free software as discussed here to learn how to open VCF files. We have also explained the solutions to importing the files if users want to use these methods instead of downloading the free tool.