If you receive a VCF file via email or by other means, you can open it directly in Windows without having to install any additional software.
How to open a VCF file
A VCF file contains information about one or more people. It essentially serves as a digital business card. The sender can provide a range of details via the VCF file, including names, email addresses, telephone numbers and even profile pictures.
- In Windows, you can usually open a VCF file simply by double-clicking it. If this does not work, right-click the file and, under the Open with category, select the Windows Contacts tool.
- If you wish to set this tool as the default, right-click on a VCF file and open its Properties. On the “General” tab, click the Change button. Now select Windows Contacts and confirm by clicking Set as default.
- Your iPhone or Android smartphone can also open VCF files. Simply tap the file to view it or save the contact directly to your address book.
Opening a VCF file with Outlook or Thunderbird
VCF files can also be opened using email programmes such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. The advantage of this is that you can add the information contained in the file directly to your contacts.
- Outlook: Go to your contacts. You can do this, for example, by clicking the contacts icon at the very bottom of the left-hand sidebar. Then simply drag the VCF file into the programme window.
- Thunderbird: Open the Address Book via the left-hand sidebar or using the hotkey [Alt] + [2]. Click Import at the bottom left, then select vCard file. Specify the path to the VCF file and choose which address book you wish to use. Confirm by clicking Start Import.
Alternative: Open VCF file as text or a spreadsheet
If necessary, you can also view the contents of a VCF file in plain text or table format. However, this should be regarded as a last resort, as the contact information is only displayed in a simplified form in this format.
- Editor: Right-click on the VCF file. Select Open with > Choose another app > Editor.
- Excel: If you open the VCF file in Excel, it must first be converted using the Text Conversion Wizard. However, this process is largely automatic, so in most cases you can simply accept the default settings.
