What is a VCF file?

VCF (Virtual Card Format) or vCard is a digital file format for storing contact information. The format is widely used for data interchange among popular information exchange applications. Most operating systems such as Windows and MacOS come with default applications to create and open these files. A single VCF file can contain contact information for one or multiple contacts. A VCF file usually contains information such as contact’s name, address, phone number, email, birthday, photographs and audio in addition to a number of other fields. Being supported by email clients and services, there is no loss of data during the transfer of contacts via using the vCard format. The media type for VCF file format is text/vcard.

VCF File Format

VCF files are textual by nature and are human readable. These can be opened in text editors such as Notepad on Microsoft Windows and TextEdit on MacOS. If there is an image in the file, however, it won’t show in the text editor.

Microsoft Outlook provides support for opening VCF files as well as convert to a number of other formats such as the popular MSG format. VCF file format enhanced with time from version 2.1 to 4.0 adding detailed information to the file format. The format is also used to export phone contacts and later import in another device.

“VCF File Format”

VCF 2.1 Example

Following is an exmaple of version 2.1.

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:2.1
N:Gump;Forrest;;Mr.
FN:Forrest Gump
ORG:Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
TITLE:Shrimp Man
PHOTO;GIF:http://www.example.com/dir_photos/my_photo.gif
TEL;WORK;VOICE:(111) 555-1212
TEL;HOME;VOICE:(404) 555-1212
ADR;WORK;PREF:;;100 Waters Edge;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;WORK;PREF;ENCODING#QUOTED-PRINTABLE;CHARSET#UTF-8:100 Waters Edge#0D#
 #0ABaytown\, LA 30314#0D#0AUnited States of America
ADR;HOME:;;42 Plantation St.;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;HOME;ENCODING#QUOTED-PRINTABLE;CHARSET#UTF-8:42 Plantation St.#0D#0A#
 Baytown, LA 30314#0D#0AUnited States of America
EMAIL:forrestgump@example.com
REV:20080424T195243Z
END:VCARD

VCF 3.0 Example

Following is an example of version 3.0.

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Gump;Forrest;;Mr.;
FN:Forrest Gump
ORG:Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
TITLE:Shrimp Man
PHOTO;VALUE#URI;TYPE#GIF:http://www.example.com/dir_photos/my_photo.gif
TEL;TYPE#WORK,VOICE:(111) 555-1212
TEL;TYPE#HOME,VOICE:(404) 555-1212
ADR;TYPE#WORK,PREF:;;100 Waters Edge;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;TYPE#WORK,PREF:100 Waters Edge\nBaytown\, LA 30314\nUnited States of America
ADR;TYPE#HOME:;;42 Plantation St.;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;TYPE#HOME:42 Plantation St.\nBaytown\, LA 30314\nUnited States of America
EMAIL:forrestgump@example.com
REV:2008-04-24T19:52:43Z
END:VCARD

VCF 4.0 Example

Following is an example of version 4.0.

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:4.0
N:Gump;Forrest;;Mr.;
FN:Sheri Nom
ORG:Sheri Nom Co.
TITLE:Ultimate Warrior
PHOTO;MEDIATYPE#image/gif:http://www.sherinnom.com/dir_photos/my_photo.gif
TEL;TYPE#work,voice;VALUE#uri:tel:+1-111-555-1212
TEL;TYPE#home,voice;VALUE#uri:tel:+1-404-555-1212
ADR;TYPE#WORK;PREF#1;LABEL#"Normality\nBaytown\, LA 50514\nUnited States of America":;;100 Waters Edge;Baytown;LA;50514;United States of America
ADR;TYPE#HOME;LABEL#"42 Plantation St.\nBaytown\, LA 30314\nUnited States of America":;;42 Plantation St.;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
EMAIL:sherinnom@example.com
REV:20080424T195243Z
x-qq:21588891
END:VCARD

How to open VCF file?

VCF (vCard) files can be opened using several methods depending on your needs:

  1. On Windows:

    • Use the built-in Contacts app.
    • Right-click the VCF file and select Open With > Windows Contacts.

  2. On macOS:

    • Open the Contacts app.
    • Drag and drop the VCF file into the app.

  3. On Android:

    • Use the Contacts or People app.
    • Import the VCF file through the app’s settings.

  4. On iOS:

    • Email the VCF file to yourself and open it in the Mail app.
    • Tap on the file to add contacts to your iPhone.

  5. Using Software:

    • Open with a text editor like Notepad for raw data.
    • Use email clients like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird for better formatting.

References