# How to import contacts from Excel to iPhone

Source: https://exportcontacts.com/guides/import-contacts-from-excel-to-iphone/
Updated: 2026-11-14 · By the Contaxo team

> The iPhone Contacts app can't read Excel or CSV files; it only imports vCards. With **Contaxo**, tap **Import Contacts**, choose the .xlsx or .csv file, check that the columns are matched and tap **Save**. Without an app, you need a computer: import the file into Google Contacts and sync that Google account to the iPhone.

## What you need

- An iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later
- The Excel (.xlsx, .xls) or CSV file in Files, iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Mail
- The free Contaxo app (free for files with up to 5 contacts; Pro imports any size)

## Import an Excel file on the iPhone with Contaxo

1. **Choose the file.** In Contaxo, tap **Import Contacts**, then **Choose a file**, and pick the spreadsheet. On iPad you can also drag it onto the Import screen.
2. **Check the columns.** Contaxo reads the header row and matches each column to a field such as name, phone, email or company. Tap **Edit** to fix a column, or turn off **First row has column names** if your file has no headers.
3. **Pick the contacts.** Every row becomes a contact with a tick. Untick anyone you don't want, or search by name, phone or email.
4. **Save.** Tap **Save**. The contacts are added to your iPhone's address book and sync with iCloud if it's on.

## Without an app: through Google Contacts (needs a computer)

1. Save the spreadsheet as **CSV UTF-8** in Excel.
2. On a computer, open **contacts.google.com**, click **Import** and choose the CSV. Google matches the columns as best it can.
3. On the iPhone, add the Google account in **Settings › Apps › Contacts › Contacts Accounts › Add Account › Google** (older iOS: **Settings › Contacts › Accounts**) and turn on **Contacts**.

The contacts now live in your Google account and appear on the iPhone. iCloud.com can't import a CSV; it accepts only vCard files.

## Which way should I use?

| You want | Use |
| --- | --- |
| To do it on the iPhone, without a computer | **Contaxo** |
| To choose exactly who gets added | **Contaxo** (tick or untick each contact) |
| To keep contacts in iCloud, not Google | **Contaxo** (saves to your default account) |
| A free way and you use Google anyway | **Google Contacts** import, then sync |

## Tips for a clean import

- **Keep phone numbers as text** in Excel so a leading 0 or + isn't lost: format the column as **Text** before typing or pasting numbers.
- **Put first and last name in separate columns** if you can; a single "Full Name" column works too.
- **Remove empty rows** and summary rows such as totals at the bottom.

## Frequently asked questions

### How should I set up the spreadsheet?

One contact per row and a header row with clear names such as First Name, Last Name, Mobile, Email and Company. Several phone or email columns are fine. Column names from Google, Outlook and iCloud exports, and in 30 languages, are recognised.

### Can I import a Numbers file?

Export it from Numbers as Excel or CSV first (**File › Export To › Excel** or **CSV**), then import that file.

### Will it create duplicates?

Import adds the contacts you leave ticked. If some may already be on the iPhone, untick them, or run [Duplicates](https://exportcontacts.com/duplicates/) afterwards.

### Names with accents or non-Latin letters look wrong

The file was saved in an old encoding. Save it in Excel as .xlsx or **CSV UTF-8** and import again. See [How to fix broken characters in a contacts CSV](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/fix-broken-characters-contacts-csv/).

### Is it free?

Files with up to 5 contacts are free. Larger files need Pro; Contaxo tells you before you tap Save.

## Related

- [How to import contacts from Excel, CSV or vCard](https://exportcontacts.com/import/)
- [How to fix broken characters in a contacts CSV file](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/fix-broken-characters-contacts-csv/)
- [How to find and merge duplicate contacts](https://exportcontacts.com/duplicates/)
- [How to export your contacts to Excel](https://exportcontacts.com/to-excel/)

Get Contaxo: App Store https://apps.apple.com/app/id1546550155 · Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onnex.exportcontacts.excel.backup