# How to make a printed phone book for an elderly parent

Source: https://exportcontacts.com/guides/print-a-phone-book-for-an-elderly-parent/
Updated: 2026-11-14 · By the Contaxo team

> Put the people your parent needs in one group, then in **Contaxo** tap **PDF**, keep only the **name** and **phone** columns and filter to that group. Fewer columns make the text larger. Tap **Export** and print. To change the font size or add notes such as "Doctor" or "Neighbour", export to **Word** instead and edit the table before printing.

## What you need

- An iPhone, iPad or Android phone with the contacts
- A printer, or a print shop you can send a PDF to
- The free Contaxo app (exports up to 100 contacts; Pro exports your whole list)

## Make the list with Contaxo

1. **Choose who goes on the list.** Put the important people in one group. On iPhone, open **Contacts › Lists › Add List** and add them. A short list is easier to read than your whole address book.
2. **Open PDF and keep two columns.** In Contaxo, tap **PDF**, then the columns button, and keep only **name** and **phone**. With fewer columns the text gets larger.
3. **Filter to the group.** Use the filter to pick the group you made. The preview shows every page before anything is saved.
4. **Export and print.** Tap **Export**, then **Print** in the share menu, or save the PDF and print it elsewhere. Every page has a header row, so loose pages are still clear.

## What makes a phone list easy to read

- **Few people.** Family, doctors, pharmacy, neighbours and emergency services. Leave out everyone else.
- **Two columns.** Name and phone number. Emails and addresses make the text smaller.
- **Clear names.** "Dr. Aydın (heart doctor)" is easier than a first name only. Edit the contact on your phone so the name says who it is.
- **A copy by the phone and one in a bag.** Paper works when the battery is empty or the phone is lost.

## Without an app

- **Mac:** in the Contacts app, select the people, choose **File › Print** and pick the **Lists** style.
- **Computer with iCloud:** on **icloud.com/contacts**, select the contacts and choose **Print Contacts**.
- **Android:** on **contacts.google.com**, select the contacts and choose **Print** from the menu.

These print what the website or app decides. Contaxo lets you choose the columns, so the text can be larger, and works on the phone itself. See [Export contacts to PDF](https://exportcontacts.com/to-pdf/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How can I make the letters even bigger?

Export to [Word](https://exportcontacts.com/to-word/) instead of PDF, open the file, select the table and raise the font size. You can also add a row for emergency numbers at the top.

### Can I add notes like "Doctor" or "Plumber"?

Yes: export to Word and type the note in a new column. Or add the note to the contact's company or job title field on your phone so it is included every time.

### How often should I update it?

Whenever someone important changes their number. Keeping the people in one group means you can print a fresh copy in a minute.

### Is it free?

Yes for lists of up to 100 contacts, which covers most family phone books. Pro exports longer lists.

## Related

- [How to export and print your contacts as a PDF](https://exportcontacts.com/to-pdf/)
- [How to export your contacts to Word](https://exportcontacts.com/to-word/)
- [How to share a contact list with a team, club or class](https://exportcontacts.com/guides/share-a-team-or-class-contact-list/)
- [Contaxo for iPhone, iPad and Mac](https://exportcontacts.com/iphone/)

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