If you're moving to your new business email, you don't need to retype your address book. This guide shows you how to import contacts into Roundcube webmail from a vCard (.vcf) or CSV file, and how to export them again for a backup.
Step 1: Export your contacts from your old service
Roundcube accepts vCard (.vcf) and CSV files. vCard is the better choice when you have it, because it keeps names, phone numbers and addresses in the right fields.
- Gmail / Google Contacts: open contacts.google.com, click Export, choose which contacts, pick vCard and click Export.
- Outlook.com or new Outlook: open People (Contacts), then use the Manage contacts menu and choose Export contacts. This gives you a CSV file.
- Apple Contacts on Mac: select the contacts (or All Contacts), then choose File > Export > Export vCard.
- Another webmail or host: look for an Export option in its address book and choose vCard if offered.
Save the file somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop.
Step 2: Import contacts into Roundcube
- Log in to webmail at
https://example.com/webmailwith your full email address and password (see How to Log In to Webmail (Roundcube)). - Click Contacts in the left-hand menu.
- In the address book list, click the address book you want to fill (normally Personal Addresses).
- Click Import in the toolbar at the top.
- Click the file field and choose the .vcf or .csv file you exported.
- Choose your options:
- Import group assignments: choose whether to keep contact groups (labels) from the file. None is fine if you don't use groups.
- Replace the entire address book: leave this unticked unless you really want to delete every existing contact in this address book before importing.
- Click Import. Roundcube tells you how many contacts were imported and how many were skipped.
Your imported contacts now appear in the list and will auto-complete when you type in the To field of a new message.
How to export contacts from Roundcube
It's a good idea to keep a copy of your address book, or you may want to move it into another app.
- Go to Contacts.
- Select the address book (or select specific contacts).
- Click Export in the toolbar. You may be asked whether to export all contacts or only the selected ones.
Roundcube downloads a vCard (.vcf) file that almost any email app, phone or Google Contacts can import.
Troubleshooting
"Import failed" or no contacts were imported
Check the file type. Roundcube needs a .vcf or .csv file -- it can't read Excel (.xlsx) files or .pst files. If you have a spreadsheet, save it as CSV first. If a CSV import brings in 0 contacts, try exporting as vCard instead.
Names or phone numbers landed in the wrong fields
This happens with CSV files whose column headings Roundcube doesn't recognize. Export from your old service as vCard, or as an Outlook- or Google-style CSV, and import again. If needed, delete the badly imported contacts first (select them and click Delete).
Accented or non-English characters look garbled
The file isn't saved as UTF-8. Export as vCard, or open the CSV in a spreadsheet app and save it as "CSV UTF-8" before importing.
Some contacts were skipped
Roundcube skips entries that are duplicates of existing contacts or have no email address or name. That's usually expected.
Will these contacts appear on my phone?
Not automatically. Contacts in Roundcube's Personal Addresses book are stored in webmail. To share an address book between your phone, computer and the Instant Access Internet Services server, use the CardDAV contacts service described in How to Sync Calendars and Contacts (CalDAV and CardDAV) and How to Add Your Calendar and Contacts to iPhone and Mac. You can import the same .vcf file into your phone or into that address book.
Related guides
- How to Log In to Webmail (Roundcube)
- How to Add an Email Signature in Roundcube Webmail
- How to Sync Calendars and Contacts (CalDAV and CardDAV)
- How to Move Your Email from Another Host
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and the Instant Access Internet Services team will help.
