IPHONE
How to import contacts from a .vcf file on an iPhone (iOS 27)
In short
Open the .vcf file in Files, tap the share button at the top right and choose Contacts. A card opens: tap Save, or Create New Contact. The preview itself has no Add button. Import SIM Contacts in Settings, Apps, Contacts did nothing on our iPhone 17e, which has no SIM.
5 of 5 steps show a real screenshot from our iPhone 17e. Each step was checked against the maker's own instructions, linked at the end.
Steps
- 1
Tap the .vcf file
Ours, Test One, 109 bytes, was in Files, On My iPhone.
- 2
Tap the share button
The preview shows the card with no Add button. Tap the share button at the top right.
- 3
Tap Contacts
Contacts is in the row of apps, after AirDrop.
- 4
Tap Save
The card has Save at the top right, plus Create New Contact and Add to Existing Contact further down.
- 5
Check Contacts
Test One is now in the list.
If you do not see this option
- From an email or message? Apple says to tap the .vcf attachment. Source: Import contacts on iPhone
- From a SIM card? Apple says Settings, Apps, Contacts, Import SIM Contacts. Ours had no SIM and nothing happened when we tapped it. Source: Import contacts on iPhone
- From a work directory? Apple describes a third route for contacts in a company GAL, CardDAV or LDAP directory: search it from the Contacts app and tap the person's name to save them. Your work account must be set up first. Source: Import contacts on iPhone
If this does not work
- Only one contact saved? If the file holds several, scroll the card for an add-all choice, or import them on a computer at iCloud.com.
- Duplicates? Use Add to Existing Contact instead of Save.
- Imported contact went to the wrong account? New contacts are saved to your default account. If you use iCloud and a work or Gmail account, check Settings, Apps, Contacts, Default Account and choose the one you want before you import the next file.
- Contacts appear twice after the import? In the Contacts app, look below My Card for View Duplicates. Apple lets you review each pair or tap Merge All. This only appears when two cards have the same first and last name.
- The contact is not on your other devices? A contact saved to iCloud appears on devices signed in to the same Apple Account with Contacts turned on for iCloud. A contact saved to On My iPhone or another account will not. Check where it was saved with the Default Account setting above.
Good to know
To make a .vcf file, see how to export contacts from an iPhone.
An imported contact is an ordinary card. You can edit it, add a photo, or link it to another card for the same person. Linked cards stay separate in their accounts but show as one contact, and Apple says changes you make are copied to each account where that information already exists. Nothing else changes on the iPhone, and the .vcf file stays in Files until you delete it.
The .vcf file can hold private details, such as home addresses and birthdays. Delete it from Files, Mail or Messages once the contacts are safely saved if you do not need it again.
About this guide
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 27.0.1 (iPhone 17e)
- App
- Files
- Path
- Files › .vcf file › Share › Contacts › Save
- Real screenshots
- 5 of 5 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 3 official, linked below
Sources
Links checked October 2026. Menus and features can change with updates.Spotted a mistake? Menus change with updates, and we want every step to match your screen. Email us about this page or use the contact form. We read every report, and fixes are listed on What changed.
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