How To Transfer Contacts From Icloud To Gmail
With iCloud one can create contacts and save it on a Mac computer or an iOS device. Often these contacts need to be accessed from a Windows computer. Or one may need to read contact information through a business card on a Gmail account. Then, one needs to find an apt way to export vCard from iCloud to Gmail. This post describes all the necessary information about storing and exporting contacts between iCloud and Gmail. Before proceeding one needs to understand what exactly is iCloud and vCard.
Important Things to Consider Before Moving iCloud Contacts to Gmail
Casey, Anthony Domanico 11 November 2018 You can transfer your contacts from iPhone to Android by uploading them to Gmail. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Method 2: Sync iPhone Contacts To Gmail Using The Settings Function. In the absence of iCloud, iPhone users could still sync iPhone contacts to Gmail by simply using the settings function of the device, and this is done using the steps below. Step 1: Access your iPhone’s Settings. The first step involved is to access the settings menu. Click on the “Mail” drop-down menu at the top left of the Gmail interface and select the “Contacts” panel. Click on the “More” button to choose 'Import Contacts'. On the next window, tap “Choose file” and browse your computer to relocate the iCloud contacts that you have saved in the folder.
What is iCloud?
It is a cloud-based storage facility provided by Apple for MacOS and iOS users. It stores all types of data from iWork, photos, iTunes, iCloud Mail on a remote location. This data is uploaded to Apple cloud servers can be easily downloaded from anywhere through a browser. One can even export vCard from iCloud to Windows using iCloud servers. All one needs is Apple ID and password to open iCloud.com and access Mac data on a Windows machine.
vCard Contact
This is a file that stores contact information in a single file with multiple fields. It contains important information like the first name, last name, telephone number, email address, company name etc. One can migrate iCloud contacts to Gmail using a vCard saved file in a .vcf extension. There are different versions of vCard available from v2.1, 3 and 4. The later versions provide a facility to add a picture to each contact.
Contacts App
A Contacts App is an address book application that stores contacts in a vCard format. It is found on all Apple devices including MacOS computers and iOS mobile. It is also available on iCloud.com site for storing contacts synced from Apple iPhone, iPad or MacOS computer. This can be used to export vCard from iCloud to Windows machine through iCloud servers.
iCloud Contacts
iCloud also provides a data syncing facility to sync all data saved on different Apple devices. It can save emails, contacts, calendars, notes, photos, documents etc to be accessed from anywhere, at any time. One can even use the iCloud.com site to export vCard from iCloud to Windows machine.
How to Export vCard From iCloud to Gmail?
Export vCard Contacts from iCloud
- First, launch the iCloud.com site using Apple ID and password.
- Then, open the Contacts App from the home page.
- Next, select the first contact and hold down the Shift key.
- This will select all the contacts on the list.
- After that, save this file on a folder location like the Desktop folder.
Migrate iCloud Contacts to Gmail
- First, launch the Google Contacts page.
- Then, sign in using Gmail credentials or Google Apps ID and password.
- Next, go to More>>Import.
- After that, Browse to the folder location where the iCloud vCard file is saved.
- Following that, click on the Import button to start moving iCloud contacts to Gmail.
- After some time all the contacts from the iCloud servers will be saved to Google Contacts.
Limitations of the Manual Process
- Too Technical: It is a vastly difficult approach trying to import and export files especially for a non-technical, home user. It requires some knowledge to handle contacts between iCloud and Gmail.
- Lengthy Task: This way one can migrate a single vCard file from iCloud to Gmail at a single go. This may take a lot of time if moving multiple contact file.
Using An Automated Solution
The manual solution must be enough to export vCard from iCloud to Gmail. However, some organizations prefer to look for workarounds to make the entire task more direct and straightforward. They look for an alternative software solution that are professional, third-party tools to send contacts from iCloud to Gmail account. One such tool is the vCard Export Tool. It is very easy-to-use and can be handled even by a non-technical user. It can migrate bulk vCard files from iCloud to Gmail easily.
Final Word
Apple and Google are some of the leading names in technology. They require separate steps to move around important information from one platform to another. There are millions of users worldwide that look for solutions to export vCard from iCloud to Gmail. This post has been described for all those still searching for methods online. It devoid them of all the unnecessary hassle. It explains a very simple manual procedure. An automated tool has also been discussed that makes the task easier for home users.
When you are using an Android phone, one prefers using Google Contacts to store and manage contacts. But when it comes to the iPhone, users are confused between iCloud Contacts and Google Contacts. If you are also wondering where to save contacts on your iPhone – iCloud or Google? You will find the answer in this post.
You can pick one of the option when you start using your new iPhone. Of course, you can always switch to another service later. But why would you want to take the risk and headache of merging or losing contacts?
We will help you figure out which one should you pick between iCloud Contacts and Google Contacts. Let’s get started.
Required Cloud Account
Typically, when you save a contact on your iPhone, it gets saved on your iPhone’s storage. Now you can either enable iCloud Contacts or use other services such as Google Contacts to sync contacts.
iCloud Contacts is a service attached to iCloud storagethat uses Apple ID. When you add an Apple ID on your iPhone, iCloud is activated automatically. It’s a default cloud service on Apple devices. You can enable/disable various services like photos, notes, reminders, calendar, etc. Contacts are also one such service. When iCloud Contacts is enabled, contacts from your iPhone sync to your iCloud account. You'll be glad to know that iCloud Contacts works without adding any additional account or app to your iPhone.
On the contrary, Google Contacts, as is obvious, is a service from Google. You need to sign in with your Google account on your iPhone to use Google Contacts.
Availability
You can access iCloud contacts primarily on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). And on the web version of iCloud that can be accessed from a Windows PC as well.
You can use Google Contacts on iPhone, iPad, web, and Android phones without any issue. Basically, you can access Google Contacts from other phone, computer or tablet by connecting your Google account and without using any workaround.
Tip: Check out how to view Apple Notes on Android.Also on Guiding Tech
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Read MoreSync Contacts
Once you have added respective accounts for iCloud or Google on your iPhone, each service's existing contacts will sync with the ones on your iPhone.
Any changes you make to contact on iPhone or other devices will immediately reflect on other connected devices. Basically, the sync process works in the same manner for both iCloud and Google. You don't need to worry on that front.
The only difference is that by default, the existing and any new iPhone contacts will sync to iCloud. You will need to manually change the default storage location of new contacts, as shown at the end of the post.
Special App
Whether you save contacts on iCloud or Google, those can be accessed using the same app on iPhone, i.e., Apple Contacts app. Google doesn’t offer a dedicated contacts app for iPhone as available on Android.
Organize Contacts
When the contacts are saved on either service, you might wonder what features you would get. Let's begin with the organization.
On both services, you can organize your contacts into categories. With iCloud Contacts, you get the Groups and on Google Contacts, you have Labels.
Import/Export Contacts
Fortunately, both make it easy to add new contacts in bulk using the Import feature. Similarly, you can export all your contacts with Export. The feature is available on the web version of both services and cannot be used on the iPhone directly.
Find and Merge Contacts
Over time, you save duplicate copies of various contacts. Instead of finding duplicate contacts manually, you would prefer a feature that would find duplicate contacts automatically.
Fortunately, one of Google Contacts' interesting capabilities is to look for duplicate contacts and merge them. You can perform this action using the web version of Google Contact (on mobile and PC both) and through the Google Contacts app on Android phones.
On the other hand, only Mac supports finding duplicate contacts in iCloud (Go to Card > Look for Duplicates in Contacts app). Otherwise, you will either have to find them manually or take the help of third-party apps such as Cleaner.
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#contacts
Click here to see our contacts articles pageRestore Deleted Contacts
In case you accidentally delete a contact from either service that you intend to use, you can restore it on both services.
You will have to use the Account settings section on the iCloud web to restore Apple contacts. We have done a detailed guide on how to restore deleted contacts from Google Contacts.
Where to Save Contacts on iPhone
The answer depends on your need and preferences. Meaning, if you are using Apple devices only, then you should continue staying with iCloud Contacts. You should also move your existing Gmail contacts to iCloud. In case you decide to move to Android or Google Contacts in the future, you can always do so.
But if you own an Android phone or keep switching between Android and iPhone regularly, then Google Contacts is a better choice. Moreover, if you use lots of Google services, you should opt for Google Contacts.
However, there is no hard and fast rule. You can use either, both, or none of the services. Your user experience will be the same whether you use Google Contacts or iCloud Contacts. When both services are enabled, existing contacts from both services will sync to your iPhone. However, you will have to decide where you want to save new contacts, as shown below.
Tip: Change Default Contacts Account on iPhone
For that, open Settings on your iPhone and go to Contacts. Tap on Default account. Select Gmail or iCloud. The iOS will use selected account to save new contacts. Nothing will happen to the existing contacts.
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Read MoreThe Right Choice
If you decide to stay with iCloud Contacts, you don’t need to move your existing iPhone contacts. They will automatically sync to iCloud. But if you want to use Google Contacts, change the default storage location of new contacts as shown above. Then move your existing iCloud Contacts to Google Contacts. You can use both services to keep contacts in sync between iPhone and iPhone as well.
Next up:If you are keen on using Google services instead of Apple, you might want to sign out of Apple ID. Find out what happens when you log out of Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad from the next article link.
How To Copy Contacts From Icloud To Gmail On Iphone
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