How to Import Contacts into Outlook 2010

How to Import Contacts into Outlook 2010
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CSV File

In order to import contacts into Outlook 2010, they must be in CSV file format. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values. There is one record per line in a CSV file, and each field within a record is separated from the previous field by a comma. This format allows Outlook 2010 to recognize records and fields so that they can be imported correctly. Most email applications provide an option allowing you to export your contacts into a CSV file. If you have an Excel spreadsheet listing your contacts you can save it as a CSV file and import it into Outlook 2010 as well. For more help creating a CSV file, read Importing and Exporting Contacts in Gmail and Convert Excel 2007 Spreadsheets to CSV Files. Once you have exported and saved your contacts as a CSV file, you can move on to learn how to import contacts into Outlook 2010.

Import Contacts

Importing contacts into Outlook 2010 is a straightforward process. Open Outlook 2010. Go to the File tab and select Open in the left pane of the window. Click Import in the main window to start the Import and Export Wizard.

Select Import from Another Program or File and click Next.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: Another Program

Select Comma Separated Values (Windows) and click Next.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: CSV

Click the Browse button. Navigate to the location on your computer in which you saved the CSV file containing your contacts. Click on the CSV file to select it and click OK. If you are importing a list of contacts that contains more thorough or up-to-date information than you currently have in Outlook 2010, or if you do not yet have any contacts in Outlook 2010, select Replace Duplicates with Items Imported. If you wish to import your contact list without affecting your current Outlook 2010 contact list at all, select Allow Duplicates to be Created. If the contacts in your Outlook 2010 account are more current than the ones you are importing, select Do Not Import Duplicate Items. Click Next.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: Browse

Select a destination folder for the contacts you are importing. Most likely, this will be your Contacts folder. Click Next.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: Contacts

Click the Map Custom Fields button to make sure Outlook saves the contact information in the correct fields. Drag the values from the From section on the left of the dialog box. Drop each value onto the appropriate field in the To section on the right side of the dialog box. When you are finished mapping all of the fields you wish to import, click OK.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: Mapping

Click Finish. Wait while your contacts are imported into Outlook 2010. Depending on the size of your CSV file and your system, this may take a few minutes.

How to import contacts into Outlook 2010: Finish

Once the process is complete, your contacts will all be listed in your Outlook 2010 account.

Now that you know how to import contacts into Outlook 2010, learn how to do even more. Read Setting Up and Configuring Outlook 2010, Setting Gmail for Outlook and Backing Up Outlook 2010, all here at Bright Hub.