# How do I import and export my contacts?

To import contacts from files, click under **My Telephony** on **Contacts**. **Bottom right** you will find the option **Import**. If you click on it, you have three options: import contacts as **vCard**, as **CSV file** or from **Google Mail** .

#### Import contacts from iPhone/Android to sipgate

To import existing contacts from your iPhone or Android smartphone into sipgate contacts, you must upload them as a **vCard file** to your account.

Here's how:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open iCloud**

Log in to [icloud.com](https://www.icloud.com/) with your Apple ID and click on the **Contacts app**. There you will find a small gear icon at the bottom left, which suggests the option **Export vCard** .
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select contacts**

If you want to export all your contacts, first click on **Select all**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Export vCard**

Now click the gear icon again and select **Export vCard**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Wait for the download**

Your contacts will now be automatically downloaded in the **desired format** .
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Import into sipgate**

In your sipgate account, you can now under Contacts **import**.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

![](/files/381a2aa6ac11708a0c50b6c77f4934fd00bd8dea)

Click the menu item **Upload vCard file**.

![](/files/9c124ae4f73a53530bae024228b25790015f6ff3)

Choose whether the contact should be private or shared.

![](/files/a349d8fe9470e723d821cdf59d68c8886df5eedc)

Upload your vCard or zip file and import it.

![](/files/a4acd2aa49b0220e5920a6b8527a0a388c6dd9e2)

After that, your contacts should have been imported successfully.

![](/files/5c769a241afcace3ab86335967619005e290d61b)

#### Import contacts from CSV file

→ You have the option to import contacts from CSV files into your account. The .csv files must be in **UTF-8** (Unicode) for contact import.

→ If you create a CSV file, it should be structured as follows: **First name, last name, date of birth, notes, email address, phone numbers, company, position.**

Having problems with UTF-8? Here you will find instructions for encodings with [macOS](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4719495807133-Wie-bereite-ich-den-CSV-Kontaktimport-f%C3%BCr-MacOS-vor) and [Windows.](https://help.sipgate.de/hc/de/articles/4719518065693-Wie-bereite-ich-den-CSV-Kontaktimport-f%C3%BCr-Windows-vor)

Under the menu item **Upload CSV file** you can select your file and upload it in the next step.

![](/files/ad42c2056ec3f1d76db1dccf33a233e76cec148d)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** No more than 2500 contacts should be imported at once. Prefer several 2000–2500 batches if you have larger numbers of contacts. With more than 2500 contacts, only the first approx. 2500–2800 may be imported.
{% endhint %}

#### Import contacts from your Google account

→ If you have a Google account, you can also import the contacts stored there to sipgate.

→ To do this, in your sipgate account click on the menu item **My Telephony** on **Contacts** and then **bottom right** on **Import**.

→ With a click on the tile **Google Mail** you can now choose whether you want to import the contacts only for your user profile, or also for all other users.

→ After you have clicked on **Continue to login** in the next step you authorize Google to import your contacts.

→ After your **consent** your contacts will be automatically imported into sipgate.

→ If the import fails, click in the **settings** of your **Google**-account on **Contacts** and there on **Enforce SSL**.

#### Import contacts to a Snom phone

**Plug & Play,** also **autoprovisioning** or **remote setup** called, enables quick and easy configuration of Snom D phones. This applies only to phones with assigned users.

For configuration you need the MAC addresses of the phones and firmware 10.x on the Snom. If your Snom device does not synchronize with your sipgate contacts despite the stored **settings URL** you have the option to perform the synchronization **multiple times** .

To do this, change the **time period for refreshing settings** in your **Snom**.

→ To do this, click on the menu item **Advanced** and then on **Update**.

→ Change the time period to, for example, five seconds. This value indicates the **time interval** in which the device always **re-synchronizes**.

#### Export contacts

→ You can also find the button to **export** contacts under **My Telephony** and **Contacts**.

![](/files/c95b5036b271f0deb56e98e154384f5a138af4d2)

There you can export your contacts as **vCard** or **CSV file** . Transferring your contacts to a Snom works as described via [Plug & Play](https://sipgate.zendesk.com/knowledge/articles/4719436365213/de?brand_id=643589).

![](/files/67322f449ad7c3019b69c1cfb03093dc97f92d83)


---

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