Quick Answer
Move Thunderbird contacts to iPhone in 2 ways.
Use iCloud import or email with a VCF file.
Export your address book as a VCF file first.
Select one book, not All Address Books.
iCloud accepts vCard only.
Convert CSV to VCF before you import.
Thunderbird retains your address book on your PC, while your iPhone reads contacts from iCloud so nothing moves across by itself. Menu names differ between Thunderbird versions and iCloud rejects CSV files that most guides tell you to upload. Below are two ways to move your contacts across, with exact export steps, file format rules and fixes for missing contacts.
How to export Thunderbird contacts?
To export your address book, select one address book and use Export to save a VCF or CSV file. Mozilla community answers describe two routes. Older versions use Tools in Address Book. Newer versions use a right-click on your address book name. Select vCard when your goal is an iPhone.
- Open Thunderbird and select Address Book.
- Select one address book in your left pane. Do not select All Address Books.
- If your left pane is hidden, show Directory Pane from View or Layout. Press Alt if your menu bar is hidden.
- Go to Tools and select Export or right-click your address book and select Export.
- Set Save as type to VCard and choose a folder. CSV is default in older versions.
- Save your file and open it in a text editor to confirm it lists your contacts.
A Mozilla Support answer confirms these steps in I can not find a way to export my Thunderbird address book. A newer thread reports that vCard export sits on your address book's right-click menu and that some versions show only CSV. AlternativeTo reports that Thunderbird 149 adds export for selected address book cards. If your version gives only CSV, jump to CSV steps below.
How to move Thunderbird contacts to iPhone with iCloud?
To move your contacts across with iCloud, import your VCF file at icloud.com. Apple's page on importing contacts lists vCard files only so a CSV export needs conversion first. A vCard that holds several people creates a separate contact for every person.
- Go to icloud.com/contacts and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Select Add on your right and choose Import Contact.
- Select your VCF file to import Thunderbird contacts from your PC.
- Check that imported contacts appear in your All Contacts list.
- On your iPhone, open Settings, select your name, then iCloud and confirm Contacts is on.
- Open your Contacts app and wait while your contacts sync.
See Apple's page, Import vCard contacts on iCloud.com, for current menu names. Apple's page does not say how it handles duplicates so search your contacts for repeats after you import. To move calendar data from a PST file, see how to Convert PST to ICS.
How to move your contacts across by email?
To move your contacts across without iCloud, attach your VCF file to an email and open it on your iPhone. Technipages describes that route: send your exported file to a personal account, open that attachment on your phone and approve its prompt that adds contacts. Use it to move your contacts across when your address book is small.
- Export your Thunderbird contacts as VCF.
- Attach your file to a new email and send it to an account you open on your iPhone.
- Open that email in Mail on your iPhone and select your VCF attachment.
- Select your add all contacts option.
- Open your Contacts app and compare totals with Thunderbird.
Technipages published that route in Import Thunderbird contacts to iPhone in 2020 so confirm menu names on your iPhone. It uses old software like iTunes sync in other steps, which you can ignore. To merge several VCF files before you import, see how to Combine VCF files into one.
How to find Thunderbird contacts that are not in your address book?
Many people sit in your mail but never reached your address book. Use Corbett Email Address Extractor to collect those addresses from your Thunderbird profile. It reads headers, message bodies and attachments, shows a total count and saves a TXT list. It does not save vCard files so treat your list as a to-do before you move your contacts across. Free demo works on 10 items.
Steps to collect addresses from Thunderbird mail with software
- Install Corbett Email Address Extractor on your Windows PC with administrator rights.
- Choose your configured Thunderbird client profile as your source or browse to your MBOX data file.
- Preview your folders. Untick folders you do not need, like Spam or Trash.
- Select Extract, then Email Addresses.
- Tick fields that should supply addresses, like From, To and Cc.
- Add date or sender filters if you want a shorter list.
- Browse to a destination folder and select Extract. Addresses save to a TXT file that opens in Notepad.
Compare addresses in your TXT list with your Thunderbird address book, then add missing people as contacts on your iPhone. Test your results in free demo first. Lifetime licence starts at $99 with a 30-day money-back window. Corbett's page lists Windows 10 and older editions, with no Mac build. To pull addresses from another mail client, see how to Extract email addresses from Opera Mail. To save addresses from a Gmail account, see how to Extract email addresses from Gmail.
How to convert a Thunderbird CSV file to vCard for iPhone?
If your Thunderbird version exports only CSV, convert your file to VCF before you move your contacts across with iCloud. One poster on Mozilla Support solved it that way: export CSV, convert it to VCF with an online converter, copy it to your phone and use Import in your Contacts app. Online converters upload your contact list to a third party so use a trusted one or an offline tool.
A safer route is Google Contacts. One poster moving contacts to Outlook Imported a CSV into Google Contacts and exported again from there. Google Contacts also exports vCard so your CSV can reach a VCF file without a stranger's site. For another CSV workflow, see how to Export Thunderbird contacts to a CSV file.
Which way to move your contacts across is best?
Use iCloud to move your contacts across when you want sync across your Apple devices and export your address book as VCF first. Use email for one small address book and one phone. Convert CSV to VCF first when your Thunderbird version gives no vCard export.
| Way to move your contacts across | Cost | File type | Sync | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICloud.com import | Free | VCard (VCF) | Across Apple devices | Many contacts |
| Email VCF to yourself | Free | VCard (VCF) | One phone | Small address book |
| CSV to VCF, then import | Free | CSV converted to VCF | Depends on your import route | Versions with CSV export only |
Why are Thunderbird contacts missing on your iPhone?
Missing contacts come from four causes after you export your address book and move your contacts across. You exported All Address Books so Thunderbird showed no export option. Contacts is off in iCloud settings on your iPhone. You uploaded a CSV file, which iCloud does not list as a supported import. Or your export held only some fields, because one Mozilla poster saw a CSV import into Outlook that kept names only.
Check export scope first, then iCloud settings, then file type when your contact transfer looks incomplete. Compare totals in Thunderbird and your Contacts app. To back up contacts before you start, see how to Export Thunderbird contacts to a CSV file.
Key takeaways
- Select one address book before you export your address book. All Address Books hides export in older versions.
- ICloud.com import lists vCard files only so convert CSV to VCF first.
- To move your contacts across for one small address book, email your VCF file to yourself and open it on your phone.
- Corbett Email Address Extractor collects addresses from Thunderbird mail into a TXT list. It does not create vCard files.
- To move your contacts across with confidence, compare totals in Thunderbird and your Contacts app afterward.
Questions about moving contacts to your iPhone
How do I export Thunderbird contacts?
Select one address book, then use Tools and Export or right-click your address book and select Export. Choose vCard as your file type.
Why does Thunderbird show no export option?
Select one address book in your left pane and show Directory Pane. All Address Books hides export in older versions.
Will I lose contacts in Thunderbird after I export?
No. Export copies your address book to a file and leaves your Thunderbird contacts unchanged.
Does Thunderbird 149 add contact export?
AlternativeTo reports that Thunderbird 149 adds export for selected address book cards.
How do I get my address book onto an iPhone?
Export your address book as a VCF file, then import it at icloud.com/contacts or email it to your iPhone and open it there.
Does iCloud accept CSV contacts?
Apple's import page lists vCard files only. Convert your CSV to VCF before you upload it.
Can I send contacts to my iPhone without iCloud?
Yes. Email your VCF file to yourself and open it on your iPhone.
