How to Migrate Exchange Contacts to iCloud?

If you are someone who is looking for a sure-shot way to migrate Exchange contacts to iCloud,​ you are at the right place. Here, I will tell you exactly what needs to be done for a successful trader of contact files between the two platforms.

Whether you are a regular user trying to add your work contact list to a personal Apple device or an admin who has been put in charge of setting up iCloud accounts organization-wide wide we have got you covered. In case you’re exploring other destinations, such as Gmail, here’s a quick guide on how to transfer contacts from Exchange to Gmail on iPhone. With all that out of the way, let’s start with the basics and slowly make our way up to more complex use cases.

Migrate Contacts from Exchange to iCloud by Mailng the List

One of the simplest ways is to mail your entire Exchange contact list as an attachment to your iCloud mail account. Then use Apple’s smart attachment detection feature to automatically populate all the contact files directly.

• Step 1. Set up your Exchange Server Account in Outlook Classic.
• Step 2. Switch to the People section and press Ctrl/Cmd + A to select all contacts.
• Step 3. Click on Forward contact in the top ribbon and pick the “As a business card” option from the dropdown.
• Step 4. A new mail draft window appears. Type in your iCloud mail account in the To field and hit send.
• Step 5. Open iCloud mail and click on the .vcf attachments, then you should see a pop-up. Choose the “add the contact(s)” option.

Note: If you use any other Outlook client, like Outlook New, webmail, or mobile, you won’t be able to send contacts as vCard attachments.

If this did not work, then dont worry, we have other methods as well.

Use iCloud for Windows to Migrate Exchange Contacts to iCloud Step-by-Step

Apple provides a utility to sync data for those people who use both Windows and Mac devices. We can use it to our advantage and bypass the multiple steps we had to perform in any other migration. Although users must note that this method does not create a 2-way sync.

Instead, a new iCloud contacts folder will start to appear inside your Outlook client. However, any contacts you add there will reflect on iCloud Contacts and vice versa. Here are the steps to use it. Here is what you need to do.

Step 1. Install a copy of iCloud for Windows on the same machine where your Exchange Server-connected Outlook client is.

Step 2. Set up your Apple account in the iCloud for Windows application (you need a primary iCloud email to migrate Exchange contacts to iCloud).

Step 3. Once done, take your cursor towards the right of the Calendars and Contacts tab and click the Arrow button.

Step 4. Then toggle the “Automatically sync your iCloud calendars and contacts to Microsoft Outlook” switch.

Step 5. Confirm by hitting Done, and complete the rest of the steps as per the onscreen instructions to set up Outlook.

Step 6. In Outlook, go to the  “People” section > Select your Exchange contacts folder and press Ctrl+A to select all.

Step 7. Drag all selected contacts and drop them onto the folder labeled “Contacts – iCloud.”

You must replicate these steps every time a new set of contacts is added to your Exchange account. So keep track of all accounts you have already migrated to avoid duplicates.

Migrate Your Entire Organization’s Exchange Server Contacts to iCloud

To migrate Exchange contacts to iCloud in a work setting, it is best to see the task as three distinct but related stages:

Stage 1. Download Exchange Server Contacts Professionally (Admin)

IT admins in charge of an entire organization can ease their workload with the help of the SysTools Exchange Export tool. Sometimes, admins may have to undo the bulk hide contacts from the Exchange address list operation before they can proceed.

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Note: When you are using the tool, make sure you select PST as the output format and only mark the contact checkbox in the workload area.

Stage 2: Transform Exchange Server Contacts in iCloud-compatible Format (Either by Admin or Users)

Use the best-in-class PST converter software and change all Exchange Contact files from portable storage tables to virtual cards.

If it is the admin who has performed this file transformation, they must share the resultant file with users to complete the last stage of the operation

Stage 3: To Migrate Exchange Contacts to iCloud, Bring Contacts in iCloud (Users)

• Step 1. Open the iCloud Contacts app or log in to https://www.icloud.com/contacts/ on a browser.
• Step 2. In the iCloud Contacts UI, click the “+” icon at the top right-hand side.
• Step 3. A drop-down appears with two options: Create New Contact and Import Contact… Select the latter.
• Step 4. Browse for the Exchange Server Contact file (now in vCard format) you generated with the help of our tools. Select it and hit Open.
• Step 5. You may choose to create a new list in iCloud for all the imported contacts to help differentiate them from your existing contacts.

Conclusion

Now you know how to migrate Exchange contacts to iCloud. The process is not tough, and you have a variety of methods to ​complete the task. From syncing the two accounts to mailing the contact lists, we have discussed quite a few methods. Moreover, people in professional environments can urge their admins to consider the export transform and upload methodology. It is by far the best way to ensure a bulk transfer of contact data between Microsoft Exchange Server and Apple iCloud. Especially when Exchange 2016 and 2019 end of life is so close.

Frequently Asked Questions While Migrating Exchange Contacts to iCloud​

Q. Why am I unable to forward Exchange Server contacts as vCard attachments to my iCloud mail?

There might be some default policies, like your organization does not allow external forwarding. Check if this is the case and ask your admin to make an exception by adding your iCloud account as a trusted recipient/sender. Moreover, the problem just might be a minor typo; you may have entered the wrong email address. Double-check and send again. Sometimes, the New Outlook client may misbehave, and as a result, you fail to share contacts as vCard mail attachments. To avoid this issue, it is best to use the classic version.

Q. Can I migrate Exchange contacts to iCloud by dragging and dropping contacts within a single email client?

No, it is not possible. None of the email clients provide this facility; not Outlook, not Apple Mail, not Thunderbird, nor any other major/minor email client that I know has this facility.

You must follow any other mechanism described in the earlier part of this text if you wish to move your contacts across these two platforms.

Q. I did every step correctly, but I could not sync contacts that were in my Exchange server account to my iCloud. Why?

Although iCloud for Windows updates all changes everywhere at once and is available on PC, it still has some minimum system requirements to work. For instance, your PC must be on the Windows 10 May 29, 2019, update or later, with iCloud for Windows 10 or later and Outlook 2016 or later pre-installed.

Q. Why is there no Exchange to iCloud migrator in the market?

Apple’s strict privacy policy and a zero-tolerance approach towards data breaches are the most plausible reasons.