How to export your Telegram contacts

Telegram keeps your contact list on its servers, which is convenient until you change phones or want a backup outside the app. The desktop app can export them, but the result is a developer-style JSON file. Here is the whole process, from export to phone.

Step by step

1

Install Telegram Desktop

Export is not available on Android or iOS. Install the desktop app from telegram.org/desktop and sign in with your phone number.
2

Settings → Advanced → Export Telegram data

Scroll to the bottom of the Advanced settings page to find it.
3

Tick only “Contacts list”

Leave chats and media unticked unless you want them too; they can make the export take hours.
4

Choose JSON and export

The export folder opens when it finishes, with result.json inside.
5

Convert to VCF

Drop result.json on the Telegram contacts to VCF tool and download the .vcf.
6

Import on your phone

Android: Contacts → Fix & manage → Import from file. iPhone: open the .vcf from Mail or Files and tap Add all contacts.

Then open it

Telegram contacts to VCF

Turn the Telegram export into a vCard you can import into your phone, Google Contacts or Outlook.