A vCard is the standard file format for contact info. The extension is .vcf. Every operating system and address-book app on Earth supports it: iOS Contacts, macOS Contacts, Google Contacts, Outlook, Thunderbird, the lot. When someone taps Save to Contacts on your profile page, they're downloading a vCard.
What's in the file
A vCard generated from your businesscards.io card includes:
- Your name (first, last, prefix, suffix), pronouns, and any name prefix you've added.
- Job title and company.
- Every email address, phone number, address, and website you've added, with their types (work, home, mobile, etc.).
- Your photo, embedded directly in the file.
- Social profile URLs.
- Your card's public URL.
- A note field if you've added a bio.
The file is vCard 3.0, which is the most widely compatible version.
How it ends up in someone's contacts
The flow depends on the device:
- iPhone: The vCard opens directly in the Contacts app. The visitor reviews the details and taps Done to save.
- Android: Most browsers download the file and the system asks which app to open it with. Google Contacts is the usual choice.
- Desktop: The file downloads to the user's Downloads folder. Double-clicking it opens it in the default contacts app (macOS Contacts on a Mac, Outlook or another app on Windows).
What if the photo doesn't show up?
Most modern address books display the embedded photo. Some older email clients strip it. If a recipient says your photo isn't showing, they're almost certainly using a tool that doesn't support embedded photos. There's nothing to fix on your end.
Direct download
If you want to share your vCard directly (for example, as an email attachment), you can grab the file by adding .vcf to your card URL: businesscards.io/c/your-slug.vcf.