Step-by-step instructions for exporting your contacts from any device or app and importing them as VIP contacts in Kestrel.
What are VIP contacts?
VIP contacts are people whose calls get transferred directly to you without any AI screening. Everyone else is screened, and you receive a summary. You can import from your phone to quickly set up your most important people.
Exports as .vcf (vCard) format
Open the Contacts app on your iPhone
Tap the Contacts icon on your home screen or find it in the Phone app.
Tap the contact you want to share
Find the person in your contacts list and tap their name.
Scroll down and tap 'Share Contact'
At the bottom of the contact card, you'll see a 'Share Contact' button.
Choose how to send it to yourself
Tap 'AirDrop' (to your Mac), 'Mail' (email it to yourself), or 'Messages' (text it to yourself). The file will end in .vcf
Download the .vcf file on this device
Open the email/message on this device, download the .vcf file, then upload it in the contacts import section.
iOS does not have a built-in "export all contacts" feature. Use one of these methods:
Method 1: Via iCloud.com (Easiest)
Open iCloud.com on any computer
Go to icloud.com in a web browser and sign in with your Apple ID.
Click Contacts
Open the Contacts app on iCloud.com.
Select all contacts
Click any contact, then press Cmd+A (Mac) or Ctrl+A (Windows) to select all.
Click the gear icon → Export vCard
In the bottom-left, click the gear/settings icon and choose Export vCard. A .vcf file will download.
Upload the .vcf file here
Come back to Kestrel contacts import and upload the downloaded file.
Method 2: Using a free app on iPhone
Download Contacts+ Export or My Contacts Backup
Search for either app in the App Store. Both are free and well-reviewed.
Open the app and grant contacts permission
The app needs access to your contacts to export them.
Tap Export or Backup → Choose VCF format
Select .vcf (vCard) format when asked.
Email the file to yourself or save to Files
The app will let you share the file. Email it to yourself or save to iCloud Drive / Files.
Download the .vcf file and upload it here
Open the email or Files app, download the .vcf file, and upload it in Kestrel.
File format: iPhone exports contacts as .vcf (vCard) files. Kestrel reads vCard 3.0 and 4.0 format. After uploading, you'll see a preview table where you can choose which contacts to import as VIP.
Preview before saving
After uploading, you see a table of all contacts found. Select the ones you want as VIP — you don't have to import all of them.
Edit names and numbers
You can rename contacts or fix phone number formatting before saving.
Contacts are saved to your account
Imported VIP contacts appear in your Kestrel dashboard under Contacts. You can manage them there anytime.
Add more contacts later
You can always import more contacts or add individual contacts from your dashboard. You're not limited to the onboarding step.