App to backup all iCloud contacts to vCard file on a schedule

[370zulu]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for an app to backup all of my iCloud contacts to vCard (.vcf) file on a schedule. Does anyone know of an app for macOS that does this? I know that I can do this manually, but the user I am trying to help has memory issues and needs the schedule to be automatic.

Thanks!

 

[gregmac19]

You could write a macro using Keyboard Maestro to do this task. I am not handy with the standard Apple macro programs (Automator and Shortcuts), but you might be able to do this with them, too.

I use Keyboard Maestro to automate several regular tasks, but beware that there is learning curve to use the program.

 

[gilby101]

The Contacts app has the ability to export all (or some) contacts to a .vcf file or to a .abbu file. So it is a matter of how you drive this automatically. Like @gregmac19 I would use Keyboard Maestro with a time of day trigger. The action would have to involve either AppleScript or opening Contacts and clicking menu items. AppleScript would be more robust whilst opening and clicking menus might be easier.

BUT, you probably want something simpler to configure and manage....

https://swissmacuser.ch/macos-contacts-bulk-export-individual-vcards/ creates an Automator workflow to export selected (or all) contacts as individual cards. But you still need to trigger it - and that comes back to Keyboard Maestro.

With macOS 26 (Tahoe), the Shortcuts app includes automations with triggers including Time of Day. Such a trigger could be used to run an Automator (or AppleScript) workflow. That seems more promising.

Also workflows can be triggered in the Calendar app.

 

[370zulu]

Thank you both.