.addr — Address Book File
Various (Email Clients, Contact Managers) · 1990s
An .addr file is a contact list or address book used by various applications to store names, addresses, and other contact details.
Key Features
- Stores contact details like names, emails, and phone numbers.
- Primarily used by email clients and contact management software.
- Can be plain text or a proprietary binary format.
- Facilitates easy access to contact information within specific applications.
Best For
- Simple storage of contact details for specific applications.
- Quickly accessing recipient information within a compatible email client.
- Basic contact list management.
Less Ideal For
- Interoperability with a wide range of applications (use vCard/VCF instead).
- Storing large amounts of complex data beyond basic contact info.
- Sharing contacts across different operating systems or platforms without conversion.
- Archiving or backing up sensitive contact data.
Common Use Cases
- Storing your personal or professional contact list.
- Exporting contacts from one application to import into another (if compatible).
- Maintaining a directory of recipients for email correspondence.
- Organizing client or customer information.
How to Open It
- Attempt to open the .addr file with the email client or contact manager that created it.
- Look for import/export options within your preferred contact application, specifically for address book files.
- If the file is plain text, try opening it with a text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS) to view its contents.
What is a .addr file?
An .addr file is typically used to store contact information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. These files are commonly generated and used by email clients and contact management applications. While not a universal standard like a vCard, they serve as a straightforward way for specific software to maintain user address books. Opening an .addr file usually requires the application that created it or a compatible contact management tool.
Programs That Open .addr Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Microsoft Outlook | Paid | Official |
| Windows Live Mail | Free | Official | |
| macOS | Apple Contacts | Free | Official |
| Linux | Thunderbird | Free |
How to Convert .addr Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .VCF | Export from application, Online converters |
Common Problems with .addr Files
Frequently Asked Questions
.vcf (vCard) is a widely recognized standard for contact information, ensuring compatibility across many applications and platforms. .addr files are often proprietary to specific applications, making them less portable.
Yes, if you can open the .addr file in an application that supports exporting to CSV, or if you can convert it to an intermediate format like VCF and then to CSV.
Generally, yes, if it comes from a trusted source and you are opening it with your intended contact management software. However, as with any file, be cautious of unknown sources.
Technical Details
The structure of .addr files can vary significantly between different applications, as it's not a strictly defined open standard. They often contain plain text or a simple binary format to store fields like 'Name', 'Email', 'Phone', and 'Address'. Some applications might use proprietary formats for these files.