vCard Version Converter
Convert between different vCard versions (2.1, 3.0, 4.0) for optimal compatibility with your contact management system.
About vCard Versions
Different vCard versions offer varying levels of features and compatibility. Converting between versions helps ensure your contact files work with all applications.
Version Comparison:
- vCard 2.1: Legacy format with basic features
- vCard 3.0: Most widely supported version
- vCard 4.0: Latest with advanced features
- Automatic field mapping and compatibility handling
When to Convert Versions
Version conversion is useful when your vCard files aren't compatible with certain applications or when you need specific features.
Common Use Cases:
- Legacy system compatibility (downgrade to 2.1)
- Modern app support (upgrade to 3.0 or 4.0)
- Import/export between different platforms
- Standardizing contact file formats
- Fixing compatibility issues
Conversion Features
Bi-directional
Convert in any direction: 2.1 ↔ 3.0 ↔ 4.0. Upgrade or downgrade as needed.
Data Preservation
Automatically handles field compatibility and preserves as much data as possible.
Instant Processing
Fast, client-side conversion with immediate download. No server uploads required.
Detailed Version Comparison
vCard 2.1
✅ Strengths
- • Maximum compatibility
- • Works with all legacy systems
- • Simple structure
- • Minimal file size
❌ Limitations
- • ASCII only, no Unicode
- • Limited field types
- • Basic parameter support
- • No modern features
Best For:
- • Legacy email clients
- • Older mobile phones
- • Embedded systems
- • Maximum compatibility needs
vCard 3.0
✅ Strengths
- • UTF-8 character support
- • Enhanced field types
- • Wide application support
- • Improved structure
⚠️ Considerations
- • Some legacy incompatibility
- • Lacks newest features
- • Moderate file size
Best For:
- • Most modern systems
- • International contacts
- • Business use cases
- • General compatibility
vCard 4.0
✅ Strengths
- • Latest features
- • Enhanced internationalization
- • New property types
- • Future-proof design
❌ Limitations
- • Limited legacy support
- • Not universally supported
- • Larger file sizes
- • Complex structure
Best For:
- • Modern applications
- • Advanced features
- • Cloud services
- • Future compatibility
Application Compatibility Guide
Popular Applications & Preferred Versions
Industry Recommendations
✅ Enterprise Environments
Use vCard 3.0 for broad compatibility across business applications and email systems.
🏢 International Business
vCard 3.0 or 4.0 required for proper UTF-8 support of international names and characters.
⚡ Legacy Systems
Downgrade to vCard 2.1 for compatibility with older industrial or embedded systems.
🚀 Modern Applications
vCard 4.0 for cutting-edge features like enhanced properties and better internationalization.
Common Conversion Scenarios
📈 Upgrade Scenarios
2.1 → 3.0: Modernization
Add UTF-8 support for international characters and enhanced contact fields.
3.0 → 4.0: Future-Proofing
Access latest features like gender fields, enhanced properties, and better validation.
Any → 3.0: Compatibility
Best balance of features and compatibility for most business applications.
📉 Downgrade Scenarios
4.0 → 3.0: Wide Support
Ensure compatibility with applications that don't support vCard 4.0 yet.
3.0 → 2.1: Legacy Systems
Support older email clients, embedded systems, or legacy business applications.
Any → 2.1: Maximum Compatibility
Ensure contacts work across all systems, including very old ones.
Troubleshooting Version Conversion Issues
❌ Conversion Failures
If your vCard won't convert:
- • Invalid format: Ensure input file is a valid vCard
- • Corrupted data: Check file for syntax errors or corruption
- • Unsupported version: Verify source version is supported
- • File encoding: Ensure proper UTF-8 encoding for international content
⚠️ Data Loss Issues
If converted data is missing:
- • Downgrade limitations: Newer features may be lost in older versions
- • Character encoding: Special characters may be simplified in 2.1
- • Property mapping: Some properties don't exist in target version
- • Parameter changes: Property parameters may be modified or removed
🔧 Import Problems
If converted vCard won't import:
- • Version mismatch: Target app may not support the converted version
- • Format validation: Some apps have strict format requirements
- • File size: Large files may cause import timeouts
- • Application limits: Check contact limits in target application
✅ Best Practices
For successful conversion:
- • Test first: Convert a small sample to verify compatibility
- • Backup original: Always keep copies of original vCard files
- • Check target support: Verify application supports chosen version
- • Validate output: Test converted files in target applications
Version Selection Guide
Choose vCard 2.1 When:
- • Working with very old email clients (pre-2000)
- • Targeting embedded systems or industrial equipment
- • Need maximum compatibility across all systems
- • File size is critical (minimal overhead)
- • Contact data contains only basic ASCII characters
- • Working with legacy mobile phones
- • Simple contact exchange without advanced features
- • Bandwidth or storage is extremely limited
Choose vCard 3.0 When:
- • Working in business or enterprise environments
- • Need international character support (UTF-8)
- • Targeting modern email and contact applications
- • Want wide compatibility without losing features
- • Exchanging contacts between different platforms
- • Need enhanced contact fields and properties
- • Working with CRM and business systems
- • Best balance of compatibility and features
Choose vCard 4.0 When:
- • Using cutting-edge contact management systems
- • Need advanced contact properties and metadata
- • Working with modern cloud-based services
- • Future-proofing contact data storage
- • Developing new applications or services
- • Need enhanced internationalization features
- • Working with contacts that have complex data
- • Target systems specifically support vCard 4.0