GUIDE
How to Fix Mixed vCard Versions in One File
Mixed versions are common after merging exports. A receiving app may accept the file, reject it, or silently drop fields depending on which card it reads first.
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What you should know
Mixed versions are common after merging exports. A receiving app may accept the file, reject it, or silently drop fields depending on which card it reads first.
Before you begin
- Keep an untouched copy of the source export.
- Work on a small sample before changing a complete address book.
- Review the downloaded file before importing it elsewhere.
Measure the mix
Use the validator to count VERSION values per card. Record unknown or missing versions separately; guessing a target version before seeing the mix can hide compatibility problems.
Convert a copy
Choose the destination's documented version when known. Review warnings for parameters, encodings, and extension fields that cannot be represented exactly.
- Validate the mixed source copy.
- Select a target vCard version.
- Review the conversion report.
- Open and validate the converted output before importing it.
Version is not the whole compatibility story
A vCard 3.0 file can still contain unsupported fields or oversized photos. Test representative records in the destination instead of relying on the VERSION line alone.
Questions people ask
Does How to Fix Mixed vCard Versions in One File change the original file?
No. The browser works with the selected copy and creates a separate download. Keep the original export as your rollback point.
What should I verify after How to Fix Mixed vCard Versions in One File?
Compare counts and representative fields, validate the generated copy, and test a small import before processing a full address book.