Coming in version 3.1
Shortcuts, Siri and automation
Export your contacts without opening the app
Export your contacts by voice, from a shortcut, or on a schedule. Two Shortcuts actions let a contact export run from Siri or on its own, so a regular backup needs no attention.
In the Shortcuts app and in Siri, Export Contacts Pro appears as Exporter.
View on the App StoreTwo actions
The Export Contacts action describes an export from scratch. You pick the format and can narrow it to certain accounts, contact lists or fields.
The Run Export Setup action runs a setup you saved in the app, exactly as you saved it. Both actions hand the finished file to the next step in a shortcut.
Set up an automatic backup
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Add the export action
In the Shortcuts app, create a shortcut and add the Export Contacts action, or Run Export Setup to reuse a setup you saved.
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Pick an account or list
Choose an account or contact list inside the action. Each counts as one item however many contacts it holds, so the export stays fast and nothing large travels between steps.
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Add a schedule
In the Shortcuts app, add a Time of Day schedule under Automation, then set the time and how often it repeats. Where Automation sits moved in iOS 27, and the app explains both.
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Run it unattended
Set it to run immediately, without confirmation, so the export happens while you are away. On vCard exports this needs nothing further; for CSV or Excel, unlock the full version in the app first.
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Check the log
In the app, open Settings then Siri & Automation to see what each run exported, or the reason nothing was exported.
Frequently asked questions
Can I export my contacts with Siri?
Yes. Say a phrase like Export my contacts with Exporter, and the export runs without opening the app. Exporter is how Export Contacts Pro appears in Siri and Shortcuts.
Can I schedule an automatic contact backup?
Yes. Build a shortcut with the export action and add a Time of Day in the Shortcuts app under Automation. It runs unattended, so a regular vCard backup needs no attention.
What happens when nothing has changed since the last export?
With the change filter on, the export finishes without a file and without an error, and a scheduled automation carries on instead of reporting a failure.
Do I need to keep the app open?
No. Both actions run in the background. The app only comes forward when it needs a decision, such as unlocking a paid format or granting access to your contacts.
Do CSV and Excel work in an automation?
Yes, once the full version is unlocked. Unlock it in the app before you schedule an export to CSV or Excel, so a run does not stop and wait for you. Exporting to vCard is free and always works.
Where do I see what an automation exported?
In the app, open Settings then Siri & Automation. Each run is listed with the date, the action and how many contacts, or the reason nothing was exported. The log stays on your device and records no contact data.
Does automation work with a large address book?
Yes. Each action can pick an account or a contact list itself, which counts as one item however many contacts it holds, so nothing large has to travel between steps.