How to Import an Address Book into Facebook

Instead of creating a whole new address book for Facebook contacts, you can import an existing address book. If you're someone who uses adesktop e-mail client — a program on your local computer that manages your e-mail (such as Microsoft Outlook or Entourage), create a file of your contacts and import it so that Facebook can check it for friend matches.

The way to create your contact file depends on which e-mail client you use. Here's how to get the right instructions:

1. From the Friend Finder, select the Other Tools option.

   It's at the bottom of the list of Friend Finder options.

2. Click Upload Contact File, the first blue link.

   If you're using a Mac, you may see a blue button named Find my Mac Address Book Contacts. In addition, both Mac and PC users should see a blue Upload Contacts button below a gray Choose File button.

   At this point, unless you've already done so, you need to create a contact file. If you don't know how to do that, click the How to Create a Contact File link above the gray Choose File button. A list of different e-mail programs appears with instructions for most desktop e-mail programs, as well as a few websites.

3. Click Choose File.

   A window appears allowing you to select the file from your computer's hard drive.

4. Select a file and click Open.

   The upload begins automatically. After your contacts are compared with Facebook's records, you'll be taken to Step 2 of the Friend Finder, Add Friends.

5. Decide whether to

   • Add everyone as a friend.Make sure the Select All Friends check box is selected, and click the Add Friends button.

   • Not friend anyone. Make sure the Select All Friends check box is deselected, and click the Skip button.

   • Add specific people as friends. Click the faces or select the boxes to the left of the names of the people you want to be friends with. Make sure the people you want to add have selected boxes next to their names and the people you don't want to add have deselected boxes next to their names. After you select all the people you want, click Add Friends.

   Everyone you select receives a Friend Request from you.

   After you click either Add as Friends or Skip, you land on the Invite Friends portion of Friend Finder. Here you find a list of contact names and e-mail addresses. These e-mails or phone numbers are those that don't have matches on Facebook.

6. (Optional) Invite people to join Facebook and become your friends.

   Similar to adding friends, you can

   • Invite all these contacts.Make sure the Select All/None box is selected and click Send Invites.

   • Invite none of these contacts.Make sure the Select All/None box is deselected, and click Skip.

   • Invite some of these contacts. Select the Invite Some Friends option, and then use the check boxes to the left of their e-mail addresses to choose which ones you want to invite to join Facebook. Checked box = invite sent; unchecked box = no invite sent.

   After you make your selections, click Send Invites or Invite to Join. If you don't want to send any invitations, click Skip.