> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.retainful.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Export contacts

> Download your contacts as a CSV file.

Your data is yours. Export any part of your audience as a CSV file whenever you need it — for analysis, backups, or use in another tool.

## Create an export

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start the export">
    Go to **Audience → Exports** and click **Create export**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose who to export">
    Export everyone, a specific [list](/audience/lists), or a [segment](/audience/segments).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download">
    Exports run in the background. When yours is ready, a download link appears on the Exports page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Download links expire after a period for security. If a link has expired, just run the export again.
</Note>

## What's included

The CSV contains each contact's profile fields (email, name, phone, location), subscription status, and custom fields — ready to open in Excel or Google Sheets.

## Common uses

* **Backups** — keep a periodic copy of your audience.
* **Analysis** — slice your audience in a spreadsheet or BI tool.
* **Suppression elsewhere** — export unsubscribed contacts to suppress them in other tools you use.

<Tip>
  If you need contact data flowing into your own systems continuously rather than as one-off files, use the [REST API](/developers/api/contacts) instead.
</Tip>