How do I change contacts to international format?

Okay, so you want to get those contacts into international format, huh? It can be a bit of a pain, I know! I remember once trying to call my cousin in Italy and my phone just wouldn’t recognize the number – turns out, it was all because of the format! Anyway, here’s how I usually tackle it, depending on what I’m using:

• For my iPhone or Mac: Honestly, this is usually the biggest headache. Apple, bless their hearts, makes you go into the Contacts app and tweak each contact one by one. Yeah, I know, super annoying! There’s no magic “internationalize all” button, sadly. The good news is Apple has pretty good documentation on their Contacts app. I suggest taking a look at that to help you out with the proper formatting for international numbers. I wish there was a better way, believe me!

• On my Windows PC (usually using Outlook): This is a little easier, thankfully. In Outlook, look for the “Action” menu. It’s usually in the sidebar somewhere (might be hidden!), then go to “Preferences.” Inside Preferences, you should be able to find something called “Address Layout.” Just choose the country you want from that menu. It should then format the contacts based on that country. It’s supposed to, anyway! Again, if you’re having trouble, Microsoft Outlook documentation can be a lifesaver.

So yeah, it’s not always the smoothest process, is it? Why can’t they just make it easier? But hopefully, that gets you pointed in the right direction! Good luck with wrangling those contacts! Let me know if you get stuck somewhere, and I’ll see if I can help further!