how to sync local iPhone contacts to outlook.com account?

[uandme72]

my iPhone has a large number of contacts on local account (not any cloud account).
now I want to sync and upload these contacts to one of my @outlook.com accounts.
I have added the @outlook.com account to Contacts app on iPhone, and have also installed outlook app for iOS.
But the contacts stored locally on iPhone remains there and is not getting uploaded to the @outlook.com account.
Please advise on how to upload the local contacts to @outlook.com account/ office 365.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

1. Settings > App > Contacts > Default Account to Outlook
2. Contacts app > touch "List" in top left > All iPhone, touch and HOLD - then "Export"
2a. "Select All Fields"
2b. "Done"
2c. "Save to Files"
2d. Select location and name, "Save"
3. open Files app, touch the saved file (will show the last contact in the file), touch Share icon, then touch "Contacts"
3a. touch "Save"

Now at this point they're all in Outlook but they're all ALSO on "iPhone." Open Contacts app > Lists > All Outlook, spot-check to verify the import worked properly. Now here's where it gets weird, stick with me...

4. Settings > App > Contacts > Accounts > Outlook, turn off Contacts, "Delete from iPhone" (Trust me!)
4a. Settings > App > Contacts > Accounts > Any other accounts, turn off too (iCloud, etc)

Now you're back to your original, just-on-the-phone contacts.

5. Settings > App > Contacts > Accounts > Outlook, turn ON Contacts. When prompted "What would you like to do with existing local contacts on your iPhone?" touch DELETE
5a. If you'd turned off any other contacts accounts, turn them on too.

Finis

 

[uandme72]

Many Thanks.
It gave me the way forward. However the step 3 did not work on iphone. It did not import to outlook account, instead it copied to the iPhone itself. Accordingly, taking a cue from your suggestion I performed the import function at step 3 on my Mac where it worked and uploaded all contacts to outlook.com account.
Subsequent steps I again performed on iPhone. The mission accomplished.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Ah yes - should have mentioned it’s way easier on a Mac 🫠