Email account missing contacts folder

Question

So ive recently had to re-setup my email accounts on outlook after some strange goings on since doing a Win11 update, ive got all the issues ironed out bar 1 , my work email which is iMAP has no contacts nor a contact folder to import my contacts into , all my other accounts which are exchange accounts work fine, id contact my companies IT support but there not very supportive so id rather figure it out myself if I can.

Answer 1

Hello dacons44

Hi, I'm Karl and will be happy to help you today.

When a <default data file> (where the <default> contact and calendar folders are stroed) would result in there not being any contact / calendar folders added to the folder tree of any POP or IMAP account that gets added. These account types use the existing <default data file>

To see which data file is set as your <default data file>, from within Outlook, go to

<File> --> <Account Settings> --> <Data Files> tab

The <default data file> is the one with the checkmark beside it. In Outlook 2013 or later, any data file can be set as the <default data file>

The way things work in terms of contact / calendar folders when an account is added to Outlook

#1 - The first account configured, will have its data file set as the default.

a) for POP - this would be a PST file

b) for IMAP & Exchange - this would be an OST file

#2 - Every Exchange account will <ALWAYS> have their own contact / calendar folders whether or not the OST file is set as the <default data file>

#3 - If you change the <default data file> to use a PST file (whether associated with a POP account or stand-alone), contact / calendar folders will be added to the PST file.

#4 - If you change the <default data file> to use an IMAP OST file contact / calendar folders will be added with the words "This Computer Only" in the folder name. You don't want to store contact / calendar data in "This Computer Only" folders. If Outlook cannot find / open the OST file, it will automatically create a new one, sync the email folders with the server but the "This Computer Only" folders will be empty (ergo - the data in those folders is lost).

So in answer to your question, what you should do about the contacts you want to import, follow these steps

#5 - If you do not want to use one of the existing contact folders, add a PST file to the Outlook profile by

a) - on the <Home> ribbon, click on <New Items> --> <More Items> --> <Outlook Data File> --> either accept the default location and file name or change it to suit to taste

b) - set this PST file as the <default data file> so that contact / calendar folders get added to it (this will result in <all> standard Outlook folders (<Inbox> <Sent Items> etc) to get added to the PST file. This is done by going to

<File> --> <Account Settings> --> <Data Files> tab

select the newly added PST file --> click on <Set as default>

c) import your contacts to the contact folder in the PST file

d) if you do not want the PST file to permanently be the <default data file> - change it back to what it was using the steps above

If you have any questions about the above - ask away