Contacts disappeared in new outlook

Question

Hi, all my contacts disappeared in my new outlook, however when I reopen with outlook classic they are still available! How can I make the contacts again available in the new outlook? In meantime I am used to use the new outlook and it would be regrettable to change again to outlook classic.

Answer 1

Hi,

When you switch to the New Outlook, the app uses a different sync model compared to Outlook Classic. Here’s what’s going on:

New Outlook is designed to work primarily with cloud-based accounts Microsoft 365, Outlook.com. It syncs contacts from the cloud, not from local PST/OST files.

If your contacts were stored locally or under This Computer Only in Classic Outlook, they won’t automatically appear in the new experience.

This is by design because Microsoft is moving away from local storage toward a unified cloud experience.

 

Here’s how you can bring them back:

Check Where Your Contacts Are Stored

In Outlook Classic, switch to People view.

If contacts are under Contacts This Computer Only or linked to a non-Microsoft account (POP/IMAP), they need to be exported.

 Export Contacts from Outlook Classic

Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.

Select Export to a file > Comma Separated Values (.csv).

Choose your Contacts folder and save the file.

Import Contacts into Your Microsoft Account

Sign in to Outlook.com or your Microsoft 365 web account.

Go to People > Manage > Import Contacts.

Upload the CSV file you exported.

Restart New Outlook

Once contacts are in your Microsoft account, they’ll sync automatically to New Outlook.

 

Let me know how it goes, Happy to help!

Answer 2

To resolve the issue of your contacts not appearing in the new Outlook, you may need to check if your contacts are in a different folder. Sometimes, during migration or localization, a new Contacts folder is created, and your contacts may be in that folder instead of the one currently being used by the new Outlook.

You can try the following steps:

1. Open the classic Outlook where your contacts are visible.
2. Locate the folder that contains your contacts (it should have a folder icon).
3. Drag and drop your contacts from that folder to the new Contacts folder in the new Outlook (which has a contact card icon).

This should make your contacts available in the new Outlook without needing to switch back to the classic version.