I can't find my contacts in outlook.

Question

I can't find my contacts in outlook and the adres book

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Moved from: Microsoft 365 Insider | Outlook | Windows

Answer 1

If you can't find your contacts in Outlook, it's possible that your contacts are in a different folder. This can happen if there are multiple folders named "Contacts" or if a migration or localization issue occurred. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check for Multiple Contacts Folders: Look for another folder that might have the same name or a localized version of the name. Your contacts may be in that folder instead.
2. Drag Contacts to the Correct Folder: If you find your contacts in a different folder, you can drag them to the new Contacts folder (the one with a contact card icon in Outlook Desktop).
3. Address Book Issues: If you're experiencing issues with the address book, ensure that the Contacts folder is set to be displayed as an email address book. You can do this by right-clicking the Contact folder, selecting Properties, and checking the option to show it as an email address book.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, you may need to check your Autodiscover settings or permissions related to the contacts folder.

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References:

• Contacts folder empty and contacts are in a different folder in Outlook for Microsoft 365
• The address list cannot be displayed error when you try to view the contacts of a public folder in Outlook

Answer 2

Hello Patrick Wagabaza,

Thank you for posting your question to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand how inconvenient it is when your contacts don't appear where you expect them, especially when you are trying to send an email quickly. It is very common to have contacts saved in one place but not visible in the "Address Book" view due to a simple configuration mismatch.

To help me provide the best steps for your specific situation, could you let me know which version of Outlook you are currently using?

• The New Outlook (Modern interface, often has a "New Outlook" toggle switch in the corner).
• Classic Outlook (The traditional desktop application).

In the meantime, here are the most effective steps to resolve this based on the version you might be using.

1. If you are using Classic Outlook

The issue is often that the specific Contacts folder hasn't been "marked" as an Address Book yet.

• Enable the Folder as an Address Book:
  1. At the right of Outlook, click the People icon (it looks like two silhouettes).
  2. In the navigation pane, right-click your specific Contacts folder.
  3. Select Properties and go to the Outlook Address Book tab.
  4. Check the box that says "Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book."
  5. Click OK and restart Outlook.
• Check Account Settings:
  1. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  2. Click the Address Books tab.
  3. Ensure Outlook Address Book is listed there. If not, click New, select Outlook Address Book, and follow the prompts.

2. If you are using the New Outlook

The New Outlook handles contacts differently and relies heavily on cloud synchronization.

• Click the People icon in the left navigation pane. If this list is empty, please ensure the contacts were actually imported into the Microsoft Account you are logged into.

3.If your specific issue is that names don't appear automatically when you start typing in the "To" line, this is actually separate from the Address Book.

• The first time you send an email to a person, you may need to type their full email address
• Once that first email is sent, Outlook saves that address to the "Auto-Complete" list, and it will pop up automatically the next time you type their name.

I hope these steps help you locate your contacts. Please let me know more details about your Outlook version or what exactly happens when you try to search for a name so I can give you a better solution for your case.

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