Email group

Question

How do you delete unknown email addresses from your group in Outlook?

Answer 1

Hi Dorothy Simmons, 

I hope you are doing well ! I just want to check if you have had a chance to check my reply earlier? Please let me know. I am here to assist you further.

Have a lovely day!

Answer 2

Dear Dorothy Simmons, 

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating it is to see unknown addresses in your email group, and I’m glad to help. If you haven’t already tried the AI‑suggested steps, please follow the ones below: 

If this is a Contact Group (personal distribution list) in Classic Outlook 

• In Outlook, open People (Contacts). 
• Search for the group name, then double‑click the contact group to open it. 
• Select the unwanted/unknown address(es), choose Remove Member, then Save & Close. 

If the “unknown address” isn’t actually in the group but keeps appearing when you type (AutoComplete) 

• Open a new email and type a few characters until the bad suggestion appears. 
• Highlight the suggestion (don’t select it), then click the X next to it or press Delete to remove it from AutoComplete. 

If this is a Contact List in Outlook.com that you manage 

• In Outlook.com People, open the contact list, choose Edit, click the X next to the address to remove, then Save. 

If this is a Microsoft 365 Group (work/school), only group owners can remove members. 

Please tell me how it goes. If the problem persists, please don’t hesitate to reply to this thread and I will be happy to help. Have a lovely day!   

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Answer 3

To remove unknown or unwanted email addresses from a group in classic Outlook for Windows, first determine whether it is a contact group (personal distribution list) or a Microsoft 365 Group.

If it is a contact group (personal list)

1. In Outlook, go to the Navigation bar and select People to view contacts.
2. Find the contact group:
   • Use the Search Contacts box at the top and type the group name.
3. Double-click the contact group to open it.
4. In the member list, select the unknown email address(es) to remove.
   • To remove multiple at once, hold Ctrl while clicking each name.
5. On the ribbon, select Remove Member.
6. Select Save & Close to save the changes.

If it is a Microsoft 365 Group

Only group owners can edit members.

1. Open Outlook and locate the group in the folder list under Groups.
2. Select the group, then choose Edit Group.
3. Go to the Members tab.
4. Select the unknown email address(es) and remove them from the group.
5. Save the changes.

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References:

• Remove names from a contact group
• Edit or delete a Group in Outlook