Contact list not displayed in new Outlook

Question

Contact list not displayed in new Outlook

Bill Neiman 55

Using new Outlook version 1.2026.310.300. For the last two days, Outlook will not display contacts. When I select "All contacts", the pane displays only "This doesn't look right" with a "Try again" button that has no effect. Contact lists are displayed correctly, but not individual contacts. I have tried restarting Outlook and restarting the PC, but the results are the same.

cynthia clarkson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-24T23:38:55.9866667+00:00

I got "This doesn't look right" with a "Try again" button that has no effect. No contacts are displayed. I exported contacts to a .csv file and reviewed with Excel. All contacts and information were there! But I still can't see the contacts in Outlook. I imported this .csv file and the operation tells me it was successful after several minutes to import 1000+ contacts. But no help, same problem.

5 answers

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cynthia clarkson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-24T23:38:55.9866667+00:00

I got "This doesn't look right" with a "Try again" button that has no effect. No contacts are displayed. I exported contacts to a .csv file and reviewed with Excel. All contacts and information were there! But I still can't see the contacts in Outlook. I imported this .csv file and the operation tells me it was successful after several minutes to import 1000+ contacts. But no help, same problem.

Answer 1

David A Holmes 20

I am having the same issues with Gmail, Outlook, and another webmail service IMap account. All were working fine for the last year and just stopped give that same error: (Outlook contacts says) - Doesn't look right - with a button to "Try again".

I cannot create new contacts, import contacts via csv, or view any contact in all four of my accounts. Again, all was working just fine a few weeks ago. Nothing show but the above error msg.

When I export my current contacts, every contact not displaying is in the exported .csv file when viewed in Excel, but not displayed in my desktop Outlook program.

The same error appears in the classic Outlook on my machine.

Please assist in correcting this glitch.

Thank you

Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-27T21:09:09.95+00:00

@David A Holmes said

I am having the same issues with Gmail, Outlook, and another webmail service IMap account.

This is a Microsoft bug. There is nothing you can do from your Outlook Client to fix it. All that any of us can do (myself included) is wait for Microsoft to fix it.

You can help push this issue to the top of Microsoft's fix list by reporting it using the In-App Help -> Feedback -> Report a problem

See this Q&A thread on the same problem for more details:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5837171/contacts-in-outlook-365

Answer 2

Hornblower409 7,110

RE: New Outlook for Windows. Import Contacts

[Update 2026-03-25 by the Author]

Ignore this Answer. Testing and reports from other users confirm that the problem is not with the Import Contacts function.

[End Update 2026-03-25]

@cynthia clarkson said

I imported this .csv file and the operation tells me it was successful ... But no help, same problem.

Just as a test:

People -> Your contacts -> Import Contacts
Click on the "sample CSV" link in the dialog

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This should open a browser window and download a file "Contact_Sample_CSV.csv". Note the location of this file on your local disk.

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Back in New Outlook for Windows, click on the "Browse for a file" link

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Point it to the "Contact_Sample_CSV.csv" file you downloaded earlier and [Open]

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Then [Import]

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You should get a confirmation dialog. [OK].

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Back in New Outlook for Windows People -> Your Contacts. Do View -> Sync. You should see the three imported Contacts.

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cynthia clarkson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T01:21:54.6766667+00:00

I tried your suggested test. I don't see the Contact_sample.csv file. I see this:
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T01:33:46.1133333+00:00

@cynthia clarkson said

I see this [No Sample.CSV link]

That looks to be from Outlook Web (Outlook in a web browser). Is the whole screen this?

My test instructions are only for the New Outlook for Windows App. Outlook web does not have the download Sample CSV file link.

New Outlook for Windows App
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nrx63209r7b
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T01:38:04.8333333+00:00

New Outlook for Windows App vs New Outlook Web

If you look at the top of your Outlook window, do you see:

New Outlook Web

New Outlook for Windows App
cynthia clarkson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T01:49:04.67+00:00

here's a look at my Outlook:
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T02:29:32.5233333+00:00

@cynthia clarkson said

here's a look at my Outlook: [Picture of what is very obviously New Outlook for Windows]

I'm stumped. I have no explanation for why your New Outlook for Windows App does not have the Download Sample CSV link at People -> Import Contacts.

I have exactly the same version as you

But we are seeing different People -> Import Contacts dialogs.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T02:34:59.04+00:00

Here is the Sample CSV that my New Outlook for Windows generated, with the extension renamed from CSV to TXT.

Contact_Sample_CSV.txt

Try it with your Import?
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T02:43:19.4033333+00:00

After you Import the Sample_CSV, do People -> View -> Sync.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T03:06:43.5666667+00:00

Another source for a Contacts Sample CSV file that you can use to test New Outlook People Import. (Works OK for me)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-or-edit-csv-files-to-import-into-outlook-4518d70d-8fe9-46ad-94fa-1494247193c7

After you Import the Sample_CSV, do People -> View -> Sync.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T03:20:50.4733333+00:00

Don't forget - Contacts in New Outlook for Windows are per Account. If you have multiple email accounts, whichever Account "Your Contacts" you have open when you start the Import is where the new Contacts will be imported into.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T08:21:32.5433333+00:00

I think we can give up on the Import Contacts test. Another user did a direct Export/Import in New Outlook for Windows and the Contacts still don't show up.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5835905/can-no-longer-view-all-contacts-when-using-my-comc
cynthia clarkson 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T13:49:51.85+00:00

I asked copilot about the "disappeared" contact list and my situation where I do not use a cloud to sync:

IMO it looks to me like an automated Outlook update "broke" my ability to see the contact list and the new version dropped support of an offline address book. So, I may investigate trying to downgrade and stop auto updates or maybe another email solution.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-25T16:36:26.2933333+00:00

@cynthia clarkson said

it looks to me like an automated Outlook update "broke" my ability to see the contact list

At this point I agree. New Outlook is suppose to be able to handle your contacts for a non-Microsoft email account, but (for some people) something recently broke.

(I'm sorry for sending you off on the "Test Contact Import" wild goose chase. Reports from other users confirm that the problem is not with the Import Contacts function but with the display of your contacts.)

my situation where I do not use a cloud to sync

I'm not sure it is that straight forward. New Outlook for Windows "cloud syncs" every email account you add to the app. Both Microsoft and non-Microsoft accounts.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/sync-your-account-in-outlook-to-the-microsoft-cloud-985f9e19-d308-4e85-9d1d-0c6f32f8e981

Unlike Classic Outlook, where the Outlook Client "talks" to your email server directly. In New Outlook for Windows the app talks only to the Microsoft servers. They in turn talk to your actual mail provider server. And Microsoft has stated that this process is suppose to support contacts and calendar events as well as email.

But my personal experience is that this feature is still not available and People -> Your Contacts for any non-Microsoft account is either blank or throws an error. If you don't get an error just opening the Your Contacts page, any attempt to add a new Contact to a non-Microsoft Account from New Outlook for Windows you always get "Couldn't save contact".

Answer 3

RE: New Outlook for Windows. Non-Microsoft email accounts.

@Robert McRann said

My email address I use is not a Microsoft Outlook.com account
I can see my contacts in the "To" button under compose*

I think what you are seeing when you are typing on the "To" line, for a new email, in New Outlook for Windows using a Non-Microsoft account are "Suggested people - Expanded suggestions". i.e. Outlook remembers email addresses your have sent to or received from in the past.

View -> View Settings -> General -> Privacy and data -> Suggested people

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When will [People -> Contacts for non-Microsoft email accounts] be addressed?

Microsoft says that New Outlook for Windows now supports syncing contacts from GMail and Yahoo:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/sync-your-account-in-outlook-to-the-microsoft-cloud-985f9e19-d308-4e85-9d1d-0c6f32f8e981

But my personal experience is that this feature is still not available and People -> Your Contacts for any non-Microsoft account is either blank or throws an error.

If you don't get an error just opening the Your Contacts page, any attempt to add a new Contact to a non-Microsoft Account from New Outlook for Windows you always get "Couldn't save contact".

Answer 4

Jeronimo Fuerte 38,245 Independent Advisor

Hi! Sorry to hear you’re having trouble with this. Could you please verify whether those contacts are available in Outlook.com? If the emails are visible there, please sign out of the app, restart it, and then sign back in, as this could be a sync issue between the app and the server.

Jeronimo Fuerte 38,245 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-03-21T15:45:31.4333333+00:00

You could also try to repair Outlook apps:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/repair-apps-and-programs-in-windows-e90eefe4-d0a2-7c1b-dd59-949a9030f317
Bill Neiman 55 Reputation points

2026-03-21T21:09:32.24+00:00

Nothing at all shows up in Outlook.com - no emails, no contacts. I'm using Outlook to manage an AOL email account, and apparently it's no longer possible to connect third-party accounts to Outlook.com.

The repair option didn't work - just got the message "We couldn't repair this app. Try again in a bit."
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-23T08:48:38.3233333+00:00

@Bill Neiman said

Nothing at all shows up in Outlook.com - no emails, no contacts. I'm using Outlook to manage an AOL email account, and apparently it's no longer possible to connect third-party accounts to Outlook.com.

You are correct. You can not use a non-Microsoft email account (e.g. GMail, Yahoo, AOL) in the web version of Outlook.

Answer 5

Q&A Assist

AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

This behavior matches a known Outlook contacts display issue and is typically resolved by forcing Outlook to refresh its service settings.

Follow these steps:

Close new Outlook completely.
Start Outlook in Safe Mode:
- Hold down the Ctrl key.
- While holding Ctrl, start Outlook.
- Keep Ctrl pressed until the Safe Mode prompt appears, then confirm to open in Safe Mode.
Once Outlook has fully opened in Safe Mode, close Outlook again.
Open Outlook normally (not in Safe Mode) and go to People → All contacts to check if contacts now display correctly.

If the issue persists, also ensure that Office/Outlook is fully updated, then repeat the Safe Mode cycle once more.

References:

Outlook cannot display contacts in People View

Bill Neiman 55 Reputation points

2026-03-21T15:07:30.3666667+00:00

I cannot find a way to start Outlook in safe mode. The Ctrl key technique does nothing. I tried to start Outlook through Run using the /safe option, but I can't find any outlook.exe on my PC. (I'm running Outlook as part of Office 24.) Right-clicking on the icon that starts Outlook does not display a path, so I can't figure out where the executable is.
Alma Draper 0 Reputation points

2026-03-22T02:14:42.29+00:00

When I follow instructions re safe mode (Restart holding shift key), I get a message about recovering bit locker and I don't have a recovery key. Is that a Dell thing? Is there any other method to restore the contact page?
Onno van Laanen 5 Reputation points

2026-03-22T12:15:25.7633333+00:00

I have 2 computers white the exact same problem, and it is imosible to start in save mode on them.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-23T08:42:33.23+00:00

@Bill Neiman @Alma Draper @Onno van Laanen said

I cannot find a way to start Outlook in safe mode.

Unfortunately the Q&A Assist Answer is for Classic Outlook, not for New Outlook for Windows. There is no Safe Mode for New Outlook for Windows.

As @Jeronimo Fuerte suggested - If you are using a Microsoft email account (e.g. @outlook.com) one thing to check is to open a browser to your Outlook account and see if the contacts are listed there.

Personal (Free) : https://outlook.live.com/
MS 365 (Paid): https://outlook.office.com/

For any non-Microsoft email account (e.g. GMail, Yahoo, AOL) - Microsoft says that New Outlook for Windows now supports syncing contacts from GMail and Yahoo.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/sync-your-account-in-outlook-to-the-microsoft-cloud-985f9e19-d308-4e85-9d1d-0c6f32f8e981

But my personal experience is that this feature is still not available and People -> Your Contacts for any non-Microsoft account is either blank or throws an error.

If you don't get an error just opening the Your Contacts page, any attempt to add a new Contact to a non-Microsoft Account from New Outlook for Windows you always get "Couldn't save contact".
Melissa Hall 0 Reputation points

2026-03-24T02:49:43.21+00:00

I've tried the above steps in Outlook Classic. (Safe mode cannot be used with the new Outlook). If I try to send an e-mail, the e-mail is in the history. However, there are no contacts to view under people. I've uninstalled Microsoft 365, outlook, cleared cache, completed every suggestion on the web and no resolution. I even tried to add a new contact. When I do, the system says it has been saved but when I exit and return, there is no contact. When I logged onto outlook.live.com, there are no contacts and there is no e-mail history at all. My e-mails do not even show.
Hornblower409 7,110 Reputation points

2026-03-24T03:41:37.2433333+00:00

@Melissa Hall said

I've tried the above steps in Outlook Classic. (Safe mode cannot be used with the new Outlook)

Unfortunately the Q&A Assist Answer is for Classic Outlook, not for New Outlook. Nothing in that answer applies to New Outlook for Windows or Outlook Web.

What type of an email account are you using? (Microsoft vs non-Microsoft)

See my comment "Hornblower409 Mar 23, 2026, 3:42 AM" above in this thread.
Robert McRann 0 Reputation points

2026-03-24T22:16:02.5533333+00:00

This is affecting me too. My email address I use is not a Microsoft Outlook.com account so my contacts do not even synchronize with the Outlook.com webmail. I can see my contacts in the "To" button under compose but I cannot access People in new Outlook. This seems to be a bug. When will it be addressed?

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Contact list not displayed in new Outlook

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