Adding to contacts list

Question

I want a quick way to add contacts to my contacts list. I was told to doulbe click on the name from an email and go to the [...] to add to favorites. This option is grayed out for me and I can't use it. Please advise.

Answer 1

Hi Jan Stucki

I understand you’re trying to quickly add someone to your contacts from an email, but the “Add to favorites” option is grayed out in Classic Outlook.

Have you already tried the Q&A Assist suggestions? In addition, please try the following:

• Open Outlook and go to your Inbox.
• Click and hold the email you want.
• Drag it to the “People” icon (Contacts) in the navigation pane.
• A new contact form will open > click “Save & Close”.

Why “Add to favorites” is grayed out:

• That option typically applies to contacts that already exist, not for creating new ones.
• In Classic Outlook, Favorites management is limited compared to New Outlook or Outlook on the web.

Once the contact is saved:

• Go to “People”
• Select the contact
• Then you may see options to mark it as a favorite (depending on your Outlook version)

Please feel free to let me know how it goes. I truly appreciate your time and understanding.

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Answer 2

In classic Outlook for Windows, “Add to favorites” on the profile card is not how contacts are added; that option is for favorite contacts in Outlook on the web/Outlook.com and may be unavailable in classic Outlook.

Use one of these supported methods instead:

1. Add a contact from an email (profile card path that works)
   1. Open the email in Outlook.
   2. Click the sender’s (or recipient’s) name or picture to open the profile card.
   3. On the profile card, choose Add to contacts (or Add/similar option to create a contact).
   4. Fill in any additional details and save.
2. Create a contact from scratch
   1. Go to the People view (Contacts) in Outlook.
   2. Select New contact.
   3. Enter the contact details, select Add more if needed, then save.
3. Add to Favorites (where supported) Once the contact exists, in supported Outlook experiences (new Outlook, Outlook on the web, Outlook.com):
   1. Go to People.
   2. Select the contact.
   3. Use Add to favorites on the toolbar. Favorite contacts then appear in Favorites and, if they have an email address, in the Mail navigation pane.

If the “Add to favorites” option on the profile card is grayed out in classic Outlook, rely on the Add to contacts option and then manage favorites from the People page as described.

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References:

• Using contacts (People) in Outlook on the web
• Create, view, and edit contacts and contact lists in Outlook.com
• Create, view, and edit contacts and contact lists in Outlook
• Manage contacts in Outlook

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