Manage your contacts and connect with people through the new Outlook for Windows (Preview)

To make sure you have the latest Windows updates, you can check for updates. 

The new Outlook for Windows (Preview) currently supports Microsoft 365 accounts (outlook.com, hotmail.com, and live.com). 

The first time you open the new Outlook for Windows (Preview):

1. Open the new Outlook.

2. Under Suggested accounts, choose the email address you want to add and then select Continue.

   Note: If you don't see the account you want to add, type in the email address you want in the Suggested accounts box. Then select Continue.

3. Select Open Outlook to launch your newly synced Outlook account.

After that, you can add more accounts at any time:

1. In the new Outlook, select Mail .

2. Scroll to the bottom of the left navigation bar and select Add account. A pop-up window will open within Outlook.

3. Under Suggested accounts, choose the email address you want to add and then select Continue.

   Notes: If you don't see your account or you want to open a new Outlook account:

   • Don't see your account? Type in the email address you want in the Suggested accounts box, then select Continue.

   • Want to open a new Outlook account? Select Create an Outlook.com email account under the Suggested accounts box, then select Continue.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish signing in to your account.
   You may be prompted to log into your account in a new browser window. Follow the on-screen instructions to log in and then return to the new Outlook where you will see a Success! notification when your email, contacts, and events have been successfully synced.

5. You can add more accounts from this pop-up window by repeating steps 3 to 5. Or, if you are finished, select Done.

If you no longer want an account linked to your new Outlook for Windows (Preview), you can remove it. 

1. Open the new Outlook.

2. Select Mail  > View > View settings. A new Outlook window will open.

3. Select Accounts > Email accounts.

4. Find the account you want to remove and select Manage.

5. Select Remove.
   After selecting Remove, your account and all previously synced data will be deleted. Double check that you want to delete an account before selecting Remove.

Quickly create a new contact in the People app in the new Outlook for Windows (Preview) by pressing Ctrl + N on your keyboard or do one of the following:

Add contacts one at a time

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Home, select New contact .

   Note: If you've entered more than one email account in Mail, first select the account in which you'd like your new contact to be saved.

3. Fill out the relevant fields, then select Save.

Add a contact from an email

You can save a contact from an email if you're using the new Outlook for Windows (Preview). 

1. In the new Outlook, choose a message and select the name of the person whose contact details you'd like to save. This will open a pop-up window.

2. Scroll to the bottom and select Add to contacts.

3. Add any additional information, then select Save. 

   Note: If you have more than one email account linked to your new Outlook for Windows (Preview), your contact will be saved under the same account in which your email originated.    

Import contacts from another email app

You can import contacts from other email apps using a comma separated values file (CSV). For best results, make sure that the file has UTF-8 encoding.

For example, export your contacts from Gmail in CSV format and then import them into the new Outlook for Windows (Preview).

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Home, select Manage contacts > Import contacts.

3. Under Upload your CSV file, select Browse, find the CSV file of your contacts, and then select Open.

4. Select Import. The contacts you import will not overwrite any of your existing contacts.

You can edit contacts in the new Outlook for Windows (Preview) if their information has changed.

Edit a contact within their contact card

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact whose info you want to edit. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select Edit . 

4. Make the changes you want and then select Save.  

Edit a contact from the Your contacts list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon, and then select Your contact lists. 

2. From the list of contacts, search for the contact whose info you want to edit. 

3. Press and hold (or right-click) and select Edit. 

4. Make the changes you want and then select Save.  

You can delete any contacts you've saved in People in the new Outlook for Windows (Preview). Deleting the contact removes it from the People app. 

Delete a single contact within their contact card

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to delete. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want to delete.

3. Select Delete, and then confirm contact removal by selecting Delete.

Delete a single a contact from the Your contacts list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon, and then select Your contact lists. 

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to delete. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Find the one you want to delete.

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the contact, select Delete, and then confirm contact removal by selecting Delete.

Delete multiple contacts

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the Your contacts page, select the check box next to any contact you want to delete. 
   Select the check box to the left of Your contacts to select all contacts.

   Note: If you don't see Your contacts, your folder pane may be hidden. Select the Show or hide folder pane icon at the top left of your People app window.  

3. Select Delete, and then confirm removal of multiple contacts by selecting Delete.

Save people you contact frequently as favorites to quickly access those most important to you. 

Favorite a contact within their contact card

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to favorite. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want to favorite.

3. Under Home, select Add to favorites. 

Favorite a contact from Your contact lists

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon, and then select Your contact lists. 

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to favorite. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want to favorite.

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the contact, then select Add to favorites.

Favorite a contact from the Favorites page

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select Favorites from the left navigation bar, and then select Add favorite.

3. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to favorite. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want to favorite.

Remove a contact from favorites

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select Favorites from the left-sided menu and find the person you wish to remove from favorites. 

3. Select Remove from favorites in the top menu bar or press and hold (or right-click) the contact and select Remove from favorites.
   This contact will no longer show up in your Favorites folder. 

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact whose photo you want to add or change. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want and then select Edit . 

3. Select Add photo if the contact has no photo or select the contact's photo if there is one.

4. From the pop-up window that opens do one of the following:

   • Select Upload a new photo, select a photo from your device and then select Open. 

   • Select a photo from your device and drag it to the photo field.

5. Adjust how the photo will be cropped. When you're finished, select Apply to add your photo selection to the contact. 

6. Select Save to confirm your changes.

Create lists of email addresses to streamline sending an email to a group of people at the same time in the new Outlook for Windows (Preview). Email addresses in a contact list are not connected to your saved contacts. A single contact can be in multiple contact lists. 

In the new People app, you can quickly create a new contact list by pressing Ctrl + L on your keyboard or in the following two ways:

Create your first contact list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon, and select Your contact lists.

2. Select Create a contact list.

3. Enter a name for your list under Contact list name.

4. Under Add email addresses, select contacts from the suggested list or enter the name or email address of a contact you wish to add. Repeat this step until you've added all your desired contacts.

5. You can add notes to the Description section or leave it blank if none is needed.

6. Select Create.

After your first contact list has been created

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon, and select the down arrow next to New contact .

2. Under Home, select New contact list .

3. Follow steps 3 through 6 from the above description.

Add a contact to a previously created list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to add to a contact list. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the contact and select the down arrow next to Add to list. 

4. Choose a previously created contact list from the displayed options or select New contact list if you want to create a new list with this contact in it. 

Remove a contact from a previously created list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to remove from a contact list. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Press and hold (or right-click) the contact and select the down arrow next to Add to list. 

4. Under Already added to, select the x to the right of the contact list from which you're removing the contact. 

Edit a contact list 

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select Your contact lists and select the contact list you'd like to edit.

3. Select Edit  from the top menu.
   You can also press and hold (right-click) the contact list and select Edit.

4. Make your desired changes, such as adding or removing contacts, then select Save.

Delete a contact list 

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select Your contact lists and select the contact list you'd like to delete.

3. Select Delete from the top menu.
   You can also press and hold (right-click) the contact list and select Delete.

4. Confirm you want to delete this contact list by selecting Delete.

You can organize contacts by creating categories and adding them to a contact's card in the new Outlook for Windows (Preview). A single contact can be in multiple categories. 

In the new People app, you can quickly add a category by selecting the contact you'd like to categorize and under Categories, select Add category. Choose an existing category from the list or select New category to create one. 

You can also categorize a contact in the following ways:

Create your first category

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to categorize. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Do one of the following:

   • Select More options  at the top of the contact's card, then select Categorize.

   • Select Edit  to open the contact editor, then select Categorize.

4. Select New category, enter a name for your category, select a color, and then select Save. 

Add a category to a contact using More options

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to categorize. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select More options  at the top of the contact's card, then select Categorize.

4. Choose an existing category from the list or select New category to create one.
   Select Categorize again to add more categories to the contact's information.

Add a category to a contact using the contact editor

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to categorize. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select Edit  to open the contact editor, then select Categorize.

4. Choose an existing category from the list or select New category to create one.
   Select Categorize again to add more categories to the contact's information.

5. Once you've added all the categories you want, select Save.  

View contacts you've added to a category

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Categories, select the category you'd like to display.
   The Categories menu option will only display once you've created at least one category. 

Delete a category from a contact 

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to categorize. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Once you've selected the contact you want, do one of the following:

   • Under Categories, select the X to the right of the category you want to remove.

   • Select More options  at the top of the contact's card, then select Categorize, and select the checked category to remove it.

   • Select Edit  and under Categorize, select the X to the right of the category you want to remove.

Email a single contact from People 

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact you want to email. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select Send an email or select the person's email address. 

Email a group of contacts from a contact list

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select Your contact lists.

3. Find and select the contact list you want and select Send email.

Email contacts from a category

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Categories, select the category you want.

3. Select the check box next to the contacts you want to email.
   To send an email to all contacts in a category, select the Select all box to the left of the category title.

4. Once you've selected the contacts you want, select Send email.

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact whose conversations you want to view. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select the Messages tab to view a list of recent emails and other conversations you've exchanged. Select any of these to open one. 

If you use Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange, you can see the organization chart for contacts who are in your organization.

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. In the search box, type the name of the contact whose organization chart you want to view. You'll see a list of contacts as you type. Select the one you want.

3. Select the Organization tab to view their organization chart.

By default, all contacts from an account you've added appear sorted by first name. However, you can change how you sort your contacts, contact lists, deleted contacts, and categorized contacts within each account.

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Select either Your contacts, Your contact lists, Deleted, or Categories depending on which list you want to sort.

3. At the top of the list, select the Sort by drop down list to display available sort options, and choose the one you want.

   • Your contacts—you can sort by First name, Last name, Company, Home city, Work city, or Recently added

   • Your contact lists—you can sort by Name or Recently added 

   • Deleted contacts—you can sort by Name or Deleted date

   • Categories—you can sort by First name, Last name, Company, Home city, Work city, or Recently added

   • The last sort option you select will display at the top of the list next time you open the People app. 

Import contacts

You can import contacts from other email apps using a comma separated values file (CSV). For best results, make sure that the file has UTF-8 encoding.

For example, export your contacts from Gmail in CSV format and then import them into the new Outlook for Windows (Preview).

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Home, select Manage contacts > Import contacts.

3. Under Upload your CSV file, select Browse, find the CSV file of your contacts, and then select Open.

4. Select Import. The contacts you import will not overwrite any of your existing contacts.

Export contacts

You can export your contacts from the new Outlook for Windows (Preview) and import them into other email apps, such as Gmail and Yahoo, by creating a comma separated values file (CSV) and uploading this file to the other app.

1. In the new Outlook, select the People  icon.

2. Under Home, select Manage contacts > Export contacts.

3. Under Which contacts do you want to export?, choose an option from the list, and then select Export.

4. A CSV file of your selected Outlook contacts automatically exports to your Downloads folder. You can use this file to upload your Outlook contacts to another email app.