Manage contacts in Outlook

In new Outlook, you have the option to:

Sort contacts | Add a contact to favorites | Categorize your contacts | Add people in your organization

Sort contacts in new Outlook for Windows

You can sort your contacts by the first or last name, company, home city, work city, or recently added.

1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People.
2. With All contacts selected, click the filter option (the filter will show the name for how your list is currently filtered, such as By first name), and then select an option from Sort by for how you want to sort it.
   
3. Your list will update immediately. You can change the sort by option at any time.

Add a contact to favorites in new Outlook

1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People.
2. From your contact list, select the contact you would like to add to your Favorites.
3. You can either right-click and select Add to favorites or select Add to favorites from the Ribbon. You can remove them from favorites at any time.

Categorize your contacts in new Outlook

You can categorize your contacts by color to make it easier to find people.

1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People.
2. Select the contact you would like to add to a new or existing category.
3. Select More options, then hover over Categorize.
4. Select either New category or an existing category to add the contact to.

Add people in your organization to saved contacts in new Outlook

If you're using new Outlook at work or school and your organization has a directory set up, you'll be able to see information about your colleagues without saving them as contacts. You can search for them or select their name or picture from an email message. Their profile card will show information collected from other systems (directory). If you want to add other information, such as notes, birthdays, etc. you can save your colleagues to your own contacts. The new contact is auto-linked to the existing directory contact. Only you'll see the information you add.

In new Outlook (Insiders) edition, we have updated the experience where it's easy to manage your categories and quickly sort through your contacts.

Sort contacts | Add a contact to favorites | Categorize your contacts | Add people in your organization

Sort contacts in new Outlook (Insiders) for Windows

You can sort your contacts by the first name, last name, company, or recently added.

1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People.
2. Click the filter option (the filter shows the name for how your list is currently filtered, such as By first name), and then select an option from Sort by for how you want to sort it.
   
3. Your list will update immediately. You can change the sort by option at any time.

Add a contact to favorites in new Outlook

It's not possible to add or manage your Favorites yet in the Insiders edition of the new Outlook. We are working on this feature and it will be available soon. In the meantime, you can still add and manage your Favorites in Outlook Web, and they'll be migrated automatically when the Favorites feature is ready.

Categorize your contacts in new Outlook

You can categorize your contacts by color to make it easier to find people.

1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People.

2. Select the contact you would like to add to a new or existing category.

3. Click "Add Category" in the ribbon

   1. Alternatively you can also hover over a contact and select More options, then hover over Add Category.

4. Select either New category or an existing category to add the contact to.
   
   
   

   

Add people in your organization to saved contacts in new Outlook

If you're using new Outlook at work or school and your organization has a directory set up, you'll be able to see information about your colleagues without saving them as contacts. You can search for them or select their name or picture from an email message. Their profile card will show information collected from other systems (directory). If you want to add other information, such as notes, birthdays, etc. you can save your colleagues to your own contacts. The new contact is auto-linked to the existing directory contact. Only you will see the information you add.

In classic Outlook, you have the option to:

Sort contacts | Add a contact to favorites | Change the format of contact names | Categorize your contacts

Sort contacts in classic Outlook

You can sort your contacts by the first or last name, company, home city, and more.

1. On the navigation bar in classic Outlook, select People.
2. Select the View tab from the ribbon, in the Current View group, select View Settings.
   
3. Select the Sort button, then you can choose from the Sort items by drop down to select how you want your contacts to be sorted.
4. When you're finished, select OK, and OK again.

Add a contact to favorites in classic Outlook

1. On the navigation bar in classic Outlook, select People.
2. From your contact list, select the contact you would like to add to your Favorites.
3. You can either right-click and select Add to favorites or select View more options for interacting with this person, then select Add to Favorites. You can remove them from favorites at any time.

Change the format of your contact names in classic Outlook

Your contacts might not all be formatted the same way, which can mean they don't show up as expected when you sort using the File As column. For example, some might be filed as First name, Last name while others might be filed as Last name, First name. If your contacts aren't being sorted the way you want them to, try the following:

1. In classic Outlook, click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
   
2. On the Address Books tab, pick the address book you want to change the name format for, and then click Change.
   
3. Under Show names by, pick File As (Smith, John).

Categorize your contacts in classic Outlook

1. On the navigation bar in classic Outlook, select People.
2. Right-click the contact you want and hover over Categorize.
3. You can select a color or select All Categories. You'll also have the option to change the name of the category.

In Outlook on the web or Outlook.com, you have the option to:

Sort contacts | Add a contact to favorites | Categorize your contacts

Sort contacts in Outlook on the web or Outlook.com

You can sort your contacts by the first or last name, company, home city, work city, or recently added.

1. On the navigation bar, select People.
2. With All contacts selected, click By first name and select the Sort by option you would like.
3. Your list will update immediately. You can change the Sort by option at any time.

Add a contact to favorites

1. On the navigation bar, select People.
2. From your contact list, select the contact you would like to add to your Favorites.
3. You can either right-click and select Add to favorites or select Add to favorites from the Ribbon. You can remove them from favorites at any time.

Categorize your contacts

You can categorize your contacts by color to make it easier to find people.

1. On the navigation bar, select People.
2. Select the contact you would like to add to a new or existing category.
3. Select More options, then hover over Categorize.
4. Select either New category or an existing category to add the contact to.