Recent Discussions
New Outlook: Shadow contacts not stored in Outlook.com, no sync/export and missing Birthday calendar
I’m reporting a reproducible data‑integrity issue in the New Outlook for Windows that affects Outlook.com contact storage and synchronization. 🔍 Summary When a contact is created in the New Outlook, the client appears to save it successfully. However, the resulting contact is not stored in the user’s Outlook.com account as a normal cloud contact. Instead, it becomes what I would describe as a local “shadow contact” in the New Outlook cache. ⚠️ Observable Behavior • The contact appears in Outlook.com → People, but does not show “Stored in: Outlook” • The contact does not appear in Outlook.com CSV exports • The contact does not sync to mobile devices connected to the same account • The contact does not populate the Outlook.com Birthday calendar • The contact is lost if the New Outlook app is reinstalled or its local store is cleared 🧪 Steps to Reproduce 1. Open the New Outlook for Windows 2. Create a new contact and add a birthday 3. Save the contact 4. Open Outlook.com → People 5. Locate the contact — it will appear, but the “Stored in: Outlook” field is missing 6. Export contacts from Outlook.com (CSV) — the contact will not be present 7. Check a mobile device configured with the same Microsoft account — the contact will not be present 8. Check the Outlook.com Birthday calendar — the birthday will not appear 9. Reinstall the New Outlook app — the contact will be gone ✅ Expected Behavior • Contacts created in the New Outlook should be stored as first‑class Outlook.com contacts • They should appear with a proper “Stored in: Outlook” location • They should sync across devices, export via Outlook.com, and populate the Birthday calendar ❌ Actual Behavior • Contacts created in the New Outlook are effectively “shadow contacts” stored in a local cache • They look normal in the New Outlook UI, but they are incomplete, non‑synchronizing objects from the service’s perspective 📉 Impact • Silent data loss risk for users who assume contacts are in Outlook.com when they are not • Inconsistent contact and birthday data across devices and services • Split contact store model: • Real Outlook.com contacts • Local shadow contacts created by New Outlook 📎 What I’ve Already Done • Submitted feedback through the New Outlook (Help → Feedback → Report a Problem) • Submitted a detailed report via the Windows Feedback Hub • Contacted Microsoft Support, who advised that escalation must occur via Feedback 📣 Request I’m posting this here to document the issue publicly and to ask: • Can anyone from the Outlook / Exchange / Outlook.com team confirm this behavior? • Can other users reproduce this with the steps above? Given the data‑integrity implications, I’m hoping this can be brought to the attention of the relevant engineering team. Any confirmation, additional data points, or official guidance would be appreciated.
Suspicious Calendar Invite
Hi, On 19 Dec, I received an Outlook calendar reminder pop-up that showed a 16-week overdue event. But the email/calendar was sent on 19 Dec itself. The calendar invite is from an unknown sender and has a suspicious subject line. I attempted to open the calendar invite to check the content; however, the email hung. I proceed to End-Task to close the Outlook. Would like to seek your thoughts on whether there is any risk of infection from malware/spyware when opening the suspicious calendar invite? Thanks.
Outlook synching issue, emails being repeatedly received
Two days ago I started re-receiving emails that have been sent to me in the last 2-3 weeks (these are from multiple sources). I spent several hours with Microsoft support and we confirmed it was an outlook web synching issue, took a series of steps (signing out of all devices etc) and I was told that it would resolve itself in 24 hours and all these additional emails would be deleted. We are now 40 hours later and I am still receiving these emails again and again and now have 130,000 messages in my inbox (I had 3,000 on Wednesday). I have just been on with Microsoft support again, they said it needs escalating but no one is available (again) and to contact back in 4-5 hours. This is taking hours of my time and I am not getting anywhere and so wondered if this community might be able to help me. Thank you.Suspicious calendar invite
Hi, Today, when I open my Outlook, I got a 16-week overdue calendar invite reminder pop-up (screenshot attached). The calendar event is dated 23 Aug 2025. From admin email trace, I found out that the email was sent 19-Dec (today). Suspected of phishing or scam activity, I attempted to open the calendar event to view the content and the sender's email address. After I double click on the calendar invite, the email kind of hang/loading. I immediately go to Windows Task Manager > End Task, afraid that there is some malware running/executed. Since I did not manage to open the email, without clicking on any URL links or Attachments, will there be any possibility of any infection (malware/spyware...) by just opening the calendar invite? Thanks.I can't log in to my Microsoft account
This is incredibly frustrating, to put it mildly. Over 48 hours ago, I changed the passwords for my three email accounts. Once I made the change, I could log into Hotmail and see my emails and everything. Now, when I try to access them through my mobile phone, it says the password I'm entering is incorrect (obviously, I'm entering it correctly for each account). I also had access on my PC. Just in case, I thought, "Okay, I'll change it again," and when I try to change it through my mobile phone, it says "Not available at the moment, please try again later." I thought it was just a one-off... A while passes, I try again, and it still says the same thing. On one of the accounts, after trying several times with the code they sent me, it locked the account. They told me to wait 24 hours and it wasn't fixed. Then they told me to wait a week because after so many attempts to remove the "block" (you can check if it's blocked by entering it in the help section)... Are we crazy or what? This afternoon I spoke with Spanish support, and the woman who helped me really tried. We tried to log in and change the password through a VPN, but this time I didn't receive the code, so she opened a ticket and escalated it to a higher level, telling me to wait 3 to 5 business days. I know what that smells like: wait and then the same thing again. The real surprise was that I couldn't access my other two accounts for 48 hours, so I thought, "Okay, I'll check." I entered the password correctly, but it still said it was incorrect (even though it was correct), and I tried mobile verification, but it wasn't available... even using a VPN. I checked the status of both accounts in the help section, and they said there were no problems with them. Why am I never going to be able to access my three Hotmail accounts again? What's the solution? It doesn't matter if I use a VPN, if the account is blocked, or if it's unblocked. It's always the same. It doesn't accept the correct password -> you try to reset it -> you don't receive a code -> if you try again, it blocks you. Can someone tell me WHAT I NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS ATROCITY? Because waiting is clearly pointless, since the other accounts aren't blocked and I can't log in or reset my password. Furthermore, the account I blocked for trying to access it was unblocked after 24 hours, but it was still the same until it was blocked again. The other two accounts have gone 48 hours without me trying to log in, and I'm still stuck. MICROSOFT, do you plan to offer any solution other than "waiting"? I'm sorry if my English isn't very clear, I'm Spanish and I use a translatorOutlook freezing after 20-30 minutes
Hello, I have a user whose outlook freezes after 20-30 minutes of use. This is a new HP 450 G10 laptop running windows 11 business. All windows updates are completed along with HP driver updates. Outlook has been re-installed however it still freezes. Has anyone come across a similar issue and found a fix for it? Many Thanks, Nik
getting outlook verification code
Hi, I recieved a text message on my phone saying my hotmaill account may have been accessed. I then tried changing my password. However when you ask for the verification code via the phone text it says 'That verification method isn't working right now' . Please try another method'. Can anybody help please
Outlook on the web -- Search tools appear whether I want them or not!
Hi all, An apparent recent behaviour change that is frustrating me immensely when using Outlook on the web is the default assumption that I want to use Search tools. I now get automatically moved to this even if I'm searching with the "Home" menu option as my default. This is infuriatingly annoying. Before this started happening if I wanted to do some manipulation of the search results (eg a batch "Archive" of them) I can just select what I want, then hit the ""Archive" tool in the "Home" menu (ie right where I was!). Now, because Microsoft assume I can't cope without their "Helpful" search options I have to do an extra click, back to where I was, to achieve the same results. When manipulating a lot of mail, this is deeply, deeply infuriating. Anyone know of a workaround? Or can we consider changing the search menu to include some tools too (delete, archive, etc)? Note to be clear this is specific to the Outlook Web interface -- I don't know what happens in the desktop app.
Copilot options are disabled on Mac
I have a Copilot Business and also a Business Standard licences that give me access to desktop apps and copilot on them. I Word it works fine, but on Outlook the Copilot button (top-right select box) shows options like Coaching, Draft and Settings disabled, when in a new message. When replying, the same button shows Reply and Summarize disabled, but Chat and Settings enabled. On the web version everything works. I have already updated to the latest versions and made a check license to make sure all features are ok. What can be missing here? Thanks.Best New Outlook Features Released in 2025 — A Practical Wrap-Up
Over the course of 2025, Microsoft delivered a significant number of updates to New Outlook for Windows. For many users who tried New Outlook early and stepped back, the experience today is materially different. I’ve published a recap video that walks through the most impactful New Outlook features released in 2025, focusing on what actually changed, what gaps were closed, and how the product is evolving as Microsoft continues the transition away from Classic Outlook. This video is not a deep dive or step-by-step tutorial. It’s a practical end-of-year review covering: Why Microsoft moved to New Outlook and the current opt-out timelines Account management improvements (account display names, shared mailboxes, drag-and-drop workflows) PST export becoming usable directly in New Outlook Mail experience enhancements (favorites, folder colors, categories, bulk actions, templates, mail merge, newsletter) Calendar layout changes redesigned to accommodate Copilot People / Contacts usability fixes and cleanup Copilot in Outlook: standard vs premium capabilities and real workflow differences This isn’t positioned as “New Outlook is finished” or “Classic is gone tomorrow.” It’s an honest look at where New Outlook landed by the end of 2025 and what it now supports compared to earlier releases. For those managing transitions or advising users: Which Classic Outlook features are still blockers for you? Have the 2025 updates changed your adoption stance? Are there specific workflows you still cannot move yet? Interested in hearing real-world perspectives from admins, trainers, and power users as we move closer to broader default adoption. #traccreations4e-p25 12/11/2025
Account Recovery Request
I've been trying to recover my hotmail.com email address. I was able to reset the password using my mobile number. But when I sign in again, it is blocked again. When I try to recover using my mobile number: (Try another verification method. That verification method isn't working right now. Please try another method.) I submitted 3 recovery forms already but were unsuccessful. My hotmail.com account is only being used as a receiving email address of important bank emails. I don't remember sending any email. I need help to call or chat with support.Calendar search in New Outlook only 12 months
I'm trying out the new Outlook and right away found the Search in Calendar is limited to only 12 months. That's a disaster, deal breaker! I keep all my client appointments in Outlook and often need to look back many years to see when we spoke last, get a list of dates, etc. How do we get Microsoft to have a real search like we have always had in Outlook classic? I can't use the new Outlook without this critical feature I use almost daily.Mail Merge in New Outlook
I finally used Mail Merge in New Outlook. I haven’t been able to find any official documentation since the feature was released in December 2024. For anyone who’s been curious or struggling with how it works, I’ve captured my learnings in a detailed blog post and walkthrough video. 📘 Blog Post: Mail Merge in New Outlook: What You Need to Know - TRACCreations4E 📺 Video: https://youtu.be/x-o72L0tSHs Also, the advanced functionality is on the Roadmap for August and September. Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365 If you find this information helpful, please mark it as the best response so others can benefit too. TRACCreations4e 3/24/2025Sync New Outlook with iCloud Calendar
I just got a new laptop and am trying to sync the New Outlook Calendar with my iCloud Calendar. The intent is to have any Calendar changes made on one device (iPad, iPhone, laptop) to sync to all device Calendars. The problem I'm having is that iCloud Calendar only synchs with Outlook (Classic) and I want to sync with New Outlook. The Outlook version is 1.2025.1121.100 ; the Outlook Client Version is 20251128003.09 The list of Apps that comes up after clicking on Start shows both Outlook and Outlook (Classic). If I right click on Outlook (Classic) and click on uninstall (thought that might help fix this), the only Outlook listed in Apps > Installed Apps is Outlook. I did not uninstall Outlook. To set-up Calendar synching I opened iCloud > Calendars and Contacts > Calendars and Contacts Settings. I turned on "Automatically sync your iCloud calendars and contacts to Microsoft Outlook". After syncing completes, all iCloud Calendar entries appear in the Outlook (Classic) Calendar, but nothing syncs to the New Outlook calendar. I'm assuming this is an Outlook issue, not an iCloud issue. Any ideas on how to fix this? ThanksPST Export in New Outlook: Progress Update and Current Capabilities
Microsoft has started rolling out PST export support in New Outlook for Windows. While this feature is not yet fully complete, the core mailbox export workflow directly in New Outlook is now functional. Calendar and Contacts remain read-only in the resulting PST file, but the export process is stable enough for early adoption scenarios. This post and the video walk-through cover the current end-to-end experience, including: How to check the mailbox size before initiating the export Exporting the entire mailbox or selecting specific folders Practical guidance for organizing, naming, and managing PST files Full step-by-step guide and video demonstration: https://traccreations4e.com/export-mailbox-to-pst-new-outlook/ If you’ve tested PST export in New Outlook, what has your experience been so far? Any issues, limitations, or reliability considerations others should be aware of? #traccreations4e-p25 12/8/2025
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