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rramdath's avatar
rramdath
Copper Contributor
Sep 23, 2025

Outlook group contact reappearing after removal

One of my users has an Outlook group with 15-20 contacts in it. A terminated user's email address refuses to be removed causing email bounce backs. When removed from the group and refreshed the contact reappears after changes were saved. Keep in mind that other contacts have been added and removed without issue. I have attempted to remove the user via desktop app and OWA. Cleared web cache, cookies, etc. Account has also been fully deleted from 365 at this point yet the contact remains. How do I banish this contact?

microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
outlook
outlook on the web

1 Reply

  • Kidd_Ip's avatar
    Kidd_Ip
    MVP
    Sep 27, 2025

    Try this:

     

    1: Confirm Group Type

    Is this a local contact group (a distribution list saved in the user's mailbox) or a Microsoft 365 Group?

    • If it's a local contact group (aka personal distribution list), it’s stored in the user's mailbox and editable only by them.
    • If it's a Microsoft 365 Group, changes must be made via the admin center or PowerShell.

    2: Purge Auto-Complete and Suggested Contacts

    Outlook may be auto-repopulating the contact from its cache or Suggested Contacts.

    • Outlook Desktop:
      Go to File > Options > Mail > Send messages
      → Click Empty Auto-Complete List
    • OWA (Outlook Web App):
      Settings > Mail > Compose and reply
      → Clear the auto-complete cache

    Also, when typing the group name, delete any cached suggestions that include the old contact.

    3: Check for Hidden Sync Sources

    Sometimes the contact is being pulled from:

    • GAL (Global Address List): If the user was cached in GAL before deletion, it may take time to purge.
    • Outlook Contacts: Check if the terminated user exists in the user's Contacts folder.
    • Mobile Sync: If the user syncs Outlook with a mobile device, the contact may be reintroduced from there.

    4: Recreate the Group

     

    1. Create a new contact group from scratch.
    2. Manually add the current members.
    3. Delete the old group.
    4. Test sending to the new group.

     

    5: Admin-Level Cleanup (if it's a Microsoft 365 Group)

    If the group is managed centrally:

    • Use Microsoft 365 Admin Center or PowerShell to remove the contact:
    Remove-UnifiedGroupLinks -Identity "Group Name" -LinkType Members -Links "user@domain.com"

     

    • Confirm the user is fully purged from Azure AD and not lingering in a soft-deleted state.

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