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rtparies's avatar
rtparies
Copper Contributor
Mar 19, 2025
Solved

Contacts will not load on desktop app or outlook.com

Hello,

I have an android phone with outlook. I have the outlook settings set to sync.
When I go into outlook on the phone i can go to the contacts app and see all the contacts.

Until just recently that worked fine on my windows desktop app. Now when I go to the outlook desktop app and look at the contacts i get the error that says "this doesn't look right"

I get the same error when going to outlook.live..com

I have tried edge, firefox and chrome on windows as well as safari on MACOS. All get the same error. "this doesn't look right"

Thanks for any help or suggestions on how to debug this

  • It just started working again. No change. 2 days it was broke. At least it is working again

3 Replies

  • rtparies's avatar
    rtparies
    Copper Contributor

    It just started working again. No change. 2 days it was broke. At least it is working again

  • ZephyrFox's avatar
    ZephyrFox
    Iron Contributor

    1. Check the network connection: make sure it is stable, try switching to another network
    Check your firewall or proxy settings to ensure that Outlook is not blocked from network access.
    2. Update the Outlook application:
    Open the Outlook application and click File > Accounts > Update Options > Update Now “.
    Make sure Outlook is updated to the latest version.
    3. Restart Outlook: Close the Outlook application and restart it.
    If the problem persists, try restarting your computer.
    4. Check account settings:
    Open the Outlook application and click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
    Check if the account configuration is correct and reconfigure the account if necessary.
    5. Rebuild the Outlook profile: Open Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
    Delete the existing profile and recreate it.
    Restart Outlook and reconfigure the account.
    6. Check the Contacts folder: Open the Outlook application and click View > Folders Pane > Normal.
    Check if the Contacts folder is visible, if not, try to re-add it.
    7. Using the Outlook Web App: Open a browser and access the Outlook Web App. 
    Log in to your account and check that your contacts are loading properly.
    8. Contact Microsoft Support: If none of the above methods work, it is recommended to contact Microsoft Support team with detailed error message and screenshots for further assistance.

    • Snacc's avatar
      Snacc
      Copper Contributor

      Hello ZephyrFox,


      If I could make a comment as there seems to be a communication issue with the person you are replying to:
      First, all of that stuff you said isn't going to solve it.  I know you're trying to cover your bases as I do with my customers.  The issue which is being described here is a loading bar whenever they try to access their contacts, and they aren't loading.
       
      Please take a minute to read the issue without copying/pasting the standard reply.
       
      Normally I'd say it was a cache issue or a reset of some sort was needed, but it's my opinion that there is potential for content being blocked or unavailable with SmartScreen or whatever due to some recent updates or whatever issue that is going on.  It is NOT an end-user issue, just so we're clear on that.
       
      What would be more helpful is if you were to create a thread about this problem and tell them that it's a known issue and it's either being worked on, fix it, or we can find other solutions for contact managers.  Whatever it is, it's recent and needs to be fixed, by MICROSOFT, not the end-user.
       
      Perhaps a link to a thread with THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM, and brainstorm ideas and give a hint as to when this issue will be resolved, and what (if any) solutions you have come with is about all you're able to do at this point.  It's impacting businesses and my productivity.  Quite honestly, I'm getting a little tired of these cookie cutter copy-paste solutions to basically the most benign problem that anyone has instead of reading the post and either troubleshoot it yourself, or escalate it to someone who can.  This will save a lot of people from being angry at the consistently substandard troubleshooting that comes from your staff.  People know that you aren’t listening to them.  This needs to be fixed ASAP.

       

      Edit:  You also mention: "Check if the account configuration is correct and reconfigure the account if necessary."

      I hope you realize that it takes an IT professional to do this, and you didn't even give any instructions or any links on how to check these things.

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