Forum Discussion
How contacts are supposed to work in the Outlook web app
I only use the desktop app, keep it updated but don't use the one listed as "new" in the start menu. My contacts show in a folder called contacts. When I highlight a contact in people view all of the contact information appears in the reading pane on the right.
In the web app, there is a folder called your contacts (screenshot 1, red circle), which does not contain my contacts. To find my contacts, I have to turn off the "new contacts" switch at the top (screenshot 1, blue circle). Then my contact folder appears (screenshot 1, green circle). But when I hightlight a contact, only, minimal details appear in the reading pane (screenshot 1, purple circle) and if I click the 3 dots it has the option to "add to contacts."
However, if I click on edit (screenshot 2), I see all the contact information. Can someone please help me understand how MS intends for me to migrate my contact data to this system so that I still have access on the desktop app but that contacts show up as intended in the web app? Thank you.
4 Replies
I have exactly the same issue. I am finishing up a job where I have been for 16 years and have a lot of contacts (3500+) with detailed notes that I need to keep. My old work email is D365 Outlook and my personal email is a Hotmail address. I have a D365 Family annual subscription. I exported all contacts from work D365 account to a .PST file and then imported the .PST into desktop version of old Outlook on PC logged into the Hotmail account. When using old outlook on the desktop I can see all contacts and all of the detailed notes. When I use "new" outlook on web or "switch to new outlook" on desktop or look at contacts on Outlook App on phone (Android Samsung S23) then in all cases using new outlook most contacts show "add contact" as if they are new contacts not yet saved. Also there is very little data and no notes in each contact and the only way to see it is to click "edit" on taskbar. If this issue was raised elsewhere can yoy point me to where? Thanks
using new outlook most contacts show "add contact" as if they are new contacts not yet saved.
That usually means the item you are looking at is an autocomplete entry, not the real contact.
If you have the new contacts switch at the top, turn it off and look in Folders- or in classic Outlook, select all the contacts and assign a category to them. Then view them in the Category list.
Add to contacts is shown when the contact is not in your contacts folder - usually from the recipient cache AKA autocomplete list (or if you previously used Outlook customer manager - the custom list still exists hidden in the mailbox). I also see it on some contacts moved into that mailbox from a different account or that I added on my cell phone but it's possible they are in the autocomplete list and is showing that entry.
Outlook on the web hides duplicates, so you might only see 1 - the autocomplete entry.
New Outlook app and classic Outlook only show the contacts in the folder.
FWIW, you'll see similar weirdness in classic Outlook when you Search people. If the entry has Add to contacts, it's from the autocomplete cache.
Contact lists is for contact groups / DLs. The web separates them from contacts.
I have reported your issue to Microsoft Support.
#traccreations4e 11/12/2024
