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.
I have reported your issue to Microsoft Support.
#traccreations4e 11/12/2024Add 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.
