How to Add Contacts to Outlook.com: The Complete Guide

Want to add a contact to Outlook.com but can’t figure out where the option is hiding?

You’re not alone. Microsoft has moved things around a few times and the People section isn’t exactly front and center. But once you know where to look, it takes about 30 seconds.

This guide covers every way to add contacts to Outlook.com: one at a time, in bulk from a file, and from an email you have already received. Let’s go.

How to Add a Single Contact to Outlook.com

This is the fastest method for adding one person manually.

1. Log in to your account at outlook.com.
2. Click the People icon in the left sidebar. It looks like a silhouette of two people. If you don’t see it, click the grid icon (nine dots) at the top left and select People from the Microsoft apps list.
3. Click New contact in the top left corner of the People page.
4. Enter the contact’s details. At minimum, enter their first name and email address. You can also add their phone number, job title, company, birthday and a profile photo.
5. Click Save in the top right.

The contact appears immediately in your People list and is available when you start composing a new email. Type the first few letters of their name and Outlook.com will suggest them automatically.

How to Add a Contact Directly from an Email

If someone has emailed you and you want to save them as a contact, you don’t need to go through the People section at all.

1. Open the email from the person you want to save.
2. Hover over their name or email address in the From field.
3. A contact card appears. Click Add to contacts (the person icon with a plus sign).
4. A contact form opens with their name and email pre-filled. Add any extra details you want.
5. Click Save.

This is the quickest method when you’re actively reading emails and want to save someone on the spot. No switching to a different tab required.

How to Import Contacts to Outlook.com in Bulk

If you’re moving from Gmail, Apple Mail, or another email client, you can import all your contacts at once using a CSV or vCard file. A 500-contact import takes less than 2 minutes.

Step 1: Export your contacts from the source

From Gmail: go to contacts.google.com, click Export, and choose the Outlook CSV format. From Apple Contacts: go to File then Export and choose vCard. From any other client: look for an Export or Backup option and choose CSV or vCard.

Step 2: Import into Outlook.com

1. Go to the People section in Outlook.com.
2. Click the Manage dropdown in the top toolbar.
3. Select Import contacts.
4. Choose your file format (CSV or vCard) and click Browse to find the file on your computer.
5. Click Import. Outlook.com processes the file and adds all contacts to your account.

After the import, review your contacts list for any duplicates. Outlook.com doesn’t automatically merge duplicates during import, so you may see some double entries if contacts appear in both your existing list and the imported file.

How to Create a Contact Group in Outlook.com

Contact groups let you email multiple people at once without typing each address individually. Useful for teams, client lists, or any group you email regularly.

1. Go to People in Outlook.com.
2. Click New contact list (you may need to click the dropdown arrow next to New contact to see this option).
3. Give the group a name.
4. Start typing names or email addresses to add members. Outlook.com pulls from your existing contacts as you type.
5. Click Save.

To use the group, start composing a new email and type the group name in the To field. All members get the email in one send.

How to Edit or Delete a Contact

To edit: go to People, click the contact’s name, then click the Edit pencil icon. Make your changes and click Save.

To delete: click the contact’s name, then click the three-dot menu and select Delete. Deleted contacts go to the Deleted contacts folder and stay there for 30 days before being permanently removed. You can restore them within that window.

Contacts Sync Across All Your Devices

Every contact you add or edit in Outlook.com syncs automatically to any device where you’re logged in with the same Microsoft account. That includes Outlook on Windows and Mac, the Outlook mobile app on iOS and Android, and any other Microsoft 365 app that uses your contacts.

No manual sync needed. Changes show up within a few seconds.

Troubleshooting: Contacts Not Showing Up

If a contact you added doesn’t appear when composing emails, try these fixes.

Check the correct address book. Outlook.com has a default contacts folder and may also show contacts from Skype or LinkedIn if you’ve connected those accounts. Make sure you’re looking in the right place.

Wait for sync. Contacts usually sync within seconds, but on a slow connection it can take a minute or two. Refresh the page before assuming something went wrong.

Check for duplicates. If you imported contacts and some are showing up with wrong details, the import may have created a duplicate entry that’s overriding the original. Delete the incorrect version and the correct one will appear.

If you’re managing contacts across multiple platforms, read the guide on how to import Thunderbird contacts to Outlook or how to import PST contacts to Office 365 for more complex contact migration scenarios. You can also delete duplicate contacts in Outlook if your address book has grown messy over time. If you need to move contacts the other direction, see how to transfer Outlook contacts to Android.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit to how many contacts Outlook.com can store?

Yes. Microsoft allows up to 25,000 contacts in an Outlook.com account. Each contact can have up to 50 email addresses, 3 home addresses, 3 work addresses and various other fields. Most personal users never come close to this limit.

Can I add contacts to Outlook.com from my phone?

Yes. Open the Outlook mobile app, tap the People icon at the bottom, then tap the plus icon to add a new contact. Alternatively, add contacts directly in your phone’s native contacts app. If your Microsoft account is synced to it, those contacts appear in Outlook.com automatically.

Why do my Outlook.com contacts disappear after I add them?

This usually happens when contacts are saved to a local device rather than your Microsoft account. Check your contacts settings and make sure your default save location is set to your Outlook.com account rather than the device itself.

Can I import a vCard file into Outlook.com?

Yes. Go to People, click Manage, then Import contacts, and choose the vCard option. vCard files (.vcf) are supported and commonly used when moving contacts from Apple Mail, iPhone, or Android devices.

How do I stop Outlook.com from automatically adding contacts?

Outlook.com has a setting that automatically saves email addresses you reply to as contacts. To turn it off, go to Settings, then View all Outlook settings, then People, and disable the option to automatically add people you email to your contacts.

Can I share a contact with someone else in Outlook.com?

Outlook.com doesn’t have a built-in contact sharing feature for individual contacts. The simplest workaround is to export the contact as a vCard file and send that file by email. The recipient can then import it into their own contacts.