Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

You can create new contacts from scratch in the People page or add someone as a contact from their profile card. A contact can be as basic as a name and email address, or include more information like a street address, multiple phone numbers, and a profile picture.

Important: Steps may be different between new and classic Outlook for Windows. To determine which version of Outlook you're using, look for File on the ribbon. If there's no File option, follow the steps under the New Outlook tab. If the File option appears, select the tab for Classic Outlook.

In Outlook, you have the option to:

Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook and follow those steps instead.

Add a contact

You can add a contact from scratch or from someone's profile card.

Add a contact from scratch

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. On the Home tab, select New contact.

  3. Enter a name and any other details you would like, then select Save.

Tip: You can enter additional contact information any time. Select the contact from the list, then select Edit contact, and begin adding more information. 

Add a contact from someone's profile card

  1. In Mail, open an email message in the reading pane, and then select the name of the sender or recipient you want to add to your contacts.

  2. On the profile card that opens, at the bottom of the card, select Add to contacts.

  3. Enter details for the contact.

  4. Select Save.

Find a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the Search box at the top of the window.

  3. Type the name, phone number, or company name for the contact you are searching for.

  4. Choose the person you want from the search results.

Edit a contact

You can add or update a contact's information or photo.

Add or update contact information

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Double click the contact you would like to edit.

  3. Add or update the information for your contact.

  4. When you are finished, select Save.

Add or update a contact's photo

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact that you want to add or update the photo for.

  3. Select the camera button.

  4. Select Upload a new photo, choose the file you want to use, and then select Open to upload.

  5. If you want to reposition the photo, click inside the circle and drag the pointer. To zoom in or out, use the slider below the photo.

  6. Select Apply, and then select Done.

Delete a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact you want to delete, then you can either select Delete from the ribbon or right-click the contact and select Delete.

  3. Select Delete again to confirm.

In Outlook, you have the option to:

Add a contact

You can add a contact from scratch or from someone's profile card.

Add a contact from scratch

  1. On the side panel, select  PeoplePeople.

  2. On the People page, select New contact from the ribbon.

  3. Add any additional details you want.

  4. Select Save & Close.

Add a contact from someone's profile card

  1. In Mail, open an email message in the reading pane, and then select the name of the sender or recipient you want to add to your contacts.

  2. On the profile card that opens, select More options View more options for interacting with this person, then select Add to Outlook Contacts.

  3. Enter details for the contact, then select Save & Close.

Find a contact

  1. On the side panel, select  PeoplePeople.

  2. Select the Search box at the top of the window.

  3. Type the name of the contact you are searching for.

  4. Choose the person you want from the search results.

Edit a contact

You can add or update a contact's information or photo.

Add or update contact information

  1. On the side panel, select  PeoplePeople.

  2. Double click the contact you would like to edit.

  3. Add or update the information for your contact.

  4. When you are finished, select Save & Close.

Add or update a contact's photo

  1. On the side panel, select  PeoplePeople.

  2. Double click the contact that you want to add or update the photo for.

  3. Double click their existing photo or select the  classic Outlook add photo to contact buttonAdd Contact Picture button.

    Tip: For a contact that you previously added a photo for, you can right click the existing photo, and select either Change Picture or Remove Picture.

  4. Choose the file you want to use, and then select Open to upload.

Delete a contact

  1. On the side panel, select  PeoplePeople.

  2. Go to the contact you want to delete, and then you can either right-click the contact and select Delete, or double click the contact and select Delete from the ribbon.

In Outlook, you have the option to:

Add a contact

You can add a contact from scratch or from someone's profile card.

Add a contact from scratch

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. On the Home tab, select New contact.

  3. Enter a name and any other details you would like, then select Save.

Tip: You can enter additional contact information any time. Select the contact from the list, then select Edit contact, and begin adding more information. 

Add a contact from someone's profile card

  1. In Mail, open an email message in the reading pane, and then select the name of the sender or recipient you want to add to your contacts.

  2. On the profile card that opens, at the bottom of the card, select Add to contacts.

  3. Enter any additional details for the contact, then select Save.

Find a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the Search box at the top of the window.

  3. Type the name, phone number, or company name for the contact you are searching for.

  4. Choose the person you want from the search results.

Edit a contact

You can add or update a contact's information or photo.

Add or update contact information

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact you would like, then select Edit contact.

  3. Add or update the information for your contact.

  4. When you are finished, select Save.

Add or update a contact's photo

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact that you want to add or update the photo for.

  3. Select Edit contact, then select the camera button.

  4. Select Upload a new photo, choose the file you want to use, and then select Open to upload.

  5. If you want to reposition the photo, click inside the circle and drag the pointer. To zoom in or out, use the slider below the photo.

  6. Select Apply, and then select Done.

Delete a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact you want to delete, then you can either select Delete from the ribbon or right-click the contact and select Delete.

  3. Select Delete again to confirm.

In Outlook, you have the option to:

Add a contact

You can add a contact from scratch or from someone's profile card.

Add a contact from scratch

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. On the Home tab, select New contact.

  3. Enter a name and any other details you would like, then select Save.

Tip: You can enter additional contact information any time. Select the contact from the list, then select Edit contact, and begin adding more information. 

Add a contact from someone's profile card

  1. In Mail, open an email message in the reading pane, and then select the name of the sender or recipient you want to add to your contacts.

  2. On the profile card that opens, at the bottom of the card, select Add to contacts.

  3. Enter any additional details for the contact, then select Save.

Find a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the Search box at the top of the window.

  3. Type the name, phone number, or company name for the contact you are searching for.

  4. Choose the person you want from the search results.

Edit a contact

You can add or update a contact's information or photo.

Add or update contact information

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact you would like, then select Edit contact.

  3. Add or update the information for your contact.

  4. When you are finished, select Save.

Add or update a contact's photo

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact that you want to add or update the photo for.

  3. Select Edit contact, then select the camera button.

  4. Select Upload a new photo, choose the file you want to use, and then select Open to upload.

  5. If you want to reposition the photo, click inside the circle and drag the pointer. To zoom in or out, use the slider below the photo.

  6. Select Apply, and then select Done.

Delete a contact

  1. On the side panel, select People button icon People.

  2. Select the contact you want to delete, then you can either select Delete from the ribbon or right-click the contact and select Delete.

  3. Select Delete again to confirm.

See Also

Manage your contacts in Outlook

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×