Add, find, edit, or delete a contact in Outlook (Classic Outlook)

Applies To: Outlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook on the web Outlook.com New Outlook for Windows.

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.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Add a contact in classic Outlook

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

Add a contact from scratch 

1. From the navigation bar, select  People.

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  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 in classic Outlook

1. From the navigation bar, select  People.

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 in classic Outlook

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

Add or update contact information

1. On the navigation bar, select  People.

   

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

3. Add or update the information for your contact.

4. When you're finished, select Save & Close.

   

Add or update a contact's photo

1. From the navigation bar, select  People.

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

3. Double click their existing photo or select the  Add 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 in classic Outlook

1. From the navigation bar, select  People.

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.