The New Outlook for Windows has replaced the classic Address Book with a different contact management workflow. Users accustomed to the dedicated Address Book dialog in classic Outlook will find that the People hub now serves as the central location for contacts. This article explains how the address book feature has been reorganized in the New Outlook and provides step-by-step instructions for accessing and using contacts effectively.
The core change is that the New Outlook removes the standalone Address Book window and integrates contact lookup, editing, and grouping directly into the Mail and People modules. Instead of opening a separate dialog, you now search for contacts inline from the To, Cc, or Bcc fields, or open the People hub to browse and manage your address lists. This new workflow is designed to reduce context switching and keep your focus on composing messages.
This article covers the exact steps for finding and using contacts in the New Outlook, explains how to work with contact groups and address lists, and details the limitations you should know before migrating from classic Outlook.
Key Takeaways: Navigating Contacts in New Outlook
- People icon on the navigation bar: Opens the People hub where all contacts, contact groups, and address lists are stored and managed.
- Inline search in To field: Type a name in the To, Cc, or Bcc field of a new message to search your contacts and address lists without opening a separate window.
- Ctrl+K in a message compose window: Opens the Check Names dialog, which is the closest equivalent to the classic Address Book for resolving ambiguous name matches.
How the Address Book Changed in New Outlook
The classic Outlook Address Book was a dedicated dialog that displayed all contacts from your default address book, global address list (GAL), and any additional contact folders you added. In the New Outlook for Windows, this dialog no longer exists. Instead, contact functionality is split between two areas:
People hub. The People icon on the left navigation bar opens the People module. Here you can view all contacts, create new contacts and contact groups (formerly called distribution lists), and browse address lists such as the GAL. The People hub replaces the classic Address Book window for browsing and managing contacts.
Inline contact search. When composing an email, you can type a contact name directly into the To, Cc, or Bcc field. The New Outlook searches your contacts, the GAL, and any connected address books in real time. If multiple matches exist, a dropdown appears for you to select the correct person. This inline search eliminates the need to open a separate dialog for most lookups.
Prerequisites for Using the New Workflow
You must be running the New Outlook for Windows. This version is available as an opt-in toggle in classic Outlook or as the default experience on some Microsoft 365 plans. Your account must be connected to Exchange Online or Microsoft 365 to access the GAL. For on-premises Exchange accounts, the New Outlook may have limited address list support.
Steps to Access and Use Contacts in New Outlook
The following steps show how to perform common address book tasks in the New Outlook. Each method replaces a different classic feature.
Browse All Contacts and Address Lists
- Open the People hub
Click the People icon on the left navigation bar. The icon shows two silhouettes. This opens the People hub, which displays all your contacts and address lists. - Select an address list
At the top of the People hub, click the dropdown menu labeled All contact lists. Choose a specific address list such as Directory or your organization’s GAL. The list name varies by organization. - Search within the list
Use the search box at the top of the People hub to filter contacts by name, email address, or company. Results update as you type.
Look Up a Contact While Composing an Email
- Start a new message
Click New Mail on the ribbon or press Ctrl+N. The compose window opens. - Type a name in the To field
Begin typing the contact name or email address. The New Outlook automatically searches your contacts and the GAL. Matching names appear in a dropdown below the field. - Select the correct contact
Click the correct name in the dropdown. If the name is ambiguous, press Ctrl+K to open the Check Names dialog. This dialog lists all matching contacts and lets you choose one.
Create and Use a Contact Group
- Open the People hub
Click the People icon on the left navigation bar. - Create a new contact group
Click the dropdown arrow next to New contact at the top of the People hub and select New contact group. A form opens. - Add members
Enter a name for the group. Click Add members, then search for contacts or type email addresses directly. Click Add to include each member. - Save the group
Click Save and close. The group now appears in your contact list under the All contact lists view. - Use the group in an email
In a new message, type the group name in the To field. The New Outlook expands the group into individual recipients automatically.
Common Limitations and Workarounds
Cannot Open the Classic Address Book Dialog
The classic Address Book dialog is not available in the New Outlook. If you need the full table view with columns such as Department or Phone, use the People hub and switch to the List view by clicking the View dropdown at the top of the People hub and selecting List. This view shows more columns than the default card view.
Global Address List Shows Only Partial Results
If the GAL does not display all users, ensure your account is connected to Exchange Online. The New Outlook does not support on-premises Exchange GALs in all configurations. Contact your IT administrator to verify that your mailbox is on Exchange Online and that the GAL is published correctly.
Contact Groups Are Not Syncing to Classic Outlook
Contact groups created in the New Outlook are stored in your Exchange Online mailbox. They sync to classic Outlook only if you are using the same Exchange Online account. Groups created in classic Outlook as distribution lists may appear as contact groups in the New Outlook but with limited editing options. Use the People hub to edit groups created in the New Outlook.
Classic Outlook Address Book vs New Outlook People Hub: Key Differences
| Item | Classic Outlook Address Book | New Outlook People Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Access method | Address Book button on ribbon or Ctrl+Shift+B | People icon on navigation bar |
| Inline lookup in compose | Type name, then press Alt+K to open Address Book | Type name, automatic dropdown with Ctrl+K for Check Names |
| Contact groups | Called distribution lists in Address Book | Called contact groups in People hub |
| Global address list support | Full GAL with hierarchical view | GAL available as an address list dropdown |
| Column customization | Add or remove columns in Address Book view | Limited to List view with preset columns |
The New Outlook for Windows replaces the classic Address Book dialog with the People hub and inline contact search. You can browse all contacts and address lists from the People icon, create contact groups, and look up recipients directly from the To field while composing email. Use Ctrl+K to open the Check Names dialog when you need to resolve ambiguous names. If you rely on the classic Address Book for advanced column views or on-premises GAL access, test the New Outlook with your specific requirements before switching permanently.