Classic Outlook to New Outlook: Favorite Groups and People – Use favorites beyond mail folders

When you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, the way you manage favorites changes. In Classic Outlook, the Favorites section only shows email folders. In new Outlook, you can add not only folders but also groups and individual contacts as favorites. This allows you to access your most-used people and group conversations directly from the navigation pane. This article explains the difference and shows you exactly how to add and manage favorites for groups and people in new Outlook.

What Are Favorites in New Outlook and How Do They Differ From Classic Outlook?

In Classic Outlook, the Favorites section at the top of the folder pane only supports email folders. You can pin your Inbox, Sent Items, or any custom folder. Groups and contacts do not appear there. In new Outlook, the Favorites section is more flexible. You can pin email folders, groups, and individual contacts. When you add a group to Favorites, the group icon appears in the navigation pane, and clicking it opens the group conversation view. When you add a contact, clicking that favorite opens a new email message addressed to that person. This change reduces the number of clicks needed to reach frequently used people and group discussions.

Prerequisites for Using Favorites With Groups and People

You must be running the new Outlook for Windows. This version is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and Windows users who have enabled the toggle Try the new Outlook. Your groups must already exist in your Outlook account, either as Microsoft 365 Groups or distribution groups. Contacts must be saved in your default Contacts folder or synced from an Exchange Online account. If you do not see any groups or contacts in the navigation pane, you cannot add them to Favorites until they appear there.

Steps to Add Groups and People to Favorites in New Outlook

There are two methods to add a group or a contact to the Favorites section. Both produce the same result. Choose the method that feels faster to you.

Method 1: Right-Click and Select Add to Favorites

1. Open new Outlook
   Launch the application. Make sure you are in the new Outlook interface. You can confirm this by looking for the toggle at the top right that says Try the new Outlook with a check mark next to it.
2. Locate the group or contact in the navigation pane
   In the left navigation pane, scroll down to the Groups section to see all your groups. For contacts, click the People icon at the bottom of the navigation pane to display your contact list.
3. Right-click the group or contact name
   A context menu appears. For a group, the menu includes options like Open, Add to Favorites, and Group Settings. For a contact, the menu includes Add to Favorites, Edit Contact, and Delete.
4. Select Add to Favorites
   Click this option. The group or contact immediately appears in the Favorites section at the top of the navigation pane. The icon changes to a filled star to indicate it is a favorite.

Method 2: Drag and Drop to the Favorites Section

1. Open new Outlook and display the navigation pane
   Ensure the navigation pane is visible. If it is hidden, click View > Folder Pane > Normal.
2. Find the group or contact
   Use the Groups section for groups or the People icon for contacts. Click the People icon to expand the contact list if needed.
3. Left-click and hold the group or contact name
   Press and hold the left mouse button on the item.
4. Drag the item upward to the Favorites section
   Move your mouse cursor to the Favorites area. A horizontal line appears to show where the item will be placed. Release the mouse button. The group or contact is now a favorite.

How to Remove Groups or People From Favorites

Removing a favorite is similar to adding one. You can use either method below.

Method 1: Right-Click the Favorite

1. Locate the favorite in the Favorites section
   The Favorites section sits at the top of the navigation pane. Find the group or contact you want to remove.
2. Right-click the favorite
   A context menu appears with options such as Open and Remove from Favorites.
3. Select Remove from Favorites
   The item disappears from the Favorites section. The group or contact remains in the Groups or People section. You have not deleted it, only unpinned it.

Method 2: Drag the Favorite Out of the Favorites Section

1. Left-click and hold the favorite
   Click the group or contact icon in the Favorites section and hold the mouse button.
2. Drag the item downward out of the Favorites section
   Move your cursor below the Favorites area. A red X icon appears next to the cursor. Release the mouse button. The item is removed from Favorites.

Common Mistakes and Limitations When Using Favorites With Groups and People

Several issues can prevent favorites from working as expected. Understanding these limitations helps you avoid frustration.

I Cannot See Any Groups in the Navigation Pane

If the Groups section does not appear, you are not a member of any Microsoft 365 Groups, or your account type does not support groups. Only work or school accounts with Exchange Online can use groups. Personal accounts such as Outlook.com or Gmail do not show groups. To check your group membership, go to Groups in the navigation pane. If it says No groups found, you must join or create a group first.

I Added a Contact to Favorites but Nothing Happens When I Click It

When you click a contact favorite, new Outlook opens a new email message window with that contact in the To field. If no window opens, the contact may be from an external directory that new Outlook cannot resolve. Ensure the contact has a valid email address. Open the People section, double-click the contact, and verify the email field is filled.

My Favorites Disappear After I Restart Outlook

This usually happens when you switch between Classic Outlook and new Outlook using the toggle. Each version maintains its own set of favorites. If you toggle back to Classic Outlook, your new Outlook favorites are not visible. When you toggle back to new Outlook, the favorites should reappear. If they do not, your profile may be corrupted. Run the Outlook repair tool from Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft 365 > Change > Quick Repair.

Favorites in Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: Key Differences

Item	Classic Outlook	New Outlook
Supported item types	Email folders only	Email folders, groups, and contacts
Add method	Right-click folder > Show in Favorites	Right-click or drag to Favorites section
Remove method	Right-click folder > Remove from Favorites	Right-click or drag out of Favorites section
Group access from Favorites	Not available	Opens group conversation view
Contact access from Favorites	Not available	Opens new email to that contact

The most significant difference is the ability to pin groups and contacts. In Classic Outlook, you must navigate to the Groups folder each time. In new Outlook, one click on a favorite group shows all group emails, calendar events, and files. For contacts, you save two clicks by not having to open the People module first.

To get the most out of this feature, organize your Favorites section by placing the most used groups at the top. You can reorder favorites by dragging them up or down within the Favorites area. The order you set persists across sessions. If you use new Outlook on multiple devices, favorites sync through your Microsoft 365 account, so your layout stays consistent.