If you switched from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, you may notice that your Favorite Groups and People are not where you left them. This feature allows quick access to frequently contacted individuals and distribution lists, but the new interface rearranges navigation. The classic version stored favorites in the left navigation pane under a dedicated Favorites section, while the new Outlook uses a different approach. This article explains exactly where to find your Favorite Groups and People in new Outlook and how to add or remove them.
Key Takeaways: Finding Favorite Groups and People in New Outlook
- Navigation pane > People icon > Favorites folder: Your classic Favorites are migrated here automatically in new Outlook
- Right-click a contact or group > Add to Favorites: Adds any person or group to the Favorites folder in new Outlook
- Drag and drop a contact or group onto the Favorites folder: Alternative method to pin favorites without using the right-click menu
How Classic Outlook Handles Favorite Groups and People
In Classic Outlook, Favorite Groups and People appear in the left navigation pane under a section called Favorites. You could pin individual contacts, distribution groups, and shared mailbox contacts. The Favorites section sat above the main folder list, giving you one-click access to any pinned item. This design was convenient for users who communicated regularly with the same set of people or groups.
Classic Outlook also allowed you to organize favorites into groups. For example, you could create a group named “Project Team” and drag multiple contacts into it. These groups appeared as expandable items in the Favorites section. When you clicked a group, Outlook displayed all members in the reading pane or opened a new message addressed to the group.
The underlying mechanism stored favorite items in the Outlook profile’s Quick Steps and Favorites data. This data was tied to your Exchange mailbox or PST file, so favorites synced across multiple devices running Classic Outlook. However, the new Outlook app uses a completely different data storage method, which changes how favorites are presented.
Where Favorite Groups and People Are Located in New Outlook
New Outlook does not display favorites in the left navigation pane by default. Instead, it uses a dedicated People module that contains a Favorites folder. To access your classic favorites after migration, follow these steps.
- Open the People module
Click the People icon on the left navigation bar. It looks like two silhouettes. This opens the People view where all your contacts and groups are stored. - Locate the Favorites folder
In the left pane of the People module, you will see a folder list. Look for a folder named Favorites. If you had favorites in Classic Outlook, they appear here automatically after migration. - Click the Favorites folder
Select the Favorites folder to view all your pinned contacts and groups. Each entry shows the contact name or group name. Click any entry to see its details in the right pane. - Pin a new contact or group to Favorites
Right-click any contact or group in the People list and choose Add to Favorites. The item moves into the Favorites folder immediately. - Remove a contact or group from Favorites
Right-click the entry inside the Favorites folder and select Remove from Favorites. The item returns to the main contacts list but is not deleted.
Adding Favorite Groups in New Outlook
Groups in new Outlook are called contact groups. They are equivalent to distribution lists in Classic Outlook. To add a group to your favorites, navigate to the People module, locate the group in your contacts list, right-click it, and select Add to Favorites. The group appears inside the Favorites folder. When you double-click the group, new Outlook opens a new email message addressed to all members of that group.
Using Favorites from the Mail Module
New Outlook does not show favorites in the mail folder pane. However, you can access them quickly by clicking the People icon on the left navigation bar. If you want to send an email to a favorite contact, open the People module, click the Favorites folder, and then click the contact’s name. A pop-up menu allows you to send an email or start a chat. This workflow replaces the one-click access you had in Classic Outlook.
If Your Favorites Did Not Migrate from Classic Outlook
In most cases, new Outlook migrates your favorite contacts and groups automatically when you switch. If your Favorites folder is empty after migration, the data may not have transferred correctly. This can happen if you had a corrupted Outlook profile or if the migration process was interrupted. You can manually re-add your favorites using the steps above.
New Outlook Does Not Show Favorites in the Left Navigation Pane
This is by design. New Outlook separates contacts and mail into distinct modules. The Favorites feature exists only inside the People module. There is no option to display favorites in the mail folder list. If you rely on quick access to contacts while reading email, consider pinning the People module to the left navigation bar. Right-click the People icon and select Pin to keep it visible at all times.
Favorites Folder Missing from the People Module
If you do not see a Favorites folder at all, you may need to enable it. In the People module, click the three-dot menu (More options) at the top right of the folder pane. Select Folder options and ensure Favorites is checked. If the option is grayed out, your account may not support favorites due to policy restrictions. Contact your IT administrator.
Cannot Add a Group to Favorites
Some contact groups created in Classic Outlook may not appear in the new Outlook People module. This occurs when the group was stored in a PST file that is not connected to new Outlook. To resolve this, open Classic Outlook, export the contact group as a .vcf file, and import it into new Outlook. After import, you can add the group to favorites.
Classic Outlook vs New Outlook: Favorite Groups and People Comparison
| Item | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Location of favorites | Left navigation pane under Favorites | People module > Favorites folder |
| Access while viewing mail | Visible in the folder pane without switching views | Requires switching to People module |
| Adding a contact to favorites | Right-click contact > Add to Favorites | Right-click contact > Add to Favorites |
| Adding a group to favorites | Right-click group > Add to Favorites | Right-click group > Add to Favorites |
| Removing from favorites | Right-click > Remove from Favorites | Right-click > Remove from Favorites |
| Organizing favorites into groups | Supported (create subfolders in Favorites) | Not supported (flat list only) |
| Syncing across devices | Synced with Exchange mailbox | Synced with Exchange mailbox |
Conclusion
You can now locate your Favorite Groups and People in new Outlook by opening the People module and selecting the Favorites folder. The migration from Classic Outlook preserves most favorites automatically, but you may need to re-add some groups manually. If you miss the one-click access from the mail pane, pin the People icon to the left navigation bar for faster switching. For advanced users, consider creating a Quick Step in new Outlook that opens the People module directly using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+A.