Delete a contact in three steps

Open Outlook and go to the People tab (or Contacts in older versions). Find the contact you want to remove by scrolling or using the search box at the top. Right-click the contact's name and select Delete, or click once to select it and press the Delete key on your keyboard. The contact is removed when ready.

If you use Outlook on the web instead of the desktop app, the process is nearly identical: click People, find the contact, click it once to open the card, then look for the trash or delete icon (usually three dots or a trash symbol) and confirm the deletion.

Deleting a contact removes it from your Outlook address book only. It does not affect emails you have already sent or received from that person, and it does not notify them that you deleted their contact information.

Key Takeaways

  • You delete a contact by opening the People tab, right-clicking the name, and selecting Delete from the menu.
  • Deletion is permanent in Outlook, but you can recreate the contact later if you need it again.
  • Removing a contact does not erase past emails or change any messages already in your inbox.
  • The steps are the same whether you use Outlook on your computer or Outlook on the web.

Where to find your contacts in Outlook

The location of your contacts depends on which version of Outlook you are using. In the desktop version for Windows or Mac, click the People icon in the left sidebar (it looks like a person's head and shoulders). In Outlook 2016 or earlier, this tab may be labeled Contacts instead.

If you use Outlook on the web at outlook.com or through your workplace, click the app launcher (a grid of nine dots in the top left corner) and select People from the menu. Your contacts appear in the main panel, listed alphabetically by last name.

You can also search for a specific contact without scrolling. Type the person's name in the search box at the top of the People panel, and Outlook will filter the list to show only matches.

What happens after you delete a contact

Once you delete a contact, it is gone from your address book. You will no longer see that person's name in your auto-complete suggestions when you start typing an email address, and they will not appear in your People list.

However, deleting a contact does not remove any emails you have already exchanged with that person. Your inbox, sent folder, and archived messages remain unchanged. If you need to contact that person again later, you can look up their email address in an old message thread or recreate their contact from scratch.

If you delete a contact by mistake, you can undo the action when ready by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac), as long as you have not closed Outlook or performed other actions since the deletion.

Deleting multiple contacts at once

If you need to remove several contacts, you can select more than one at a time. In the desktop version, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each contact you want to delete. They will highlight as you select them. Once you have chosen all the contacts, right-click and select Delete, or press the Delete key.

On Outlook on the web, the process is similar but may vary slightly depending on your browser. Click the first contact, then hold Ctrl or Command and click additional contacts to select multiple entries. A delete button should appear at the top of the list or in a toolbar.

Be careful when selecting multiple contacts, because the deletion happens all at once and cannot be undone if you close Outlook or perform other actions first.

Recovering a deleted contact

If you realize you deleted a contact too quickly, press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac) when ready to undo the deletion. This works only if you have not closed Outlook or performed other actions since you deleted the contact.

If more time has passed, you may be able to recover the contact through Outlook's Deleted Items folder, though contacts do not always appear there the way emails do. Check your Deleted Items folder first. If the contact is not there, you will need to recreate it manually by entering the person's name, email address, and phone number again.

To avoid losing important contacts, consider exporting your contact list periodically. In the desktop version, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export and choose to export your contacts as a CSV or VCF file. You can store this backup on your computer or in cloud storage.

Differences between Outlook versions

The steps to delete a contact are the same across most Outlook versions, but the location of buttons and menus can vary. In Outlook 2019 and newer (both Windows and Mac), the People tab is straightforward to find in the left sidebar. In Outlook 2016 and earlier, you may see a Contacts tab instead, and the interface looks slightly different.

Outlook on the web (outlook.com) has a simpler interface than the desktop app, with fewer menu options. The delete button is usually represented by a trash icon or three dots that open a menu. If you are unsure where to find the delete option in your version, look for a trash icon or right-click the contact to see what options appear.

If you use Outlook through your workplace or school, your organization may have restrictions on what you can delete or how contacts are managed. Contact your IT department if you cannot delete a contact or if the steps do not match what you see on your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting a contact in Outlook delete it from my phone?

No. Deleting a contact in Outlook on your computer removes it only from that device. If you sync your Outlook account to your phone (iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone), you will need to delete the contact separately on your phone, or the contact may sync back to Outlook. Check your phone's contact app and delete it there as well if you want it removed everywhere.

Can I delete a contact without opening Outlook?

Not directly. You must open Outlook (either the desktop app or the web version) to access your contacts and delete them. There is no way to delete a contact from outside the process.

What if I delete a contact but still receive emails from them?

Deleting a contact does not stop emails from that person. Their messages will still arrive in your inbox. If you want to stop receiving emails from someone, you can mark their messages as spam or create a rule to move their emails to a folder automatically. Deleting the contact just removes their information from your address book.

Will the person know if I delete their contact?

No. Deleting a contact is private and does not send any notification to the other person. They have no way of knowing that you removed their contact information from Outlook.