Adding a contact in Outlook takes three steps: open the Contacts section, click New Contact, and fill in the name and email address

Outlook stores contact information in a dedicated section separate from your email inbox. Once you add someone, their name and email appear in your address book, so you can find them quickly when you compose a message. You can add as much or as little information as you want — just a name and email, or full details like phone number, address, and birthday.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook on your computer, or Outlook on your phone. This guide covers the most common setup: Outlook on a Windows or Mac computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Outlook and click the Contacts icon at the bottom of the left sidebar to reach your address book.
  • Click the New Contact button and type the person's name and email address into the fields provided.
  • Save the contact by clicking the Save button, and Outlook will store it permanently in your address book.
  • You can edit a contact later by double-clicking their name and changing any field, then saving again.
  • Outlook automatically suggests contacts when you start typing an email address, so you do not have to search manually.

How to add a contact on Outlook for Windows or Mac

Start by opening Outlook on your computer. Look at the bottom of the left sidebar — you will see several icons. Click the one that looks like a person or says "Contacts". This opens your address book, which may be empty if you are new to Outlook.

Once you are in the Contacts section, look for a button labeled "New Contact" or a plus sign icon near the top of the window. Click it. A blank contact form will open with empty fields for name, email, phone, and other details.

Type the person's full name in the Name field. Then click in the Email field and type their email address. These two pieces of information are all you need to save a basic contact. If you want to add more — like a phone number, company name, or physical address — fill in those fields too. When you are done, click the Save button. Outlook stores the contact when ready.

Adding a contact from an email you received

You do not have to open the Contacts section manually. If someone sends you an email and you want to save their information, right-click their name or email address in the message. A menu will appear with an option to add them to your contacts.

Click that option, and Outlook will create a new contact with their name and email already filled in. You can add more details if you want, or save it as is. This method is faster than typing everything from scratch.

How to add a contact on Outlook.com (web version)

If you use Outlook through a web browser instead of the desktop app, the process is similar but the layout is different. Log in to Outlook.com and look for the app launcher — a grid of nine dots in the top left corner. Click it and select "Contacts" from the menu.

You will see your address book. Click the "New Contact" button, usually near the top of the page. A form will open where you can type the person's name and email address. Fill in as much or as little as you want, then click Save. The contact appears in your list when ready.

Adding contacts on Outlook mobile apps

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Outlook app and tap the Contacts icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus sign or "New Contact" button. Type the person's name and email address into the fields, then tap Save.

You can also add a contact from an email by tapping and holding the sender's name, then selecting the option to add them to your contacts. The process is the same on both iPhone and Android, though button locations may vary slightly.

Editing or deleting a contact

To change a contact's information later, find their name in your Contacts list and double-click it (or tap it on mobile). The contact form opens. Edit any field you want — change their email, add a phone number, update their company name. Click or tap Save when you are done.

To delete a contact, right-click their name in the list and select Delete, or select their name and press the Delete key. Outlook will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the contact is removed permanently from your address book.

Why Outlook suggests names when you type

Once you have saved a contact, Outlook remembers it. When you start composing a new email and type the first few letters of someone's name or email address, Outlook shows a dropdown list of matching contacts. Click the name you want, and Outlook fills in their email address automatically.

This feature works because Outlook searches your saved contacts, your recent emails, and your organization's directory (if you use Outlook at work). The more contacts you save, the faster you can address emails without typing full addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import contacts from another email program into Outlook?

Yes. In Outlook on your computer, go to File, then Import, and select the file format your other program uses (like a CSV file). Outlook will read the file and add all those contacts to your address book. On Outlook.com, you can upload a CSV file through the Settings menu under Contacts.

What information can I store for each contact?

Outlook lets you store name, email address, phone number (mobile, work, home), physical address, company, job title, website, birthday, notes, and more. You do not have to fill in every field — only add the information you actually need.

If I delete a contact, can I get it back?

Once you delete a contact, it is gone from your address book. However, if you have emails from that person in your inbox, you can add them back by right-clicking their name in an old message and selecting the option to add them to contacts again.

Do my contacts sync across my phone, computer, and Outlook.com?

Yes, if you use the same Outlook account on all devices. Contacts you add on your phone appear on your computer, and vice versa. Changes sync automatically, though it may take a few minutes.

Can I organize contacts into groups or folders?

Yes. In Outlook on your computer, you can create contact groups (also called distribution lists) to send one email to multiple people at once. Right-click in your Contacts section and select New Group, then add members. On Outlook.com, you can create categories to tag and organize contacts.