Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Office for business Outlook on the web Outlook.com Microsoft Office New Outlook for Windows

If you have a lot of contacts, the list can get a bit overwhelming. Changing how your contacts are sorted, setting up favorites, and creating contact lists can help you find who you need.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook and follow those steps instead.

In new Outlook, you have the option to:

Sort contacts | Add a contact to favorites | Categorize your contacts | Add people in your organization

Sort contacts in new Outlook for Windows

You can sort your contacts by the first or last name, company, home city, work city, or recently added.

  1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People button iconPeople.

  2. With All contacts selected, click the filter option (the filter will show the name for how your list is currently filtered, such as By first name),and then select an option from Sort by for how you want to sort it.

    Screenshot of options to sort contacts

  3. Your list will update immediately. You can change the sort by option at any time.

Add a contact to favorites in new Outlook

  1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People button iconPeople.

  2. From your contact list, select the contact you would like to add to your Favorites.

  3. You can either right-click and select Add to favorites or select Add to favorites from the Ribbon. You can remove them from favorites at any time.

Categorize your contacts in new Outlook

You can categorize your contacts by color to make it easier to find people.

  1. On the navigation bar in new Outlook, select People button iconPeople.

  2. Select the contact you would like to add to a new or existing category.

  3. Select More options, then hover over Categorize.

  4. Select either New category or an existing category to add the contact to.

Tips: 

  • If you want to make changes to your contact category, you'll need to create a new one to replace the existing category.

  • If you want to delete a category, simply remove all the contacts from the category.

Add people in your organization to saved contacts in new Outlook

If you're using new Outlook at work or school and your organization has a directory set up, you'll be able to see information about your colleagues without saving them as contacts. You can search for them or select their name or picture from an email message. Their profile card will show information collected from other systems (directory). If you want to add other information, such as notes, birthdays, etc. you can save your colleagues to your own contacts. The new contact is auto-linked to the existing directory contact. Only you will see the information you add.

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Add, find, edit, or delete a contact in Outlook

Create, edit, or delete a contact list or contact group in Outlook

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