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Some Contacts Don’t Appear as Suggested Recipients in OWA

MarkLe 0 Reputation points
2025-11-15T06:54:10.2833333+00:00

Normally, when I compose a new email in OWA and begin typing a name in the “To” field, suggestions from my contacts appear automatically. However, for a few contacts, their names never show up—even if I type their full names. For instance, although “Jane Doe” is saved in my Contacts with a valid email address, typing “Jane” in the “To” field doesn’t bring up her name. This issue only affects some of my contacts.

As a workaround, I can click the “To” button to open the Contacts list and select “Jane Doe” directly. While this method works, it’s inconvenient. Additionally, the same problem exists in Outlook for iOS, where there isn’t an option to click “To”— I have to manually enter her entire email address to send her something.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

  • Created a new contact entry for “Jane Doe,” but her name still doesn’t appear as a suggestion.
  • Turned off Expanded suggestions.
  • Sent an email to “Jane Doe” and waited 24 hours.
  • Tried various browsers and platforms: Firefox, Edge, and Outlook for iOS. The issue persists across all of them.

So far, nothing seems to resolve the issue. Does anyone have any ideas?

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Contacts
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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-11-15T06:54:26.6766667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    The issue you're experiencing with some contacts not appearing as suggested recipients in Outlook Web App (OWA) could be related to several factors. Here are a few things to consider and potential solutions:

    1. Address Book Policies: If your organization has implemented address book policies (ABPs), it might restrict visibility to certain contacts. Ensure that the contacts you are trying to reach are included in the address lists associated with your ABP.
    2. AutoComplete List: Sometimes, the AutoComplete list can become corrupted. You can try clearing the AutoComplete list to see if that resolves the issue. In OWA, you can remove specific entries or clear the entire list.
    3. Contact Visibility: Ensure that the contacts are saved correctly in your Contacts list and that they have valid email addresses. Sometimes, a minor error in the contact details can prevent them from appearing in suggestions.
    4. Browser Cache: Since you've tried different browsers, ensure that you clear the cache and cookies of the browsers you are using. Sometimes, cached data can interfere with the functionality of web applications.
    5. Waiting Period: After creating or modifying contacts, it may take some time for changes to propagate through the system. Although you've waited 24 hours, it might be worth checking again after some time.
    6. Contact Format: Ensure that the contact's name is formatted correctly. Sometimes, discrepancies in how names are entered can affect suggestions.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to your IT support for further assistance, as they may have additional insights based on your organization's setup.

    References:

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