Where do I find the files @outlook.com>contacts>{***}

hi glenister, welcome in community

You can retrieve your contact via web here

https://outlook.live.com/people/0/

also check here

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/manage-contacts-in-outlook-e5fc2d01-2a15-46fe-90f2-b8ebea8f1b29

do you need to export them or something else? let me know what you need to

Elvis

what folder? do you have a screenshot?

to use live.com you need to login with your account where is saved the contacts

Here is a screen shot. The "Contacts" and "Address Old" appear in the normal Contacts folder. But not the Companies, GAL etc or the {xxxx } ones, which through the export function, I know have considerable data in them.

The problem is the hidden folders occasionally sync into the Outlook contacts, which is in fine in outlook, I can mange, but causes problems when my phone or car try to download them because of the shear volume. That is why I want them gone.

[Moderation note: Personal information removed]

Hi Glenister Lamont,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Q&A forum.

From your description, I understand that you want to remove or neutralize those hidden Outlook.com contact folders so that the contents no longer sync to your phone or car and overload with contacts.

These folders are stored inside your mailbox under the root/contacts hierarchy and are marked as hidden using a special MAPI property (for example, ExternalContacts has the PR_ATTR_HIDDEN flag set). That’s why you only see them in export dialogs or special tools, not in the standard Contacts list.

Here are some steps that you can kindly follow to help clean or hide them:

• Use MAPI editor such as MFCMAPI (GitHub) to temporarily unhide the folder, delete or clean the contacts, and then re‑hide it again so it no longer appears or syncs.
• Run MFCMAPI, open the mailbox store, go to Root, then Mailbox > IPM_SUBTREE, locate the folder (e.g., ExternalContacts, Companies, Organizational Contacts, etc.).
• Clear the PR_ATTR_HIDDEN flag to unhide it, restart Outlook, and you will be able to see that folder under Contacts, where you can delete or move its contents.
• After cleaning it, please kindly set the hidden flag again in MFCMAPI so it goes back to being a system/hidden folder.

Please note: MFCMAPI can affect mailbox structure, it is recommended only if you are comfortable with advanced tools or can involve your admin/IT support to do it for you. Otherwise, leaving the folders as it is and disabling contact sync for that account on specific devices (phone, car system) can be a safer workaround.

I hope my answer helps, please feel free to let me know if you need any further assistance.

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