How do I get my contacts back?

Dear @Michael Halldorson,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft 365 Q&A forum community. I understand how critical your contacts are for your work, and I’m here to help you restore them. 

Steps to recover contacts in outlook (Microsoft 365) 

Step 1: Check the Deleted Folder (People Page) 

• Sign in to Outlook on the web. 
• Select People from the navigation pane. 
• Open the Deleted folder. 
• Locate the contact(s), right-click, and select Restore. 

Step 2: Recover from the recoverable items folder 

• If contacts are not in the Deleted folder, select Recover deleted at the top of the Deleted folder. 
• Choose the contacts you want to restore and click Restore. 

Step 3: If contacts are still missing 

• Check for sync issues or filters hiding contacts. 
• If you have a backup (.PST or .CSV), you can import it via File > Open & Export > Import/Export in Outlook desktop app. 
• For large-scale recovery or if folders are empty, contact your Microsoft 365 admin or Microsoft Support. 

Step 4: Change the contacts view/Folder 

Sometimes, the view may be set to a different contacts list, making your primary list appear empty. 

• In Outlook Desktop App, go to the People section. 
• In the folder pane on the left, ensure that the correct folder (usually named simply "Contacts" under your mailbox) is selected and not an empty secondary list or a contacts group. 

For detailed instructions, please refer to Microsoft’s official guide: Restore or recover a deleted contact in Outlook - Microsoft Support 

I truly hope you understand that the initial steps I suggested may not have completely resolved the issue, as there might still be underlying causes, we haven't uncovered yet. Please know that I’m here with you every step of the way, ready to work together and do everything I can to help troubleshoot and find the best solution.  

Please let me know if you have any further questions or if the problem persists after trying these solutions. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.  

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