syncing Android phone

Enable Android contact permission for Outlook, then turn on Sync Contacts for the Microsoft account inside Outlook.

Set up contact synchronization

1. On the Android phone, open Settings → Apps → Outlook → Permissions.
2. Allow Contacts and Accounts access.
3. Open Outlook → profile picture → Settings.
4. Select the Microsoft account you want to use.
5. Turn on Sync Contacts. On some versions, this may appear under Settings → Contacts → Sync Contacts.
6. Open the phone’s native Contacts app and allow a few minutes for the Outlook contacts to appear. Microsoft documents both the permission and Outlook setting as required for synchronization.^1^

Outlook contacts can then appear in Android’s address book. For supported Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts, contact synchronization is bidirectional; however, support varies for older on-premises Exchange configurations.^2^

If “Microsoft” still is not offered as a contact source

Check the account type in Outlook → Settings → Accounts → select the account:

• Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com: Contact synchronization is supported.
• IMAP or POP: These protocols synchronize email only, not contacts. The account must instead be added as Microsoft 365/Exchange or Outlook.com where applicable.^1^
• Gmail or iCloud account inside Outlook: Outlook contact-sync support is not currently available for those account types.^2^

If the account is supported but does not synchronize:

1. Open Outlook → Settings → Accounts → affected account.
2. Tap Reset Account.
3. If that fails, use Delete Account → Delete From This Device, and then add the Microsoft account again. This removes the account from that phone, not from Microsoft’s servers.^1^

Important contact-editing behavior

When synchronization is enabled, contacts created or edited in Outlook are saved to Android’s Contacts app.^3^

If Android’s Contacts app does not let you choose the Microsoft account while creating a contact, create the contact in Outlook → Search/People → New contact instead. The enabled synchronization should then export it to the phone’s address book. Whether edits made directly in Android synchronize back depends on the Microsoft account type; legacy Exchange configurations may only export contacts from Outlook.^2^

Work-managed phone

If Outlook is inside an Android Enterprise work profile, its contacts are available only inside the work-profile Contacts app. An Intune policy can also disable Save/Sync Contacts, preventing the switch from being enabled. In that case, the organization’s Microsoft 365 or Intune administrator must allow native-app synchronization and grant Outlook contact permissions.^4^

References

1. Outlook app
2. How do I sync my Outlook contacts to my address book? | Microsoft Support
3. If I add or edit a new contact to Outlook, will it sync with my Contacts app on my device? | Microsoft Support
4. Deploying Outlook for iOS and Android app configuration settings in Exchange Online