How to delete individual redundant email addresses from the autocomplete list

charlie killick 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T07:03:59.81+00:00

I wish to delete individual redundant email addresses from the autocomplete list.

The Copilot response: "If you want to remove specific email addresses from the autocomplete list and cache, you can do so by typing the first few letters of the email address in the "To" field of a new email message. When the auto-populated email address appears, use the arrow keys to highlight it and then press the "Delete" key on your keyboard" does not work.

I follow the instructions, highlight the specific email address, press "Delete" and nothing happens.

I have gone through the contacts list and deleted redundant addresses but they still appear on the autocomplete list

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
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  1. SD - IA 181.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-16T08:09:14.67+00:00

    Hi,

    I see the question was posted in Outlook 365.

    May I know who is the email service provider?

    I am eager to hear back from you to find a solution.

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  2. charlie killick 0 Reputation points
    2026-10-16T07:22:01.78+00:00

    Your answer

    "Remove AutoComplete list entries one at a time

    Follow these steps:

    1. Open a new email message.
    2. Type the first few characters of the AutoComplete entry that you want to remove.
    3. When the entry appears in the list of suggestions, move your mouse pointer over the suggestion until it becomes highlighted, but don't select it.
    4. When the X icon appears next to the highlighted suggestion, select X to remove the entry from the list, or press the DELETE key on the keyboard.

    Selecting X prevents the name entry from appearing in the AutoComplete list again but doesn't remove it from your account. The entry might still appear in other areas in Outlook, such as search boxes."

    Does not work. I hover until an entry is highlighted as instructed but no "X" appears and pressing "Delete" does nothing

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  3. AI answer

    2026-10-16T07:04:19.27+00:00

    For classic Outlook on Windows, removing a single entry should work only from a new email message suggestion list:

    1. Open New Email.
    2. In the To field, type the first few characters of the address.
    3. When the suggestion appears, move the mouse over it until it is highlighted.
    4. Select the X next to the suggestion, or press Delete.

    Important details:

    • Deleting the address from Contacts does not remove it from Outlook’s AutoComplete list.
    • Removing it from AutoComplete also does not remove it from the account.
    • If a new message is later sent to that recipient, Outlook adds it back to AutoComplete.

    If Delete does nothing, the AutoComplete cache may be corrupted. The documented next steps are:

    1. Try removing entries one at a time using the X or Delete method above.
    2. If that still fails, clear the entire AutoComplete list:
      • File > Options > Mail > under Send Messages select Empty Auto-Complete List > Yes

    Alternative method to clear the whole cache:

    1. Select Start > Run.
    2. Type Outlook.exe /CleanAutoCompleteCache

    Also verify AutoComplete is enabled:

    1. File > Options > Mail
    2. Under Send messages, make sure Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines is checked.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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