Can’t lists and groups have gone

D Gamble 0 Reputation points
2026-11-05T11:33:36.9266667+00:00

I’m using a 2013 MacBook with Catalina 10. My contact lists and contact groups have gone. How can I get these back.

Outlook | MacOS | New Outlook for Mac | For home
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-05T11:33:53.9833333+00:00

    If Outlook for Mac contact lists are missing, the recovery path depends on which Outlook experience and account type is in use:

    1. Check whether the lists are stored in the account or only on the Mac.
      • In Outlook for Mac, contact list sync from the server is available only for Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts.
      • In legacy Outlook for Mac, if using a Microsoft Exchange account, contact lists are not saved to the Exchange server. Lists created there are saved on the computer and are available only in Outlook for Mac.
    2. In Outlook for Mac, make sure the correct Contacts location is visible.
      • Go to Outlook > Settings > Display.
      • Under Sidebar, turn on Show On my Computer folders.
      • Then open People and check the Contacts folder under On My Computer.
      • If the lists were created locally, they may appear there.
    3. If using a POP or IMAP account, check On My Computer.
      • For POP/IMAP accounts, contact lists are created under the Contacts folder in On My Computer.
      • If New Contact List was previously grayed out, this setting is the required fix.
    4. If using new Outlook for Mac, check the account’s Contacts folder.
      • Open People.
      • Select the Contacts folder under the account where the list was created.
      • Contact lists can be created and managed there.
    5. If the lists are still missing, the supported facts indicate this likely means the lists were local-only and are no longer available in the current Outlook profile or Mac environment.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Vikki-T 13,320 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-06T06:47:04.1933333+00:00

    Hi D Gamble,

    I understand how concerning it can be when contact lists that you previously relied on suddenly disappear.

    First, please check whether the lists are only hidden:

    • In Outlook, go to Outlook > Settings > Display.
    • Under Sidebar, turn on Show On My Computer folders.
    • Open People and check the Contacts folder under On My Computer, as well as the Contacts folder under each email account.

    Microsoft notes that server synchronization for contact lists is available only for Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts. Lists used with POP or IMAP accounts are generally stored under On My Computer. Some contact lists created with an Exchange account may also be stored locally on the Mac rather than on the Exchange server. You can review the official guidance here: Create a contact list or distribution list in Outlook for Mac.

    Please also sign in to your email account through a browser and check whether the contacts or lists are available there. If they appear online, the issue is likely limited to Outlook’s local view or profile.

    If the lists are not present online or under On My Computer, please let me know:

    • Whether you are using New Outlook or Legacy Outlook
    • Your account type, such as Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Exchange, Gmail, POP, or IMAP
    • Whether this started after an Outlook update, switching Outlook versions, reinstalling Outlook, or creating a new profile
    • Whether individual contacts are still visible

    If the lists were stored locally and the original Outlook profile is no longer available, recovery may depend on whether you have a Time Machine or other Mac backup. Avoid deleting or recreating the current Outlook profile until this has been checked. Thank you so much for your understanding.     

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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