Outlook can't display any Contacts

Ted Haugen 0 Reputation points
2026-11-12T21:10:11.4533333+00:00

How can I run diagnostics on my Outlook data? Outlook started freezing, and refused to show Contacts and calendar. It can only show email.

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home
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  1. Jonathan Deives 83,670 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-12T21:44:10.47+00:00

    When did this start to occur?
    If it started today, it is most likely related to a service issue Microsoft is currently experiencing, affecting Outlook and other Microsoft 365 services, and many users are unable to access some features at the moment. This is not a problem with your Outlook data.

    You can follow the updates on this issue here: Microsoft 365 Status

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-12T21:11:32.59+00:00

    New Outlook for Windows cannot run the classic Outlook data-file diagnostics; first check Contacts and Calendar in the account’s webmail, then reinstall new Outlook if the data is present there.

    1. Isolate the client from the account

    Sign in to the web interface supplied by the email provider—for example, Outlook on the web for a Microsoft account—and inspect People/Contacts and Calendar:

    • Contacts and Calendar appear on the web: The server data is intact, so continue with the new Outlook recovery steps below.
    • They are also missing on the web: Reinstalling Outlook will not restore server-side data. Check whether the correct account is selected and contact the email provider about the missing data.
    • Only a third-party account is affected: Check that provider’s webmail before changing the account in Outlook.

    Do not run SCANPST.EXE, CalCheck, or the classic Outlook Get Help diagnostics against new Outlook. Those tools apply to classic Outlook, and Microsoft states that its classic troubleshooters do not work with new Outlook ^1^.

    2. Restart new Outlook completely

    1. Right-click Start and select Task Manager.
    2. Select Microsoft Outlook.
    3. Select End task.
    4. Reopen Outlook and test People and Calendar.

    This closes any frozen background instance rather than merely closing its window ^2^.

    3. Reinstall new Outlook

    If Contacts and Calendar work in webmail but remain blank in the app:

    1. Open Start and locate new Outlook for Windows.
    2. Expand its options and select Uninstall.
    3. Open Microsoft Store.
    4. Find new Outlook and select Get.
    5. Open it and add the account if it is not restored automatically.
    6. Allow synchronization to complete, then test People and Calendar.

    Microsoft documents reinstalling the application as the recovery action when new Outlook continues to freeze or stop working. New Outlook requires Windows 10 version 17763.0 or later ^2^.

    4. If reinstalling does not restore the folders

    Remove and add back only the affected account:

    1. In new Outlook, open View > View settings.
      Alternatively, select File > Account info > Accounts > Your accounts.
    2. Find the account and select Manage.
    3. Select Remove.
    4. Choose removal from this device only when that option is offered.
    5. Return to the accounts page and add the account again.

    Removing an account deletes its offline cached content from the app but does not delete the account itself. Avoid Remove from all devices: for Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and other non-Microsoft accounts, that option can remove Microsoft Cloud data across Outlook clients, and items existing only there might be permanently lost ^3^.

    If Contacts and Calendar still fail after they have been confirmed in webmail, the remaining issue needs Microsoft Support review as a new Outlook synchronization or account-integration problem; there is no supported PST/OST scan or advanced diagnostic package for the new client.


    References

    1. Resolve Outlook for Windows issues with automated troubleshooting tools | Microsoft Support
    2. Outlook for Windows not responding, hangs, freezes, or stops working | Microsoft Support
    3. [New Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/getstarted/add-an-email-account-to-outlook-for-windows#remove-an-account-in-new-outlook)
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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