new outlook does not include contacts

Check the affected account’s People page first; new Outlook does include contacts and contact lists, but contacts saved only in classic Outlook’s local folders or PST files may require recovery through classic Outlook.

1. Determine where the contacts are stored

In new Outlook, select People on the left. If it is hidden, select More apps → People, then select the affected account. Contacts appear under Your contacts, while classic Outlook “Contact Groups” are called Contact Lists in new Outlook and appear under Your contact lists.^1^ ^2^

Also check the contacts service belonging to that same account:

• Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN account: sign in to Outlook.com and open People.
• Microsoft 365 account: open that account’s Outlook web mailbox and select People.
• Gmail, Yahoo, or another provider: check that provider’s contacts service instead.

Do not use a different Microsoft account for this check.

If the contacts are visible online

The data is still in the mailbox. In new Outlook:

1. Open People.
2. Select the same account that contains the online contacts.
3. Check Your contacts and Your contact lists.

If that exact account is already selected but remains empty, remove and re-add that email account in new Outlook to force a fresh synchronization, as described for this symptom.^3^

If the contacts are missing online

Before attempting a local migration, check for deleted cloud contacts:

1. In new Outlook, open People → Deleted.
2. Select the missing contacts and choose Restore.
3. If they are not shown, select Recover deleted, choose the contacts, and select Restore.^4^

If they are not recoverable there, they may be under another account, in classic Outlook’s Contacts (This computer only) folder, or in an Outlook data file.

2. Open classic Outlook when switch-back fails

Since the normal switch-back did not work, first open Start, search for Outlook (classic), and launch the icon without the New label.

If classic Outlook is installed but opening it redirects back to new Outlook, use Microsoft’s documented registry fallback:^5^

1. Close Outlook.
2. Open Start, type Registry Editor, and open it.
3. Go to: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences
4. Double-click UseNewOutlook.
5. Set Value data to 0.
6. Close Registry Editor and launch Outlook (classic) from Start.

Registry changes can affect Outlook startup; export that key first or use Microsoft Support if uncomfortable editing it.

If Outlook (classic) is not installed, install or reinstall it using Microsoft’s classic Outlook installer instructions.^6^

3. Move any local contacts into new Outlook

Only perform this if classic Outlook shows the missing contacts in a local Contacts folder:

1. In classic Outlook, select File → Open & Export → Import/Export.
2. Select Export to a file → Comma Separated Values.
3. Select Contacts (This computer only) or the folder containing the contacts.
4. Save the CSV file.
5. In new Outlook, select People and the destination account.
6. Select Manage contacts → Import contacts.
7. Browse to the CSV and import it.^7^

After importing, verify the individual contacts before deleting or changing any old local folder. If the old contact groups do not appear as lists, create them under People → New contact ▼ → New contact list and add the imported recipients.^2^

References

1. Manage contacts in Outlook | Microsoft Support
2. Create, edit, or delete a contact list (or contact group) in Outlook | Microsoft Support
3. All my contacts are missing with the new outlook. How to fix? - Microsoft Q&A
4. Outlook contacts not showing in "new" outlook - Microsoft Q&A
5. Toggle out of the new Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support
6. Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC
7. Export emails and contacts from Windows Mail or People and import to new Outlook | Microsoft Support