The updated Outlook interface makes contact management a bit snappier, but it definitely throws some curveballs when you’re used to the classic version. If you’re trying to find a contact or navigate the Global Address List (GAL), things aren’t as straightforward — the old address book window is gone, and browsing the GAL feels pretty limited unless you get creative. This guide should help you figure out the best way to find contacts now, plus some workarounds if you need more advanced GAL access.
Method 1: Accessing the Address Book While Composing an Email
This is still your go-to for quick contact lookups during composing. You get the search options right there in the email window, which isn’t too shabby. The main trick is to use the recipient fields and the search bar — works pretty well if your contact info is already synced or stored locally.
Search contacts directly while drafting
- Open a new email: Hit “New mail” from the Home tab.
- Click a recipient field: Either “To, ” “Cc, ” or “Bcc”. A small address dialog pops up.
- Use the search box: Type in the contact’s name, email, or distribution list. If you’re connected with an Exchange or Microsoft 365 account, it’ll also search organization-wide contacts. On some setups, this might only pull from your personal contacts, so don’t expect the full GAL like before.
- Add the contact: Hit the “Add” button next to the contact’s name to include them.
On some machines, this search feels kinda limited compared to what you’d see in the old Outlook, but it’s the main method now. The interface makes it look cleaner, but at the cost of some depth in searching.
Method 2: Using the People (Contacts) Tab
This one’s more about browsing your address list when you’re not in a specific email. It’s handy, but also pretty limited in scope.
Find and search your contacts here
- Click the “People” icon: Tap that icon in the left navigation pane. It’s the little silhouette or contacts icon.
- Search for contacts: Use the search bar at the top. You can type partial names, department info, or other keywords. Results will show matches from your contacts and perhaps the GAL if connected.
- Browsing issues: Unlike the classic version, you can’t just scroll through an alphabetized list of the GAL. It’s mainly search-driven. On Mac, you’ll see contact details by clicking the contact card icon, but again, no browsing by department or title here.
You might notice that on some setups, searching feels slow or the GAL isn’t fully accessible unless you specify keywords. Because of this, hitting the GAL directly isn’t as simple as before.
Limitations of the New Outlook Address Book
For folks used to the old Outlook, these changes can feel like a step back. Here’s what’s missing or different:
- No standalone address book window: You can’t just open a separate window like in the classic UI. Everything’s integrated into these pop-up searches.
- Limited GAL browsing: No browsing by department or job title without keywords. Basically, you only get search results — browsing is gone for now.
Because of this, lots of users wonder how to access the GAL more fully. That’s where some hacks come into play.
Workarounds for Better GAL Access
This is kind of weird, but if you need more extensive GAL browsing, you might have to get a little creative. Here’s what can help:
- Use the search extensively: The search bar in the “People” tab or recipient fields is your main tool. Narrow down your search with specific keywords like “Finance” or partial names.
- Switch to classic Outlook temporarily: On Windows, if your IT allows it, you can switch back to the classic Outlook interface — go to File > Office Account > About Outlook or check the options menu for “Switch to classic Outlook” if available. On Mac, that usually means opening Outlook in the legacy mode or accessing Outlook on the web (at https://outlook.office.com/) which still offers broader GAL browsing.
- Use Outlook on the web: Because—surprise!—the web version still supports organized GAL browsing better, especially if you’re on Mac or want the full search capability without fuss. Just log in, open People, and browse the GAL by clicking around.
On some setups, this isn’t perfect, but these workarounds can get you closer to what you want. Just don’t expect the old GAL browsing in the new Outlook app — it’s a different beast now.
And of course, keeping Outlook updated on your Mac or Windows machine can sometimes improve search features a bit, as Microsoft keeps tinkering with improvements.
Conclusion
Basically, finding contacts in the new Outlook is centered around searching rather than browsing. The primary methods are using the recipient search in emails or the “People” tab, but the GAL browsing options are pretty limited unless you switch interfaces or check out Outlook on the web. It’s not necessarily better or worse — just different enough to throw people off at first. Eventually, getting used to the search-based workflow helps, but if you need exhaustive GAL browsing, that’s still kinda buried behind some workarounds.