Outlook is updating to automatically hide exact or proper subset duplicate contacts, streamlining contact lists. The update will roll out from late August to September 2024 for Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows. Other Outlook clients will show all contacts, and synchronization will occur across all platforms. Hidden duplicates can be accessed and exported from classic Outlook clients. No admin action is required, but users should be informed.
Microsoft Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows are enhancing users' experience by automatically hiding contacts that are exact duplicates or proper subsets of other contacts. This means that if you have multiple entries for the same person, Outlook will consolidate them, keeping only the most complete contact visible. This update aims to declutter your contact list, making it easier to navigate and manage.
When this will happen:
Public Preview: We will begin rolling out late August 2024 and expect to complete by late September 2024.
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out late September 2024 and expect to complete by late September 2024.
How this will affect your organization:
Impact on different Outlook clients: Cleanup will affect the Outlook web app and new Outlook for Windows, while classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on Mac, and Outlook mobile will remain unchanged, showing all contacts.
Synchronization Across Platforms: Updates made to any contact will be synchronized across all Outlook clients.
How to access hidden duplicate contacts: Exact or proper subset duplicate contacts are automatically hidden to streamline your view. They remain accessible via classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on Mac, and Outlook mobile. Users can also export contacts from any Outlook app to view them.
How users can determine which contacts are subsets/hidden versus supersets: This is currently a manual process that can only be completed by reviewing contacts from within classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on Mac, or Outlook mobile. There is no method for admins to automate this process at this time.
Exporting Contacts: If users need to export their contacts for review in another tool, including the hidden ones, you can export contacts in all Outlook clients.
What you need to do to prepare:
This rollout will happen automatically with no admin action required. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation as appropriate.