Why does created contact list display no members in new Outlook

Hi June Phillips,

In new Outlook, a contact list can sometimes appear empty even though it still contains members.

Things to check (in order):

1. Open the contact list and click Edit (pencil icon). In some cases, the main Members view doesn’t populate correctly, but the names are visible in Edit mode.
2. If Edit is also blank, check Outlook on the web (Outlook.live.com): People > Contact lists. This helps confirm whether the list is actually missing members or if the issue is specific to new Outlook.
3. If the list appears empty in Outlook on the web as well, recreating it in People ensures it’s stored as a modern cloud contact list, which new Outlook supports more reliably.

Address Book / directory note: If members were added from a company directory or GAL that you no longer have access to (or that no longer resolves), the list may fail to display members. Re‑adding them using saved contacts or full email addresses usually resolves this.

Classic vs. new Outlook behavior: New Outlook does not always handle legacy Contact Groups the same way as classic Outlook, particularly when nested groups (a group inside another group) are involved. Flattening the group (adding individual members directly) or recreating it as a new contact list is the typical resolution.

For reference: You can't expand a nested contact group and Unknown is displayed in the group name in Outlook

If you can confirm whether the names appear when you click Edit, that should point to the most effective next step.

Please let me know if this proves useful to you, or if you would like further assistance.

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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In new Outlook for Windows, contact lists (formerly called contact groups) are handled differently from classic Outlook, and what is shown depends on how the list was created and where it is stored.

To ensure members are visible and usable in new Outlook:

1. Open the People view
   • In new Outlook, use the side panel and select People.
2. Open the contact list correctly
   • In People, select the contact list (not an individual contact) to view its details.
   • New Outlook treats these as Contact Lists; classic Outlook called them Contact Groups. If the list was created only in an "On My Computer" store (as in some Mac or classic scenarios), it may not sync or show members in new Outlook.
3. Recreate the list in an account that syncs
   • If the list appears but shows no members, recreate it in the cloud mailbox so new Outlook can fully use it:
     1. In People, select an existing contact.
     2. Choose Add to list (right‑click the contact or use the Ribbon), then select New contact list.
     3. Name the list and add members from your contacts.
   • This creates a new contact list that is fully supported in new Outlook.
4. If using Outlook for Mac or “On My Computer” lists
   • Contact lists created under On My Computer (for example, in Outlook for Mac) appear only locally there. New Outlook for Windows will not show those local members; they must be recreated in an Exchange/Outlook.com account as above.

If members still do not appear after recreating the list in People, use classic Outlook temporarily to verify the list contents and rebuild the list in new Outlook’s People view.

References:

• Create, edit, or delete a contact list (or contact group) in Outlook
• Create a contact list or distribution list in Outlook for Mac