Contact Problems

How to Correct a Misspelled Name in Outlook and Microsoft 365

WPS Editor Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to permanently fix a misspelled display name that continues to appear in email recipient fields despite previous attempts to correct it.

How to Correct a Misspelled Name in Outlook and Microsoft 365

Product: Outlook and Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Composing new emails or searching for contacts in Outlook where an old or incorrect display name persistently shows up.
Observed behavior: A misspelled display name continues appearing in Outlook due to cached AutoComplete suggestions, outdated Microsoft 365 profiles, or duplicate contact entries, even after changing the name in one location.

Before you start

Ensure your display name has been correctly updated in your main Microsoft 365 account portal. Save any drafts and prepare to restart the Outlook application during the troubleshooting process.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Entire Outlook AutoComplete Cache

Use this method if multiple incorrect names are appearing or if you want to reset all cached email suggestions at once.

Outlook remembers the email addresses and names you have typed previously. If a name was misspelled in the past, it gets saved in this Auto-Complete List. Emptying the list forces Outlook to fetch fresh, correct data from your address book.

Open Outlook Options

Launch the Outlook desktop application. Click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Mail Settings

In the Outlook Options dialog box, select the 'Mail' tab from the left sidebar.

Empty Auto-Complete List

Scroll down to the 'Send messages' section. Click the button labeled 'Empty Auto-Complete List'. Click 'Yes' in the confirmation prompt, then click 'OK' to save your changes.

Clear the Entire Outlook AutoComplete Cache

Data Safety: Emptying the Auto-Complete list does not delete your saved contacts or address book. It only clears the temporary cache of recently typed addresses.

Solution 2

Delete Individual Incorrect AutoComplete Suggestions

Best for quickly removing a single misspelled name without clearing your entire history of email suggestions.

Solution 3

Use Windows Run Command to Clean the Cache

An alternative method to forcefully clear the AutoComplete cache if the standard Outlook options menu is inaccessible or fails to work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the wrong name still appear after I changed it in my Microsoft 365 profile?

Outlook stores a local cache of previously typed email addresses and names to speed up email composition. Even if you update the central Microsoft 365 profile, the local AutoComplete cache still holds the old data until it is manually cleared or overwritten.

Will clearing the AutoComplete list delete my saved contacts?

No. The AutoComplete list is entirely separate from your Outlook Contacts and Address Book. Clearing it only removes the history of addresses you have recently typed into the 'To', 'Cc', or 'Bcc' fields.

What should I do if clearing the cache doesn't fix the misspelled name?

If clearing the AutoComplete cache doesn't work, check your Outlook Contacts to ensure there isn't a duplicate contact saved with the incorrect spelling. Also, verify your Outlook AutoCorrect entries under File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect, as a custom rule might be automatically changing the name.

Outlook & Email Problems