Contact Problems

How to Email a Contact Group in the New Outlook

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to select and send an email to a specific contact group or list within the new Microsoft Outlook interface.

How to Email a Contact Group in the New Outlook

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Composing a new message and trying to add a saved contact list as the recipient instead of adding people individually.
Observed behavior: The user needs the exact steps to locate their contact groups and properly insert them into the recipient field during email composition.

Before you start

Verify that your contact list is successfully created under 'Your contacts' and that you are signed into the correct Microsoft account associated with those contacts in the new Outlook.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'To' Field to Select a Contact List

Access the built-in contact selection window directly from the email composition screen to seamlessly browse and add your contact groups.

In the new Outlook interface, simply typing a group name into the suggestion box may not always pull up your contact lists depending on sync status. Manually opening the contact directory ensures you can select the exact group you created.

Compose a new email

Launch the new Outlook application and click on the 'New Email' button to open the composition window.

Click inside the 'To' field

Instead of just typing the name into the suggestion box, click directly on the 'To' button or inside the field to open the full contact-selection window.

Browse your contacts

Use the pop-up window or click the plus (+) button to view all available contacts and lists associated with your Microsoft account.

Select the contact group

Locate your saved contact list, select it to add all its members to the recipient line, and proceed with composing your message.

Use the 'To' Field to Select a Contact List

Account Matching: Contact matching depends heavily on the active account. If your group is missing, ensure you are browsing contacts for the specific Microsoft account where the list was saved.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my contact list not showing up when I click the 'To' button?

This usually occurs if the contact list was created under a different Microsoft account. Check your account settings in Outlook to ensure you are viewing the contacts for the correct email address.

Can I put a contact group in the BCC field?

Yes, you can click on the 'Bcc' button in the email composition window and follow the same steps to open the contact selection screen and add your group there.

How do I create a new contact list in the new Outlook?

Go to the 'People' or 'Contacts' tab on the left navigation pane, click 'New contact' at the top, and choose 'New contact list'. Give your list a name, add the desired email addresses, and click Save.

Do my contact groups from classic Outlook sync to the new Outlook?

If your contact groups are saved on an Exchange, Microsoft 365, or Outlook.com server, they will automatically sync to the new Outlook once you sign into your account.

Outlook & Email Problems