Send & Receive Issues

How to Fix Incorrect Outlook Display Name and Missing Emails

Phi Hung Vo Sep 29, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to correct a wrong display name that appears when typing an email address in Outlook and resolve issues with messages failing to arrive in the Inbox.

Fix an Incorrect Outlook Display Name and Missing Emails in Outlook

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Addressing an incorrect sender or recipient name auto-populating in emails, which can also route expected incoming messages incorrectly.
Observed behavior: Outlook displays the wrong name in the 'To' field due to cached AutoComplete data or conflicting contact entries, and some incoming emails do not reach the Inbox as expected.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all drafts and closed any open emails before clearing cached files or modifying Outlook settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Incorrect AutoComplete Suggestion In-App

The quickest and most direct way to resolve a faulty display name is by deleting the incorrect suggestion directly from the message composer.

Outlook remembers the addresses you type and saves them in an AutoComplete list. If a contact changed their name or the cache became corrupted, you must manually delete the bad entry so Outlook can pull the correct information.

Start a new message

Open Outlook and click on 'New Email' in the top left corner of the Home ribbon to open a blank message window.

Trigger the AutoComplete suggestion

Begin typing the email address or the incorrect display name into the 'To' field until the suggestion drops down.

Delete the entry

Use your arrow keys to highlight the incorrect suggestion in the dropdown list, and click the 'X' icon next to it or press the 'Delete' key on your keyboard.

Remove the Incorrect AutoComplete Suggestion In-App

Instant Update: Once deleted, manually type the full, correct email address and send the message. Outlook will cache the new, correct information for future use.

Solution 2

Clear AutoComplete Cache via File Explorer

If deleting the suggestion in-app does not work, you can manually delete the cached AutoComplete files from your computer's hidden AppData folder.

Solution 3

Check Contacts and Update Microsoft Profile

Conflicts in your Outlook Contacts or outdated server-side profile information can force an incorrect display name.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Outlook show the wrong name when I type an email address?

This is usually caused by an outdated or corrupted entry in Outlook's AutoComplete cache, or a conflicting duplicate entry saved in your Address Book or Contacts list.

Can a wrong display name cause missing emails?

Yes. If the AutoComplete cache contains a corrupted or malformed email address tied to a specific display name, your emails or replies might be routed incorrectly, causing them to miss the intended recipient's Inbox.

How do I turn off the AutoComplete feature in Outlook?

Go to File > Options > Mail. Scroll down to the 'Send messages' section and uncheck the box that says 'Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines', then click OK.

Why can't I change my display name on my work email?

Work and school accounts are managed through Microsoft Exchange server policies. You must contact your organization's IT administrator to change the display name associated with your Active Directory profile.

Outlook & Email Problems