Edit Contacts in Outlook 2016: A Step-by-Step Guide
Edit contacts in Outlook 2016 is an essential task for anyone who uses the email client for business or personal correspondence. Whether you're managing a small team or communicating with clients, having an organized contact list is crucial for staying connected and productive. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of editing contacts in Outlook 2016, providing you with a clear understanding of how to manage your contacts effectively.
Opening the Contacts Folder
To begin editing contacts in Outlook 2016, you'll first need to access the Contacts folder. You can do this by clicking on the "Contacts" button in the navigation pane, or by pressing Ctrl + 3 on your keyboard. This will open the Contacts folder, which contains all your stored contacts.
Navigating the Contacts Window
The Contacts window in Outlook 2016 is divided into several sections, including the Contact Card, Contact List, and Preview Pane. To navigate the window effectively, you'll need to familiarize yourself with these sections.

- Contact Card: Displays detailed information about a selected contact, including their name, email address, phone number, and other relevant details.
- Contact List: Lists all your contacts alphabetically, making it easy to browse and find specific contacts.
- Preview Pane: Allows you to view the details of a selected contact in a preview window.
Editing Contacts
To edit a contact, simply click on their name in the Contact List to select them, and then click on the "Folder" tab in the top navigation bar. From here, you can make changes to their contact information by clicking on the relevant fields and editing them as needed.
Adding a New Contact
If you need to add a new contact, you can do so by clicking on the "New Contact" button in the top navigation bar. Enter the contact's details, including their name, email address, phone number, and other relevant information. You can also add a picture, designation, and other custom fields to the contact's profile.
Viewing Contact Information
To view a contact's information in more detail, click on their name in the Contact List to select them. This will open the Contact Card, which provides a more detailed view of the contact's profile, including their contact information, birthdays, anniversaries, and other custom fields.

Organizing Contacts
Organizing your contacts in Outlook 2016 is an essential task to stay productive. You can arrange your contacts alphabetically, or sort them by company, last name, or any other field that suits your needs. Additionally, you can also use flags and categories to color-code your contacts for easy identification.
Importing and Exporting Contacts
At times, you may need to import or export contacts from a external source. In Outlook 2016, you can import contacts from files in CSV format, as well as export contacts to files or folders. This is useful when switching between different email clients or communicating with colleagues and clients who use different email service providers.
Deleting and Merging Contacts
When you're done editing contacts, you can delete or merge them to declutter your contact list. Deleting a contact removes their entire record from your Outlook 2016 contacts folder, while merging allows you to combine multiple contacts into a single record. Be careful when merging contacts, as this can lead to duplicate entries if not done correctly.