Outlook: Duplicate Contacts

If you have imported contacts into Outlook using the same names or e-mail addresses as ones that already exist in your Contacts folder, and you selected the Allow duplicates to be created option in the Import and Export Wizard, you might have unwanted duplicate contacts of several or all of the contacts that you imported.

Removing the unwanted duplicate contacts is a manual process, but the following is the easiest way to do it.

1. In Contacts, select the contacts folder where there are duplicate contacts.
2. In the Navigation Pane (Navigation Pane: The column on the left side of the Outlook window that includes panes such as Shortcuts or Mail and the shortcuts or folders within each pane. Click a folder to show the items in the folder.), under Current View, click Phone List.This gives you the best view to scan your contacts list and see the duplicate contacts. Now you can sort the list by modified date to group the duplicates together.
3. On the View menu, point to Arrange By, then point to Current View, and then click Customize    Current View.
4. Click Fields, and in the Available Fields list, click Modified, and then click Add.
5. Click Move Up until Modified is at the top of the Show these fields in this order list.
6. Click OK twice.
7. In the list of contacts, press CTRL while you click each duplicate contact.
8. When you have selected all the duplicate contacts, press DELETE.

Notes

If you do not want duplicate contacts when you import contacts into Outlook, select the Do not import duplicates option or the Replace duplicates with items imported option in the Import and Export Wizard.

• Do not import duplicates  Existing data is kept, and the duplicate information in the Personal Folders file (.pst) (Personal Folders file (.pst): Data file that stores your messages and other items on your computer. You can assign a .pst file to be the default delivery location for e-mail messages. You can use a .pst to organize and back up items for safekeeping.) is not copied to the Contacts folder.
• Replace duplicates with items imported  Existing data in the Contacts folder is replaced with the information in the .pst file that is being imported.

If you save a recipient's contact information with the same name or e-mail address as one that already exists in your Contacts folder, Outlook displays a dialog box that allows you to do one of the following:

• Add the new contact.

Update your existing contact with the new information from the new contact.