Auto-complete is a handy feature in Outlook that remembers email addresses you’ve used in the past and suggests them as you type, speeding up the process of composing emails. However, it can sometimes run into problems, with outdated or incorrect addresses being suggested or new contacts not appearing. Here’s how you can fix auto-complete issues in Outlook 2021 and ensure smooth sailing as you manage your emails.

Understanding the Auto-Complete List

Outlook’s auto-complete function draws from a list of email addresses that it populates and updates as you send and receive emails. This list is stored within your mailbox on your computer, separate from your Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox. It means that even if you access your email from a different computer or device, the auto-complete list remains unique to your primary device.

Keeping the List Current and Accurate

To ensure the auto-complete feature works as expected, it’s important to keep the list current. Outlook doesn’t automatically add every new email address you interact with to the auto-complete list. Instead, it learns from your actions, adding addresses only after you’ve sent an email to a new contact a few times. This helps prevent the list from becoming cluttered with addresses you’re unlikely to use again.

Deleting Outdated or Incorrect Entries

From time to time, you may need to remove outdated or incorrect email addresses from the auto-complete list. To do this, go to the “File” tab in Outlook, then select “Options” and “Mail.” Next, click on the “Empty Auto-Complete List” button, located under the “Send messages” section. A warning will appear, reminding you that this action cannot be undone. If you’re sure, click “Yes,” and the list will be cleared.

Manually Adding Entries to the Auto-Complete List

You can also add email addresses to the auto-complete list manually. To do this, open a new email and type the desired address in the “To” field. Before sending the email, click on the “Add to Outlook Contacts” option that appears below the address. You can then choose the contact folder where you want to save the address.

Ensuring New Contacts Appear in Auto-Complete

Make sure new contacts you add to your address book appear in auto-complete by checking a few settings. Go to the “File” tab, select “Options,” then choose the “Contacts” option. Under the “Also suggest contacts from:” section, ensure that your primary contacts folder is checked.

Turning Off Auto-Complete

If you prefer not to use the auto-complete feature at all, you can turn it off. Go to the “File” tab, then “Options,” and select “Mail.” Under the “Send messages” section, uncheck the box next to “Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines.”

Troubleshooting Persistent Problems

If you’re still experiencing issues with auto-complete, try checking your Outlook email profile for errors and rebuilding it if necessary. You can also create a new Outlook data file and make it your default to ensure any corrupt files aren’t causing problems.

Keeping Your Auto-Complete List Synced Across Devices

If you use multiple devices to access Outlook, you may want your auto-complete list to sync across them. To do this, you’ll need to use an Exchange Server account, as the auto-complete list is stored on the server rather than locally.

Conclusion

Fixing auto-complete issues in Outlook 2021 can be a straightforward process once you understand how the feature works. By managing your auto-complete list, adjusting settings, and syncing across devices, you can ensure that this timesaving tool works efficiently and accurately. With these tips, you can make Outlook’s auto-complete function a reliable asset in your email management.

I hope that helps! Let me know if you would like assistance with anything else.