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How to Enable or Disable Suggested People in Outlook

Richard
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Richard
Mar 21, 2025 Updated Aug 13, 2026 2 min read
How to Enable or Disable Suggested People in Outlook
How to Enable or Disable Suggested People in Outlook

Suggested People in Outlook is the list of email names that automatically pops up when you start typing in the To box. Outlook builds this list using your work directory and people you messaged recently, which often fills your screen with random addresses you rarely need.

Turning off this feature clears out the clutter so you only see the people you actually want to email. You can switch this setting on or off in a few quick steps through your Outlook options menu.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Outlook settings, navigate to General, then Privacy and data. Under “Suggested people,” click “Clear data and turn off” to disable, or “Activate expanded contacts suggestions” to enable.

Enable or disable suggested people in Outlook

The “Suggested people” feature in Outlook helps locate recipients faster during message composition. Managing this utility takes only a few clicks for anyone wanting a cleaner inbox. Adjusting the preference requires navigating through the primary application menu.

Configuring the preference begins with a specific menu path.

Launch Outlook from the Start menu or the taskbar search box .

Open Outlook app in Windows 11
Open Outlook app in Windows 11

Locate the Settings gear icon at the top right of the menu bar and click it.

Outlook settings button in the app
Outlook settings button in the app

Click "General" in the Settings sidebar, then select "Privacy and data" to load the configuration options.

General privacy in Outlook
General privacy in Outlook

Contact recommendations rely on historical messaging patterns to predict recipients. Disabling the functionality involves clicking the "Clear data and turn off" button inside the "Suggested people" section.

Clear suggested people data in Outlook
Clear suggested people data in Outlook

Save the modifications before closing out.

Reverting the toggle requires clicking "Activate expanded contacts suggestions" to restore historical recommendations.

Activate suggested people data in Outlook
Activate suggested people data in Outlook

Configuration complete.

Conclusion:

  • The new Outlook app for Windows 11 enhances user experience with features like suggested people.
  • Users can easily enable or disable the suggested people feature to customize their interaction.
  • Accessing the settings is straightforward, ensuring a user-friendly approach to managing privacy.
  • The ability to clear data and activate suggestions provides flexibility in how users handle their contacts.
  • The Outlook app offers robust functionalities for efficient email and calendar management.

How do I turn on suggested recipients in Outlook?

Microsoft account holders navigate to the dedicated Privacy page, signing in when prompted by security prompts. Scrolling down reveals the Improve your productivity section, where selecting People suggestions controls the behavior.

How to activate suggested replies in Outlook?

Toggling the checkbox updates the preference accordingly. Selecting OK preserves the modification.

Why did Outlook stop suggesting email addresses?

Launching MS Outlook leads into the File menu. Choosing Options opens the Mail tab containing the Send Messages section. Confirming the checkbox next to 'Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Bcc, and Cc lines' remains active ensures recipient prompts function correctly.

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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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