Incorrect name linked to my [Moderator note: PII removed] @hotmail.com address when I entered address in TO: field

Peter Liao 20 Reputation points
2026-06-01T18:17:55.7166667+00:00

Hello Support Team,

When I type my own email address in the “To” field in Outlook Web, it shows an incorrect full name next to it.

In my account settings, my display name is already set correctly to “Pe*** Li**”, but Outlook still suggests or shows a different full name ([Moderator note: PII removed] ).

I have checked contacts and settings, but I cannot find or remove the source of this incorrect name.

Please help me reset or remove this cached display name so only my name “Pe*** Li**” is shown.

Thank you.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Contacts
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Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-06-01T18:18:06.68+00:00

The incorrect name shown next to the address in the To field is coming from Outlook’s suggested contacts data, not from the current display name on the account. That suggestion needs to be reset/cleared at the Microsoft account level.

Use these steps to reset or turn off the suggested contact data for the Outlook.com/Microsoft account:

  1. Go to the Microsoft account Privacy page: https://account.microsoft.com/privacy and sign in with the same Outlook.com/Hotmail account.
  2. Scroll down to Privacy settings in our products.
  3. Select Expanded people suggestions.
  4. Set the toggle to Off to stop using the stored suggestion data.

If the incorrect name still appears after turning this off, wait a short time and then sign out and back into Outlook Web. If needed, turn Expanded people suggestions back On after the reset so Outlook can rebuild suggestions based on current, correct data.

If a saved personal contact exists with the wrong name, that contact must also be edited or deleted in People/Contacts, because saved contacts are still suggested even when expanded people suggestions are turned off.

References:

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  1. Anonymous
    2026-06-02T01:27:17.1733333+00:00

    Hi Peter Liao

    Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.  

    I understand how confusing it can be when Outlook shows an incorrect name even though your display name is already set correctly.

    Have you already tried the Q&A Assist suggestions under your post? In addition, please try the following:

    1, Check your Contacts

    Even if you didn’t find it earlier, please double‑check:

    • Go to People (Contacts)
    • Search for your own email address
    • If a contact exists with the wrong name, edit or delete it

    Saved contacts will continue to be suggested until removed.

    2, Quick browser reset

    To rule out local cache:

    • Sign out of Outlook Web
    • Open it in InPrivate/Incognito mode
    • Try again

    Feel free to let me know how it goes so I can guide you with the next right step. Thank you for your understanding.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".    

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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