How to sort my address book in outlook?

Robert Weiner 45 Reputation points
2026-08-18T09:10:51.93+00:00

I powered up my Windows 11 PC this morning and started Microsoft 365 Outlook. I started creating a new email. When I clicked on BCC: to open my address book I found that the address book has been sorted by NAME, not as FILE AS as it has always been. My contact list is sorted by FILE AS. How do I get my address book sorted by FILE AS?

Thank you,

Bob

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-08-18T09:11:04.87+00:00

In classic Outlook, the address book can be changed to use File As formatting for names.

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  3. Open the Address Books tab.
  4. Select the address book to change.
  5. Select Change.
  6. Under Show names by, select File As (Smith, John).

If the contacts themselves are mixed between formats, also check the contact name display settings:

  1. Go to File > Options > Contacts.
  2. In Names and Filing, set the preferred Display names by and default File As order.

Important: if the address book being opened from Bcc is the Global Address List (GAL) for a work or school Exchange/Microsoft 365 account, that list cannot be changed in Outlook because it is managed automatically by Exchange. The change applies to contact folders and address books that can be edited in Outlook.

References:

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