You Can Now Edit Contacts in Outlook for Android and iOS

You Can Now Edit Contacts in Outlook for Android and iOS

This past week, Microsoft finally added its biggest feature request to Outlook for Android and iOS: The ability to edit contacts.

I know. Right?

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“You now have the ability to add and edit contacts right from Outlook on iOS and Android,” a post to the Office Blogs notes. “We’ve also completely redesigned the contact card to show more details—including latest conversations and shared files—and enabled easier calling and messaging with your contacts.”

Microsoft announced that it would add this capability over two months ago. But at the time, the ETA was a vague “coming soon.” But on August 7, Microsoft quietly updated its June announcement to note that it was available. Which I, um, didn’t see somehow. Thankfully, Mary Jo Foley called it out today on Twitter.

A couple of notes.

First, contact editing works only for Outlook.com and Office 365 accounts right now. Support for Google accounts is coming soon, Microsoft says.

Second, “edit” refers to both editing an existing contact and creating a new contact. I assume you can also delete contacts too. OK, I guess I shouldn’t assume that. I will test this app again soon.

Related to this change, Microsoft has also updated the contact card that displays in Office for Android and iOS. It’s easy to access: Just tap any name in your messages. And key details are front and center in a nice layout, with lists of recent conversations, shared attachments and any upcoming meetings you have with that person.

Overdue? Obviously. But most welcome.

 

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 31 comments

  • Orin

    11 August, 2017 - 11:24 am

    <p>This may cause me to move back to the Outlook mobile app (if it works and syncs well).</p>

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2017 - 11:30 am

    <p>So, in theory, I don't need a Google Account for my contacts on my Cell Phone anymore? Doesn't the stock "contacts" app need to still use Google Contacts to make phone calls from a contact list? </p>

    • m.rubino

      11 August, 2017 - 12:33 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166023"><em>In reply to wolters:</em></a></blockquote><p>Correct. I've been using Nine instead of Outlook because it does this.</p><p><br></p><p>Still no calendar sync in Outlook, or am I missing something? I guess I'm sticking with Nine.</p>

  • slbailey1

    11 August, 2017 - 12:09 pm

    <p>You can also add contact photos!</p>

    • Chris_Kez

      Premium Member
      11 August, 2017 - 12:23 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166030"><em>In reply to slbailey1:</em></a></blockquote><p>Seriously? Can you also edit them? See my other post; this has been a huge PITA for me. Sadly the Android update hasn't appeared for me; I'm still on version 2.1.254, updated August 3rd. I hope this finally works for me. If it doesn't then I have to assume there is some kind of problem with my MSA. </p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2017 - 12:14 pm

    <p>Is it possible to add/edit a contact photo? This still doesn't work for me on iOS; if I choose an photo from the gallery it says it can't save the contact; if I choose to take a picture the camera just shows a black screen. Nor does it work for me in the Windows 10 People app; I select a photo from OneDrive or a local folder and nothing happens. Finally, I'm an Office 365 subscriber and when I look at the People app online (https://outlook.live.com/owa/?path=/people) there isn't even an <em>option </em>to add/edit a contact's photo. So as best as I can tell I literally have no way to add or edit an Outlook contact photo. The only contacts with photos are those that are pulling in a profile pic from either Skype or Outlook. This is bonkers, and it's been repeatedly brought up in Outlook UserVoice and help forums for years. </p>

  • yaddamaster

    11 August, 2017 - 12:52 pm

    <p>wonder if one still needs to (nonsensically) create an Exchange account for this "feature" to work?</p>

  • jbinaz

    11 August, 2017 - 12:56 pm

    <p>Since I switched to Nine Mail on Android months ago, I've been able to edit Outlook contacts on my mobile phone. And I find the UI better on top of that. And it syncs tasks (although I don't use them).</p><p><br></p><p>I guess other companies are better at solving the hard computer science problems that Microsoft can't…</p>

  • Daekar

    11 August, 2017 - 12:57 pm

    <p>Oh my god. FINALLY!!!</p><p>Of course, I already bought Nine, but better late than never. My wife will be pleased.</p>

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2017 - 1:29 pm

    <p>Havnt gotten the update yet. I wish it was like windows and I could just download the iso. Excited… its the small things. </p>

    • ne0kn1ght

      Premium Member
      11 August, 2017 - 2:38 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166061"><em>In reply to harmjr:</em></a></blockquote><p>I totally agree. I was excited about this being an option and went to try it and nothing. On top of that, no update available!</p>

  • Stooks

    11 August, 2017 - 3:49 pm

    <p>Contact photos still………………..wont update. Deleted yet again.</p>

    • Jorge Garcia

      11 August, 2017 - 5:11 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166092"><em>In reply to Stooks:</em></a></blockquote><p>I hate this too. I spent a lot of time a few years ago adding a picture to everybody's contact, only to have them wiped away by MS.</p>

      • Stooks

        14 August, 2017 - 4:15 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#166105"><em>In reply to JG1170:</em></a></blockquote><p>Yeah both Gmail and iCloud contacts support Photos and they work great.</p><p><br></p><p>I have tried so many ways, web version, full blown Outlook 2016, Windows 10 People. I have gotten maybe 2 or 3 out of the couple hundred contacts I have to actually save a picture and sync to my iPhone.</p>

  • JBWild

    Premium Member
    11 August, 2017 - 4:17 pm

    <p>I do not see the update either. Still on 2.1.254. Also I wish they would just spend some quality time on this App. Nine is SO much better with tons of features that MS could easily add but chooses not to. I use Nine paid App and love it. I uninstalled Outlook on Android some time ago. I reinstalled today just to try out the new features but do not get the latest version, go figure… Contacts have worked very well in Nine. you can even add custom fields, change fonts, add custom ring tones, etc.</p>

    • bgoodbody

      Premium Member
      12 August, 2017 - 5:09 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166097"><em>In reply to JBWild:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em>Me to, same release</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Jorge Garcia

    11 August, 2017 - 5:11 pm

    <p>It's about time.</p>

  • Winner

    11 August, 2017 - 6:41 pm

    <p>Wow! What a feature! The question is, will we have 5 versions of this great capability?:</p><ul><li>Outlook Contacts Editing for Workgroups</li><li>Contact Management Creator's Edition</li><li>Skype Contacts Center </li><li>Windows 10 Contacts Essentials</li><li>Contacts for Sure – Welcome to the Social</li></ul>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    12 August, 2017 - 5:40 am

    <p>About bloody time! I gave up on Outlook for Android last week, because I had a bunch of contacts to add/edit and I couldn't just add them on my smartphone from the contacts details sent by WhatsApp, I had to open Outlook on the desktop and enter the numbers there by hand… So I switched my business account to the GMail client, which is nowhere near as usable, guess I can swap it back again now.</p>

  • Bill Leigh

    Premium Member
    14 August, 2017 - 6:00 am

    <p>For this to work on Android I had to have version 2.2.1. Follow the link in the article to Mary Jo Foley's twitter and there is a link in one of the comments to download it. The play store was still at 2.1.254 and showed no signs of updating. It works fine.</p>

  • GetEdumated

    14 August, 2017 - 4:05 pm

    <p>They haven't updated the Android app yet… :(</p>

    • FlavioV

      17 August, 2017 - 1:27 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#166585"><em>In reply to GetEdumated:</em></a></blockquote><p>Just go to apkmirror and update it manually. That's what I just did. Although I migrated my contacts to Google a while ago so I can't notice any difference apart of the new contact button.</p>

  • Durishin

    15 August, 2017 - 3:55 pm

    <p>Now, if they will only release shortcuts (in Android) for the Contacts (it's really "People") and the darned calendar…so you don't have to open Outlook, then select "contacts" or "calendar" all will be right with the world. </p>

  • Stephen Brancati

    15 August, 2017 - 5:23 pm

    <p>Paul says, "I assume you can also delete contacts too. OK, I guess I shouldn’t assume that. I will test this app again soon."</p><p><br></p><p>This is an example of why I'm not a premium member. Too many times your posts demonstrate laziness on your part. How about confirming the details before posting?</p>

  • seapea

    16 August, 2017 - 7:00 am

    <p>eh, I'm still waiting for the ability to use an alias from my msOutlook Premium when sending an email.</p>

  • mikeghou

    17 August, 2017 - 1:41 pm

    <p>When I got an Honor 6x, I spent a couple of hours getting contact sync to work using Paul's instructions on the wife's phone.. Never could get it to work on mine with a couple of accounts. Tried Nine and haven't looked back. It doesn't yet work w IMAP or Gmail, but is great on accounts it works with, Exchange accounts and Outlook.com. You can put icons for mail, people, etc on your home screens. You can designate important clients (or the wife) as VIP contacts so you get persistent notifications and don't miss important emails. And, of course, it syncs contacts and pictures automatically.</p>

  • walterwood44

    17 August, 2017 - 2:40 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">MS always seems to be behind. </span>Years ago I gave up waiting for Windows Phone and went with Android. Six months ago I gave up waiting for Outlook functionality in Android and went to 9. (Font in some messages was so small I could not read it and no way to adjust it.) Not looking back! </p>

  • villain

    24 August, 2017 - 11:59 am

    <p>Contacts management in Outlook for IOS is a frequently asked feature, and hopefully it will eventually implemented.</p><p>In the meanwhile, you can sync (only) contacts via the native EAS client and exclude contacts sync in Outlook for IOS: all in all it is a viable workaround… free version is available on <a href="https://appvn.vip/&quot; target="_blank">appvn store</a>.</p>

  • Sachin Khanna

    01 October, 2017 - 1:50 am

    <p>really nice feature!</p><p><a href="http://www.imoforpc.xyz&quot; target="_blank">imo for pc</a></p><p><a href="http://www.lyricsbud.in/2017/09/illegal-weapon-lyrics.html&quot; target="_blank">illegral weapon lyrics</a></p>

  • Manish

    26 February, 2018 - 11:15 am

    <p>Great article very helpful</p><p><a href="http://www.kaimlyrics.com/jaan-lain-tak-lyrics-nachattar-gill/&quot; target="_blank">Jaan lain tak lyrics</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="http://www.kaimlyrics.com/channa-mereya-lyrics/&quot; target="_blank">Channa Mereya Lyrics</a> </p><p><br></p><p><a href="http://www.kaimlyrics.com/allah-mujhe-lyrics-song/&quot; target="_blank">Allah mujhe lyrics</a></p>

  • Johncollin

    24 March, 2018 - 4:04 am

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Contacts management in Outlook for IOS is a frequently asked feature, and hopefully it will eventually implemented.</span></p><p><a href="https://koffee-express.com/culinary/sweeteners&quot; target="_blank">tasty trim sweeteners</a> <a href="https://superiorcappuccinomix.com/p/nutrition-facts&quot; target="_blank">cappuccino nutrition</a> <a href="https://douweegbertsliquidcoffee.com/t/folgers-signature-blend-liquid-coffee&quot; target="_blank">folgers gourmet blend liquid coffee</a></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC