Creating Contact Groups in Outlook

Owned by Jenna (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 15, 2016 by Tiffany Linhardt (Unlicensed)

Some clients use contact groups to send e-mail correspondences. While you have to enable this feature in Outlook on Mac OS X, it is a pretty straightforward process.

Step-by-step Guide

Mac OS X

The Mac OS X version of Outlook has local folders turned off. This setting needs to be unchecked before you can add Contact Groups as demonstrated by the steps below.

 Step 1: Open the contacts pane by clicking the icon at the bottom right of the Outlook Window that looks like two people.

  • Notice that the "New Contact Group" button is grayed out.

 Step 2: Make the "New Contact Group" button clickable.

  • As the image above indicates, the "New Contact Group" button is grayed out initially.

  • In the Apple Toolbar, click "Outlook" then "Preferences".

  • Select the "General" icon under "Personal Settings".

  • Uncheck "Hide On my Computer folders".

 Step 3: Add contacts to the contact group.

  • Click "New Contact Group".

  • Set the group name and add contacts.

Windows 7 or Windows 10

Windows versions of Outlook do not have local folders turned off so you can simply add a contact group, as demonstrated in the steps below.

Step 1: Click "New Contact Group".

Step 2: Set the group name and add contacts.