Microsoft Outlook: How to Create and Use a Contact Group

Use a Contact Group (formerly called a “distribution list”) to send an email to multiple people without having to add each name to the To, Cc, or Bcc line individually. The Contact Group feature lets you send an email to a group of email addresses quickly under one name, e.g., “Project Team”. When you send an email to the Contact Group, it goes to all of the recipients you've specified for that group.

This knowledge article demonstrates how to create and use a Contact Group.

Step 1

Click New Contact Group.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of New Contact Group button

Step 2

Type the name of the Contact Group, click Add Members, and then select one of the options.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of Add Members button

Step 3

Select or search for names then click Members.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of Select Members dialog

Step 4

Repeat until all the members have been added, and then click OK.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of OK button highlighted

Step 5

Click Save & Close.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of Save & Close button

Step 6

Create a new email message, and start typing the name of the Contact Group in the To: field. Press enter when the Contact Group appears in Outlook's autocomplete.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of Outlook's autocomplete option

The Contact Group is displayed in the To: field.

Title: Microsoft Outlook; Description: image of the Contact Group in the To field

 

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