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Outlook users are likely familiar with its Autocomplete feature—an integral aspect of the application. Whether consciously or inadvertently, virtually every Outlook user relies on this feature during their email correspondence.

Each time you send an email, Outlook stores the email addresses used in that message, offering relevant suggestions when you compose new emails. The Autocomplete feature utilizes cached data, ensuring the closest matches for the email addresses you wish to input.

Now, let’s explore some essential tips to help you maximize the efficiency of the Autocomplete feature.

Method 1. Delete Irrelevant Email Ids ASAP

The Autocomplete feature in Outlook is helpful for suggesting relevant email addresses while typing. However, it can also save incorrect or unnecessary email addresses. To remove unwanted entries, begin composing a new email and type the email address you believe has an incorrect version saved. As you type, Outlook will provide suggestions from previously entered email addresses. From the suggestions drop-down, select the irrelevant or incorrect email address, and click the ‘X’ icon to instantly and permanently delete it.

delete the email id

Method 2. Regularly Remove Unwanted Email Ids

Outlook imposes a limit on the number of email addresses it can save for autocompletion, typically ranging from 1000 to 2000, depending on your Outlook version. If this limit is exceeded, Outlook will automatically remove infrequently used email addresses. To prevent this, it’s advisable to proactively manage and remove entries yourself.

Method 3. Manage the Autocomplete Option

Outlook provides users with the ability to control its features, including Autocomplete. You have the option to enable or disable the Autocomplete feature based on your preferences and convenience. To do this, click on the File menu and select the Options to open the Outlook Options dialogue box. Now, click on the Mail category and trace the Send Messages section and uncheck the box “Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines.” This will disable the Autocomplete feature from your Outlook profile. Once done, click on, OK.

Follow the same process to enable it again.

process to enable Autocomplete feature

Method 4. Empty the AutoComplete List

If you wish to clear your Autocomplete list entirely and start with a fresh slate, you have the option to do so. To empty the Autocomplete list, you need to click on the File menu in Outlook, select Options from the list; this will open the Outlook Options dialogue box.

In the Outlook Options dialogue box, select Mail from the category and locate Send Messages from the category details, and click on the Empty Auto-Complete List. As you click on this option, all the Auto-Complete history will be cleared, and you can start from all new emails. Click on OK while leaving.

Empty the AutoComplete

Note: Selecting ‘Empty Auto-Complete’ will only remove entries from the Auto-Complete address list and will not affect your contact list.

Method 5. Add bulk Email Ids to AutoComplete List

You can add bulk or multiple emails to the AutoComplete list from the Address book of Outlook. For this, you first need to put the Outlook in Offline mode and start creating an email. For activating Offline mode in Outlook, click on the Send/Receive tab and then click on the Work Offline button.

Add bulk Email Ids to AutoComplete List

Now, click on the Home button, select Address Book. Now, select all the contacts you want to add by pressing the Ctrl key simultaneously. Now, click on the Add the Selected Contacts; once it is done, click on the OK button.

Now back to creating the email, click on the Send button to move the email to Outbox. Once the email is moved to Outbox, go to the Outbox folder and delete the email. Make Outlook Online again and Voila, all your contacts are added to AutoComplete list now.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored how the Auto-Complete feature enhances the Outlook experience and how to leverage it effectively. We trust you’ll find these tips beneficial. For further assistance with Outlook, especially concerning PST-related issues and errors, consider utilizing Kernel for Outlook PST Repair software.

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