How to Create a Mailing List in Outlook

Create contact lists that let you email multiple recipients at once

What to Know

  • First, go to Home and select New Items > More Items > Contact Group. Name the group.
  • Then, go to the Contact Group tab and select Add Members > From Outlook Contacts.
  • Finally, select a contact from the list and select Members to add them to the group. Add additional members to the group as needed.

This article explains how to create a mailing list in Outlook. Mailing lists, also called contact lists and contact groups, group together multiple email addresses under an alias so that it's easier to send a message to all members of that list. Instructions apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, Outlook for Microsoft 365, and Outlook.com.

Create a Contact Group in Outlook

Mailing lists are called contact groups in Outlook. Follow these steps to create a contact group and then add members to it in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

  1. Go to Home and select New Items > More Items > Contact Group.

    Get to Contact Group quicker with the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+L.

    Outlook 2016 Contact Group item in Home menu
  2. In the Contact Group dialog box, place the cursor in the Name text box and type a name for the contact group.

    Outlook 2016 contact group name field
  3. Go to the Contact Group tab and select Add Members > From Outlook Contacts.

    Outlook 2016 Add Members button and menu
  4. In the Select Members: Contacts dialog box, select a contact from the list, then select Members to add them to the group. Add additional members to the group as needed.

    Outlook 2016 select group members window
  5. Select OK to return to the Contact Group dialog box.

    Outlook 2016 group member selection screen
  6. Select Save & Close.

Create a Contact Group in Outlook 2010

Creating a contact group in Outlook 2010 is similar to later versions, but there are some differences.

  1. Click Contacts.

    For a keyboard shortcut to Contacts, press Ctrl+3.

    Outlook 2010 home tab with Contacts selected
  2. In the Name text box, enter a name for the contact group.

    Outlook 2010 name field for contact group
  3. Go to the Contact Group tab and click Add Members.

    Outlook 2010 Add Members button
  4. Select the contacts you want to add to the group.

    Outlook 2010 select members for group window
  5. Click Members to add the selected contacts to the group.

    Outlook 2010 add members button
  6. Click OK to return to the Contact Group dialog box. The contacts included in the group are listed.

    Outlook 2010 contact group members displayed
  7. Click Save & Close.

Create a Contact List on Outlook.com

Log in to your Outlook.com account, and follow these directions to create a contact list.

  1. Select the Office Application Launcher at the top-left corner of the Outlook.com page, then select People.

    Some users may need to select All apps in order to see the People option.

    Outlook.com People app section
  2. Select the New Contact dropdown arrow, then select New contact list.

  3. Enter a name and a description for the group (only you will see this information).

    Outlook.com new contact list name field
  4. In the Add email addresses text box, type the name or email address of a contact you want to add to the list. Suggestions are generated from your contacts and display in a dropdown list.

    Either select a suggested contact to add them to the list, or enter an email address and select Add if the contact doesn't exist in your address book.

    Outlook.com add contacts to a new list
  5. When you've added everyone to the list, select Create.

How to Change Outlook.com Contact Lists

To modify a contact list after it is created:

  1. Open the Office Applications Launcher and select People.

    Outlook.com applications > people menu selections
  2. Select All contact lists, choose the contact list you want to change, and select Edit.

    Outlook.com edit existing contact link
  3. Edit your contact list by adding or removing contacts, altering the description, or changing the name of the list.

    Outlook.com edit and delete contact list options
  4. After you've made all the changes, select Save.

How to Delete Outlook.com Contact Lists

To delete a contact list:

Deleting a contact list does not delete the individual contacts in the list.

  1. Open the Office Applications Launcher and select People.

    Outlook.com applications > people menu selections
  2. Select All contact lists, then choose the list you want to delete.

    Outlook.com All contact lists with contact list selected
  3. Select Delete.

    Outlook.com All contact lists with contact list selected and delete highlighted
  4. In the confirmation window, select Delete.

    Outlook.com confirmation window to delete of contact list
  5. The contact list is removed.

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