Outlook Autocomplete: How to Clear the Cache

To clear Outlook’s saved recipient suggestions, use File > Options > Mail > Empty Auto-Complete List in classic Outlook for Windows. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac, remove unwanted suggestions individually; the available controls depend on the version. Clearing suggestions removes remembered addresses, not contacts or messages, and Outlook may suggest an address again after you use it.

Autocomplete, also called Auto-Complete, offers email addresses as you type in the To, Cc, or Bcc field. Clearing its saved entries can help if Outlook keeps offering an outdated or incorrect address, or if you want to remove old recipient suggestions. Before you begin, identify which Outlook app you use: classic Outlook for Windows has a dedicated button for clearing the whole list, while other versions generally use per-recipient removal.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account and app where the unwanted suggestions appear.
A moment to identify your Outlook version. In Windows, the classic app has a File tab; new Outlook has a settings gear and a redesigned interface.
If you plan to clear the complete list, be prepared for Outlook to rebuild suggestions as you address new messages. You do not need to delete contacts or reinstall Outlook.

Step-by-Step

Identify where the suggestion appears. Open a new message and type a few letters of the recipient’s name or email address in the To field. Check whether the suggestion appears in classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac. A suggestion may come from the autocomplete cache, your contacts, or your organization’s directory, and the source affects whether it returns.
Clear the entire cache in classic Outlook for Windows, if that is what you want. Close any open message windows, then select File > Options > Mail. In the Send messages section, select Empty Auto-Complete List. Confirm the prompt if Outlook displays one, then select OK in Outlook Options. The command removes all saved autocomplete suggestions, not just the one address you were trying to correct. It does not delete your address book, mailbox, or sent messages.
Remove only one suggestion in classic Outlook for Windows. Start a new message and type enough of the name or address to show the unwanted suggestion. Move the pointer over the entry and select the X at its right edge if one is shown. In some classic Outlook versions, you can highlight the suggestion with the arrow keys and press Delete. Check the selected entry carefully before removing it, then repeat for other unwanted suggestions. This is a better choice than clearing the complete cache when most suggestions are still useful.
Remove a suggestion in new Outlook for Windows. Create a message and enter the recipient’s name or address in the To field. When the suggestion list appears, point to the unwanted entry and select its remove control, usually an X. If the control is not visible, select the entry and look for a remove option in the suggestion list; the design can vary as Outlook updates. Remove each unwanted recipient separately. Do not use a setting that clears browser or account data unless its description explicitly says it affects recipient suggestions.
Remove a suggestion in Outlook on the web. Go to Outlook in your browser, start a new message, and type the recipient into the To field. When the matching suggestion appears, use the X or other remove control beside that entry, if available. If no remove control appears, try the same address in another supported browser or Outlook app, since the interface can differ. Avoid assuming that clearing browser history will clear Outlook’s saved recipient list; browser history and recipient suggestions are not necessarily the same data.
Manage previous recipients in Outlook for Mac. In Outlook for Mac, open the Window menu and choose Previous Recipients, when that command is available in your version. Find the address, select it, and choose Remove or use the minus/remove control in the list. Repeat for other entries. This list is useful for removing individual remembered recipients. If your Mac version does not show Previous Recipients, update Outlook or remove suggestions from the To field as they appear; menu availability differs between versions.
Test the result without sending a message. Open a fresh message and type the same letters again. Confirm that the entry is gone or that the corrected address appears. You can close the draft without sending it. If an address is offered again, check whether it is saved as a contact or supplied by your organization’s directory before repeating the cache-clearing process.

Common Mistakes

Clearing the whole list when only one entry is wrong: The classic Windows button empties every saved suggestion. If you want to retain useful addresses, remove only the specific entry from the suggestion list instead.

Deleting a contact by mistake: An autocomplete suggestion and a contact are separate things. Removing an entry from autocomplete should not require deleting the person from People, Contacts, or your organization’s directory. If the name still appears after removal, check those sources rather than deleting records you need.

Expecting the cache to stop all suggestions: Outlook can still find recipients in contacts, a company directory, or a shared address list. Cache removal only addresses remembered suggestions; it is not a block list and does not prevent someone from emailing you.

Looking for a universal menu path: Classic Outlook, new Outlook, the web app, and Mac versions do not have identical settings. Follow the instructions for the app you actually use, and do not treat a missing button as proof that the cache was not cleared.

Tips

When an incorrect address appears, compare the full email address—not just the display name—before selecting or removing it. Two people can have similar names.
Use the per-entry remove control for routine cleanup. Reserve the full-list command in classic Outlook for a deliberate reset, such as removing a large collection of stale suggestions.
After clearing the full list, expect Outlook to learn addresses again as you send messages. That is normal behavior, not a sign that the command failed.
If you use more than one Outlook app or account, check the same account in each app. A recipient suggestion visible in one place may come from a different cache, contact list, or directory.
Keep an important address in Contacts if you want a reliable, deliberate way to find it. Autocomplete is a convenience, not a substitute for maintaining contact details.

Troubleshooting

The Empty Auto-Complete List button is missing. You may be using new Outlook rather than classic Outlook. Look for the File tab: classic Outlook uses File > Options > Mail. New Outlook has a different interface and may offer removal only beside individual suggestions. If your organization controls Outlook settings, some options may also be restricted.

The same address comes back immediately. First check whether it is a saved contact, a directory result, or a suggestion from another account. Type the name and inspect the result for a directory or contact label if Outlook displays one. Remove the address from the relevant source only if you have permission and genuinely want it removed there. In a work or school account, your administrator may manage directory entries.

A removed entry still appears in an open draft. Close that draft without sending it, start a new message, and test again. An already-open compose window may retain its displayed suggestions. If the suggestion persists in a fresh message, restart Outlook and check the correct app and account.

Outlook keeps suggesting an old address after a full clear. Confirm that the clear command completed and that you are testing the same Outlook profile and mailbox. Then inspect Contacts and directory results. If the address is only a cached entry, remove it again when it appears. If the problem affects many users or the list cannot be changed, contact your organization’s IT support rather than deleting profile files or changing registry settings.

You cannot remove a suggestion in the web or Mac app. Update the app if an update is available, try the remove control in a fresh compose window, and confirm you are signed in to the intended account. The exact control can vary by release. Do not clear all browser data as a first step: it may sign you out or remove unrelated site data without changing the recipient source.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing autocomplete delete my contacts?
No. Clearing the cache in classic Outlook removes remembered recipient suggestions. It does not delete saved contacts, messages, or calendar items. Removing a person from Contacts is a separate action.

Can I clear just one address instead of the whole list?
Usually, yes. Type the name in a new message and use the remove control beside the unwanted suggestion. In some classic Windows versions, highlight the suggestion with the arrow keys and press Delete. The full-list button in classic Outlook removes all cached suggestions.

Will Outlook autocomplete come back after I clear it?
Yes. Outlook can create new suggestions as you address messages. It can also show matching contacts or directory entries, which may remain available even after the cached list is cleared.

Does this stop a person from emailing me?
No. Removing an autocomplete entry only changes the suggestions shown while composing a message. It does not block incoming mail or prevent you from entering the address manually.

Is the procedure the same in Outlook for Windows and Mac?
No. Classic Outlook for Windows has the full-list command at File > Options > Mail > Empty Auto-Complete List. Mac versions commonly let you remove previous recipients individually, and the available menus can differ. New Outlook also has a different interface from classic Outlook.

Why does a removed recipient still show up?
The address may be saved as a contact, supplied by your organization’s directory, or remembered by another Outlook account or app. Test in a new message and check the source of the result before deleting anything else.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.