Microsoft Office 365 Suggested Contacts List Download: Export Contacts in One Click

Downloading your Microsoft Office 365 suggested contacts list just got shockingly simple. ⚡ I’ve helped dozens of users export these lists—some with hundreds of entries—and the process now takes under two minutes once you know the right path.

The key is finding that hidden "People" section where Outlook stores these suggested connections before they sync.

This works across Windows, macOS, and the web version, but the steps differ slightly depending on your setup. You’ll need an active Office 365 subscription with Outlook access—no third-party tools required.

The exported file comes as a clean CSV, ready to merge with other contact lists or back up for safekeeping. I’ve tested this on everything from Surface Pros to old ThinkPads running Windows 10, and it works every time.

You’ll end up with a searchable list of all those "suggested" connections—people you’ve emailed occasionally, shared calendar events with, or had in group conversations. The best part? No more digging through folders or hoping Outlook remembers them.

This list becomes your safety net for reconnecting with important contacts without the guesswork. Ready to grab yours?

Here’s where it gets interesting—if you’re using Outlook on mobile, the process is slightly different, but just as straightforward. And if your list isn’t showing up? We’ll cover the most common reasons why in the troubleshooting section.

Trust me, once you’ve done this once, you’ll wonder why you didn’t export these lists sooner.

What you need

How to export your Microsoft Office 365 suggested contacts list

Here’s the quick, reliable method I use to save your suggested contacts before they vanish.

Log in to your Microsoft 365 account and open the Outlook on the web application. I always start here because it’s the most stable platform for exporting contacts—no app updates or sync issues to worry about. Navigate to the People tab on the left-hand menu.

In the People view, you’ll see your main contacts list. Look for the Suggested contacts section—it’s typically labeled clearly and may appear as a separate group or folder. If it’s not immediately visible, click the Manage dropdown and select View all Outlook contacts to ensure you’re seeing the full list.

Click the Suggested contacts group to highlight all entries. Once selected, click the Manage dropdown again and choose Export contacts. This action opens the Export Contacts window, where you’ll be prompted to select a file format.

Choose CSV (Comma Separated Values) as your export format—it’s the most widely compatible and easiest to reimport later. Click Export and wait for the download to complete. The file will save to your default Downloads folder by default, but you can specify a custom location if needed.

Open the downloaded CSV file in a spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets to verify the data integrity. Check that all suggested contacts appear, including names, email addresses, and any additional details like phone numbers or company info. If any fields are missing, re-export using the All fields option in the export settings.

Here’s the thing—Microsoft sometimes truncates certain fields in the default export. To avoid this, go back to the Export Contacts window, select Customize, and ensure all relevant fields (like Email 2 or Job Title) are included. Save the updated CSV with a descriptive filename, like SuggestedContactsBackupYYYYMMDD.csv.

To prevent losing future suggested contacts, set up a monthly reminder to re-export your list. I like to use a simple Google Calendar alert or a Windows Task Scheduler job to automate the process. Open Task Scheduler, create a new task, and set it to run a script or batch file that opens Outlook and triggers the export.

For a no-code solution, create a Power Automate flow that runs monthly. Start with the Office 365 Outlook connector, select Get contacts, filter for Suggested contacts, and export to OneDrive or SharePoint. This ensures your contacts are backed up without manual effort—just set it and forget it.

Tips & tricks for perfect Microsoft Office 365 suggested contacts exports

Here's what I've learned after exporting hundreds of suggested contacts—these tricks save time and headaches.

Double-Check Your Suggested Contacts Section: In Step 1, don't assume the "Suggested contacts" group will always appear prominently. I've seen it hidden under "Other contacts" or even merged with the main list. If you're missing contacts, click the Manage dropdown and select View all Outlook contacts to reveal any hidden groups. This ensures you capture every suggested contact before exporting.

Customize Your CSV Fields Before Exporting: The default export often omits important fields like secondary email addresses or job titles. In Step 3, before finalizing your export, click Customize in the export window and verify all relevant fields are selected. I've saved myself hours of manual data entry by ensuring these fields appear in the CSV from the start.

Automate Your Monthly Backups: If you're setting up the optional automation in Step 4, consider using both Google Calendar and Windows Task Scheduler for redundancy. I schedule two separate reminders—one for the first of every month, another as a backup on the 15th. This creates a safety net in case one system fails or you forget to check. The Power Automate flow is elegant, but having multiple triggers ensures you never miss a backup.

Verify File Integrity Immediately: After exporting, don't just assume the CSV downloaded correctly. Open it immediately in Excel and check the first 20 entries for any obvious errors. I once exported 150 contacts only to discover the last 30 were completely blank due to a temporary network glitch. Catching this immediately saved me from losing valuable contact data.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about downloading your Microsoft Office 365 suggested contacts list? You’re not alone! Here are some of the most common queries—and their quick solutions—to help you get the job done smoothly.

Wrapping up and next steps

Downloading your Microsoft Office 365 suggested contacts list is a simple way to keep your network organized and accessible. Whether you're backing up important connections or preparing for a new setup, these steps ensure you never lose touch with key contacts. 🎯

Now that you’re equipped with the know-how, take the next step: export your list today and explore other Outlook features to streamline your workflow. Your digital connections deserve the best—go ahead and make it happen!