Every few months someone asks if there is a way for Outlook to search in any part of the name or address string for autocomplete suggestions. They want to show any entry that has a match anywhere in the display name or address.
Autocomplete looks at the beginning of the display name and the beginning of the email address – it doesn’t search for matches within those fields.
For example, if you are emailing Chris Johnson (shazzam@domain.web), Outlook should bring up the address in the list if you type c or s, but not j.
If the address is in the autocomplete list as Johnson, Chris(shazzam@domain.web), typing either j or s will include the address in the list, but not c.
There is no way to make Outlook search within the words and AFAIK, there are no plans to change this behavior. It’s a limitation of type-ahead features – if autocomplete searched within the words, typing “a” could bring up some 2000 matches. Or search would not display any names until after you typed 3 or 4 letters – and most people would not like that.
You could change the display name format for your contacts so they are in first name last name order. It will help some of the autocomplete entries but not all as Outlook picks up the display name from messages you reply to.
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When sending an email entering in to, cc, bcc, the auto function does not work. I have to search and enter the complete email address each time. occassionally it will auto complete if it is a short time. I use outlook 2010 for my send/receive, contacts, calendar etc., i’ve check settings etc., but must be doing something wrong