Tip 1088: Check for Duplicate Contacts

An Outlook user had this question:

We have a list of contacts saved in an Excel file containing more than 100 contacts. Some of these names are already in Outlook. How can we import these without importing the duplicates?

You can use one or more of these options:

1. Turn on Outlook's option to check for duplicate contacts. It's in Contact Options and when enabled, it checks the current folder for duplicates as you add new contacts. In Outlook 2013 and 2010, this option is at File, Options, People (or Contacts). In older versions, it's in Tools, Options, Preference tab, Contact Options.

2. During Import, check for duplicates.

When you use the Import/Export Wizard, you can skip duplicate items.

3. Use a duplicate remover utility to remove duplicates after importing.

I have a list of contact duplicate remover at Delete Duplicate Outlook Contacts

Published May 21, 2013. Last updated on May 21, 2013.

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