How to Clear the Outlook Autocomplete Cache

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: April 29, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to remove all autocomplete entries from Outlook on both Windows and Mac platforms. Removing autocomplete entries will prevent Outlook from bringing up suggestions when you type in a contact's name.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

1
Open Outlook. Double-click the Outlook icon, which resembles a blue and white envelope with a white "O" on it.
2
Click File. It's in the upper-left side of the Outlook window. Doing so prompts a pop-out window to appear.

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3
Click Options. You'll find this near the middle of the pop-out window. Clicking it opens the Outlook Options page.
4
Click the Mail tab. It's near the top-left corner of the Options page.^{[1]
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5
Scroll down and click Empty Auto-Complete List. This button is on the right side of the window.
6
Click Yes when prompted. Doing so removes all saved autocomplete entries.
- You can prevent Outlook from using the autocomplete list by unchecking the "Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names..." box in the "Send Messages" section of the Mail options.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

1
Open Outlook. Double-click the Outlook icon, which resembles a blue and white envelope with a white "O" on it.
2
Hold down Control and click Inbox. You'll find Inbox in the upper-left side of the Home tab. Control-clicking this folder prompts a drop-down menu.
3
Click Properties…. This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. Clicking it opens the Inbox Properties window.
4
Click the General tab. It's in the top-left side of the Inbox Properties window.
5
Click Empty Cache. You'll find this button on the right side of the window.
6
Click Empty Cache if prompted. Doing so will remove all autocomplete entries from your Outlook cache.