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There is an autocomplete feature in Outlook that automatically suggests email addresses. When you type any email address into – to, cc or bcc field, Outlook suggests it so that you can easily send your emails without typing the complete address.
However, when this autocomplete feature stops working, the actual issue arises. In this post, we will discuss the reasons and the solution to fix the not-working Outlook autocomplete feature.
Before we move ahead, let’s talk about the error and the symptoms of the autocomplete feature not working.
Outlook AutoComplete is a built-in feature that suggests email addresses when composing an email. When you type in the ” to, cc, and bcc fields, it will automatically display the matching addresses from the previously used email addresses.
Now the question is, how can I find the Outlook autocomplete not working for some contacts? If you come face-to-face with these situations, then there is an autocomplete error in Outlook.
- There is no email address suggestion
- Your saved recipient addresses suddenly disappear
- Outlook crashing while typing email addresses
- New addresses are not being saved
- AutoComplete works intermittently
Why is Outlook Autocomplete Not Working?
There can be various reasons for not working autocomplete in Outlook, and understanding them makes it easy to recover it.
- Sometimes the feature becomes disabled accidentally through Outlook settings.
- A damaged Outlook profile can prevent Outlook from loading AutoComplete entries correctly.
- Outlook stores AutoComplete information inside the RoamCache folder. Corruption in these files can break the feature.
- If the Outlook data file becomes corrupted, several Outlook functions may stop working, including AutoComplete.
- Older Outlook builds may contain bugs affecting AutoComplete functionality.
- For Exchange or Microsoft 365 accounts, synchronization issues may affect recipient cache loading.
- Third-party Outlook add-ins sometimes interfere with AutoComplete operations.
Methods to Fix Outlook Autocomplete Not Working Error
Here, we will discuss the various solutions to fix the issue. Let’s check them out in detail one after one.
1: Enable AutoComplete Feature
Firstly, check whether the autocomplete feature is enabled or not. Here are the steps.
- Open Outlook and click on File > Options.
- Select Mail and scroll to Send Messages.
- Enable: “Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines.”
- Click OK and restart Outlook.
This simple fix resolves the issue for many users.
2: Restart Outlook Application
Temporary Outlook glitches can interrupt AutoComplete; thus, try to restart your client. Follow the steps.
- Close Outlook completely.
- Open Task Manager and end all Outlook-related processes.
- Restart the system and launch Outlook again.
This refreshes temporary memory and cache files.
3: Update Outlook Client
Running an outdated Outlook version can trigger multiple performance issues. Check out if your Outlook needs any update or not.
- Open Outlook.
- Go to File > Office Account.
- Click Update Options and select Update Now.
Installing updates will fix known bugs and solve the error.
4: Clear and Rebuild AutoComplete Cache
Corrupted cache entries are one of the main reasons AutoComplete stops working.
- Open Outlook.
- Go to File > Options > Mail.
- Under Send Messages, click./li>
- Empty Auto-Complete List
- Confirm the action.
- Restart Outlook.
After restarting, Outlook will gradually rebuild the AutoComplete list as you send emails.
5: Rename the RoamCache Folder
The RoamCache folder stores Outlook AutoComplete files. Rename it to solve the Outlook autocomplete not working error. First, close Outlook and then open the Run window (Press Windows + R). After that type;
Open the RoamCache folder.
Rename it to: RoamCache.old and restart Outlook.
Outlook automatically creates a new RoamCache folder.
6: Repair Outlook Data File
Corrupted data files can affect Outlook functionality. In that case, first need to repair corrupted PST file and solve the error. Microsoft provides the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) to repair PST files. Here are the steps;
- Close Outlook and locate ScanPST.exe.
- After that, launch the tool.
- Browse the PST file and click Start.
- At last, select Repair.
After the repair completes, reopen Outlook and check AutoComplete.
7: Create a New Outlook Profile
A corrupted Outlook profile may prevent AutoComplete from functioning.
- Open the Control Panel and Click Mail.
- Select Show Profiles and hit on click Add.
- Create a new profile.
- Configure your email account.
- Set the new profile as the default.
A fresh profile often resolves persistent issues.
8: Disable Add-ins
Sometimes add-ins interfere with Outlook performance and cause errors. Steps to remove the problematic add-ins.
- Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Add-ins.
- Click COM Add-ins > Go.
- Disable unnecessary add-ins.
- Restart Outlook.
Enable add-ins one by one to identify the problematic extension.
Advanced Solution to Fix Outlook AutoComplete Not Working
If none of the above solutions work, then the issue is with the data file. A severely corrupted data file can cause the error. In that case, using an efficient OST recovery tool is the best option. BLR OST Recovery tool is the safest approach to handle a corrupted Outlook data file. The software will scan your corrupted file and repair its data, and create a new and healthy file. Try out the demo version of the software and analyse how it works.
Conclusion
Outlook AutoComplete helps users send emails faster by suggesting saved email addresses. When it stops working, productivity can be affected. In most cases, the issue can be fixed by enabling AutoComplete, clearing cache files, repairing data files, updating Outlook, or creating a new profile. If severe corruption is involved, a professional recovery tool may be required.
All the possible solutions are discussed in this post. You can try them one by one to find which method helps resolve the error.
