How to Create a Search Folder in Outlook for Favorite Contacts

Outlook is a powerful email and personal information management software that allows you to stay organized and connected. One useful feature in Outlook is the ability to create search folders, which help you quickly access your favorite contacts. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a search folder in Outlook for your favorite contacts.

Step 1: Launch Outlook

First, open the Outlook application on your computer. You can find it in the Start menu or by searching for "Outlook" in the search bar.

Step 2: Navigate to the People View

In Outlook, click on the "People" tab located at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the People view where you can manage your contacts.

Step 3: Open the Advanced Find Window

In the People view, click on the "Search Contacts" box located at the top right corner of the screen. This will open the Advanced Find window.

Step 4: Set the Search Criteria

In the Advanced Find window, click on the "Advanced" tab. Here, you can define the search criteria to filter your contacts. We will set the criteria to search for your favorite contacts.

Follow these steps to set the search criteria:

1. Click on the "Field" dropdown menu and select "Frequently-used fields".
2. From the "Condition" dropdown menu, choose "contains".
3. In the "Value" field, enter the name or email address of one of your favorite contacts.
4. Click on the "Add to List" button to add the criteria to the search list.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each of your favorite contacts.

Once you have added all your favorite contacts to the search list, click on the "Find Now" button to perform the search.

Step 5: Save the Search Folder

After performing the search, Outlook will display a list of contacts that match the search criteria. Now, you can save this search as a search folder for easy access in the future.

Follow these steps to save the search folder:

1. Click on the "File" tab located at the top left corner of the screen.
2. From the dropdown menu, select "Options".
3. In the Outlook Options window, click on the "Advanced" tab.
4. Scroll down to the "Outlook panes" section and click on the "Customize" button next to "Navigation Pane".
5. In the "Customize Navigation Pane" window, click on the "Search Folders" tab.
6. Click on the "New Search Folder" button to create a new search folder.
7. In the "New Search Folder" window, scroll down to the "Organizing Mail" section and select "Mail from and to specific people".
8. Click on the "Choose" button and select the search folder you created in Step 4.
9. Click on the "OK" button to save the search folder.
10. Back in the "Customize Navigation Pane" window, click on the "OK" button to apply the changes.
11. Finally, click on the "OK" button in the Outlook Options window to close it.

Now, you will see the newly created search folder in the Navigation Pane of the People view. You can click on the folder to view your favorite contacts in one place.

Creating a search folder in Outlook for favorite contacts is a convenient way to access your most important contacts quickly. Follow the steps outlined in this article to easily set up and save your search folder.