Windows 10 includes a contact app called People app, which is a more advanced version of their previous contact app that allows for the easy consolidation of contacts between different internet accounts.

Users who utilize the Microsoft Mail and Calendar apps can also use the People app to see their most recent conversation with specific individuals and any upcoming scheduled appointments. The People app can be useful at helping you keep your digital Rolodex nice, neat, and all in one place.

Where Can I Access the People App in Windows?

The People app is installed by default in Windows and cannot be uninstalled. Thus the program will always be located in your Start menu. To access the People App, click on your Start menu then search for the application using the search bar. Once the People app appears, click it to open the application.

This article addresses the People app included with the latest version of Windows 10.

What Accounts Are Supported by the People App?

The People app imports the preexisting contacts that you have stored with your email account. Supported services for setup of the People App include Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com, Exchange, Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and iCloud. Additional services can be set up through the Advanced Settings options, such as Exchange ActiveSync.

Setting Up an Account With the People App

If you’re looking to add your contacts to the People app, you will need to connect the application with an account, such as those noted above. Follow these steps to open the People app for the first time and get started.

  • Open the People app from the Windows Start Menu.
  • Click the Get Started button.
  • The People app will request access to your email and calendar, click Yes when both dialogs appear.
  • Click the + Import contacts button.
  • Select your email account whos contacts you wish to import and follow the sign in procedure for your specific provider.
  • Click Done.
  • If you wish to add more accounts, select the + Import contacts button again, otherwise, select Ready to go.

How to Create a New Contact File

Have someone new to add to your contact book? Fantastic! Follow these steps to add a new contact file to the People app and save it within the appropriate internet account for later access.

Open the People app from the Windows Start Menu.

Click the Get Started button.

The People app will request access to your email and calendar, click Yes when both dialogs appear.

Click the + Import contacts button.

Select your email account whos contacts you wish to import and follow the sign in procedure for your specific provider.

Click Done.

If you wish to add more accounts, select the + Import contacts button again, otherwise, select Ready to go.

  • Click the + button at the top of the People App to begin.
  • In the side window that appears, select the desired email account you wish to save new information to under the Save to title.
  • Enter the person’s first and last name in the Name field. If you wish to have more precise control, click the pencil icon to add nicknames, titles, suffix, and more.
  • Add any remaining information that you may wish to include such as telephone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.
  • Clicking the + Other option will give you access to additional contact fields including website, company, job title, significant other, children, birthday, and more.
  • If you wish to add a photo to the contact, select the circular Add photo button at the top of the new account dialog. Otherwise, click the Save button to save the contact to your account.

Viewing Events and Conversations With Contacts

To view upcoming events and recent conversations with an individual, merely click on their name on the left-hand side of the People app. The right-hand side of the app will now show the contact’s information as well as any upcoming events and recent conversations.

Click the + button at the top of the People App to begin.

In the side window that appears, select the desired email account you wish to save new information to under the Save to title.

Enter the person’s first and last name in the Name field. If you wish to have more precise control, click the pencil icon to add nicknames, titles, suffix, and more.

Add any remaining information that you may wish to include such as telephone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses.

Clicking the + Other option will give you access to additional contact fields including website, company, job title, significant other, children, birthday, and more.

If you wish to add a photo to the contact, select the circular Add photo button at the top of the new account dialog. Otherwise, click the Save button to save the contact to your account.

How to Show Only Specific Contacts in People App

You may opt to only show contacts from a particular account or, if you are using the People app as a phonebook, you may wish only to display contacts with a phone number available. To sort the People App, select the Filter button (the funnel icon) at the top of the screen, then choose the accounts you would like to view, along with whether or not you wish to hide contacts without phone numbers.

For upcoming events to show under a contact’s name, the individual must be included in the calendar event. For recent conversations to show, an email address must be listed.

How to Combine Contacts

If you have duplicates of contacts across multiple internet accounts, or within the same address book, it is a cinch to combine them. Follow these steps to clean up the People app quickly.

  • Click on one of the contacts you wish to combine.
  • On the right-hand side of the screen, scroll down to the Combined contacts section. If the contact you wish to combine is already displayed, select it. Otherwise, continue on to the next step.
  • If the contact you wish to combine is not already shown, select the Find a contact to combine button. From the list select the contact file you wish to combine with the current.
  • To un-separate two contacts, click the See more > option at the bottom of the contact information, then click the Separate button.
  • That’s all, your contacts are now combined!

Common People App Settings

To access the Settings options for the People app, select the Settings button (the gear icon) at the top of the screen. From within the Settings menu, you can add additional accounts, remove current accounts, and choose how you wish to sort your contact list.

Click on one of the contacts you wish to combine.

On the right-hand side of the screen, scroll down to the Combined contacts section. If the contact you wish to combine is already displayed, select it. Otherwise, continue on to the next step.

If the contact you wish to combine is not already shown, select the Find a contact to combine button. From the list select the contact file you wish to combine with the current.

To un-separate two contacts, click the See more > option at the bottom of the contact information, then click the Separate button.

That’s all, your contacts are now combined!

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