Is there a Setting that I can't find in Classic Outlook 2019 on my PC that will display the full-sized Contact box when I type a name in the Search People box on top in Outlook Today?

Jeff Davis 45 Reputation points
2025-07-19T21:27:09.1333333+00:00

Search in Outlook Todaygood old Contact box

I just created a new user profile in Windows to solve a problem and after reloading Outlook 2019, it seems to have changed the box that pops up when I type a name and up at the top of Outlook today. It's a tiny little box that I find annoying and useless. The boxes that I'm used, and I swear were working last week in my other User's Outlook 2019, when typing a name in that Outlook Today Contact search box on Outlook 2016 were WAY bigger and I can only get those on 2019 if I go down to the People icon and lower left and double-click on the person's name in the list. That's a pain. 

Hopefully someone knows of a Setting in Mail that can restore the big boxes? I've looked and can't find anything like that at Outlook > File > Options > Mail.

The first image is the tiny thing that I get now that I hate since it's useless.

The 2nd one is what I've always gotten by doing an Outlook Today > Search People in the little box along the top and it will only open now if I do it the hard way by clicking the People icon down in the lower left and typing into the Search field at the top of the list that pops.

I'd put the images down in the text here like Microsoft Answers used to let me do, and even drag size them, but this Microsoft Q&A thing hasn't learned that modern technology. ;-)

I sure hope there's a Setting to make this work as it always has & as it should.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
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  1. Diane P 3,050 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-07-20T00:05:32.18+00:00

    There is a registry key you can set to use the full contact, not the contact card.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\common\contactcard

    DWORD: TurnOnLegacyGALDialog

    Value: 1 (enable)

    I have the instructions and a ready to use reg file here -

    https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/use-outlooks-contacts-contact-cards/

    You and 1 other person found this answer helpful.

4 additional answers

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  1. Jeff Davis 45 Reputation points
    2025-08-07T21:01:46.4833333+00:00

    This site really has some bad problems that need fixing. It's rude that somebody decommissioned Microsoft Answers before this one is fully functional or at least works a little better that it is now

    I post a Comment and it's nowhere to be found, even after Refreshing the page.

    Too often, the 2 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS link isn't an active link that can be tapped or clicked, it just looks like it is

    Maybe Comments appear immediately but the one I did just before that one just disappeared into thin air, so I'll try my best to rewrite it:

    Thanks Diane. You're my hero again. I did both the Legacy thing and the Hover thing.

    Since I'm no nerd & you hadn't said at Slipstick, after tapping each Outlook 2016, I guessed and chose Open, not Save As or Save. TOTAL GUESS! Luckily it seems like I made the right choice.

    It then stepped me thru a few warnings and then it finally said YOUR REGISTRY HAS BEEN ADDED TO, or something like that.

    I tested it & without even needing to restart my Outlook 2019, it had taken affect. 😊👍

    1 person found this answer helpful.

  2. Jeff Davis 45 Reputation points
    2025-07-20T07:29:43.07+00:00

    Diane, seems to me that your registry fixes are only for Outlook 2010, 13 & 16, not my new 2019 that I've asked about. Am I wrong?

    I've used 2016 for many years & have never seen these odd, small, thin Contact Cards at all & especially when Searching @ the top of Outlook Today


  3. Jeff Davis 45 Reputation points
    2025-08-02T21:10:37.7933333+00:00

    I haven't tried this yet but I hope to hear from you, Diane, on my Question about which one to use.

    I’ve just learned the hard way that this new Microsoft Q&A only saves Question Activity threads for 30 days, not for a long time like Microsoft Answers did. That's really sad. Why? What's it costing them to store them a little longer, even a year or 5 years?

    Anyway, my main question is, which do I use or does it matter? Is 2016 for good my Outlook 2019 on this?


  4. Jeff Davis 45 Reputation points
    2025-08-12T05:52:19.4066667+00:00

    THIS IS A COMMENT, NOT AN ANSWER!
    Since this stubborn, not ready for prime time, new site won't post this as a Comment, and I've tried repeatedly for more than 2 days, I'll just post my Comment as a "Your Answer". Trying to post it as a Comment, I just see a swirling circle in the blue box that never goes away. I've even Refreshed the page, made sure that I'm logged in and tried again several times. Still just swirls endlessly.
    Maybe an Admin can move it into being just a Comment.

    draft

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