When Outlook is configured with an Exchange account, the default address book is the Global Address List. As a result, when a user clicks the To.. button in a new email, Microsoft Outlook displays the Global Address List instead of their personal Contacts folder. Sometimes this needs to be changed.
I know I can manually make Outlook use personal contacts by default by opening the Address Book in Outlook, clicking Tools > Options… and then Start with contact folders:
How can I change this setting for multiple users, without logging in as the user? I'm open to Registry edits, Group Policy settings, etc. Anything but having to do it manually.
Environment:
- Windows 7 and higher
- Outlook 2007 and higher
What I've tried on my own:
- Reviewed the Group Policy settings for Outlook. I didn't see any that control the default address book.
- Google. Found this, but that's how to do it manually. And plenty of similar results.
- This SO question, but it changes the When opening the address book, show this address list first option (not what I want)
Best Answer
The setting When sending e-mail, check address lists in this order can be changed by modifying the following the Registry as follows:
Key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\[OutlookVersion]\Outlook\Profiles\[OutlookProfileName]\0a0d020000000000c000000000000046
15.0
)Outlook
).Value name:
00033d1b
(type: REG_BINARY)Data:
01 00 00 00
enables Start with Global Address List02 00 00 00
enables Start with contact foldersPowerShell to Change Setting
Assuming Outlook 15.0 and a profile name of "Outlook":
Enable Start with Global Address List:
Enable Start with contact folders:
Notes:
Set-ItemProperty
assumes the value00033d1b
already exists in the Registry.[byte[]]
syntax.