New Outlook contacts list disappeared on desktop

Because contacts work in Outlook on the web, they are still in the mailbox; the issue is with new Outlook on Windows not loading the People tab correctly. Use these steps to get the desktop client to resync and show contacts again:

1. Reset new Outlook’s local state
   • Close new Outlook.
   • Run the reset command that clears new Outlook’s local cache:
     • Open a Run dialog (Windows + R).
     • Run: olk.exe --clearLocalState
   • Open new Outlook again.
   • Sign in and let it fully resync mail, calendar, and contacts.
   • Go to People and check if contacts now load.
2. If new Outlook still fails to load People
   • Close Outlook and all Microsoft apps.
   • In File Explorer, go to:
     • C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Olk
     • C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneAuth
   • Delete the Olk and OneAuth folders (they will be recreated automatically).
   • Restart the PC.
   • Open new Outlook, sign in, and allow a full resync, then test People again.
3. If contacts were deleted in new Outlook
   • In new Outlook, go to People.
   • Open the Deleted folder and look for missing contacts.
   • Right-click each contact and select Restore.
   • If not there, in Deleted select Recover deleted, choose the contacts, and select Restore. They will be restored to their original folder or the default Contacts folder.

If contacts appear correctly on the web after these steps but still not in new Outlook, continue using new Outlook (not classic) for contacts and keep the client signed in long enough to complete the sync.

References:

• Outlook contacts not showing in "new" outlook - Microsoft Q&A
• New Outlook has stopped working, Fails when starting after 30 to 60 seconds - Microsoft Q&A
• Detected a problem launching new Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
• Restore or recover a deleted contact in Outlook