Clearing Cached Local Users/Global Address List (GAL) in Outlook 365

Cached information can cause old information to persist in your Outlook Client. When administrators make changes to mailboxes and resources, cached information can keep these changes from making it to your Outlook Client. To completely clear all cached information in Outlook, there are three areas to check. You may only need to do one of these fixes to solve your particular problem. Work your way down the list until the issue is resolved.

Possible Solutions:

  1. Clearing local cached auto fill users
  2. Clearing redundant Contacts
  3. Force a download of the GAL
  4. Online Mode (Last resort only. Please revert back to Cached Exchange Mode once the issue is resolved.)

Clearing Cached AutoFill Users

Step One: Open new blank email.

Step Two: Start typing users email address.

Step Three: Click the X next to their name when it pops up to clear the cached information on that mailbox.

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Step Four: Begin typing their name again.

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Step Five: Click Ctrl+K to auto search the Global Address List. This will populate the new mailbox information. Their name will appear underlined as below.


Clearing redundant contacts

Sometimes duplicate contacts can be stored in Outlook. For internal CWU addresses, the only place they should appear is in the Address Book, under Global Address List. If they also appear in your Contacts list (Click on People on the bottom toolbar of Outlook), you will need to delete them. This will ensure that Outlook is using the updated information from the GAL. 

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Forcing a download of the GAL

Step One: Click on File

Step Two: Click on Account Settings.

Step Three: Click on Download Address Book (this option will only be available in Cached Exchange Mode. See #4)

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Step Four: In the box that opens, make sure the box is checked. Leave default selection as \Default Global Address List. Click Ok. After a minute or two, your download will be complete.


Online Mode (This is a last resort, and can cause issues in other areas. Please revert back to Cached Exchange Mode once the issue is resolved.)

Step One: Click on File

Step Two: Click on Account Settings, and then Account Settings again in the drop down menu.

Step Three: Select your account, and click Change.

Step Four: Uncheck the box labeled: Use Cached Exchange Mode. Click Next, and then Finish. Close and re-open your Outlook.

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