[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Can%20I%20change%20settings%20in%20Microsoft%20Outlook%20Contacts%20to%20show%20fewer%20fields%20on%20each%20Contact%20card%3F%20If%20so%2C%20how%20do%20I%20do%20this%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 in many cases you *can* reduce the number of fields shown on a Microsoft Outlook contact or profile (contact card / profile card) to simplify the view. How you do this depends on which version of Outlook you\u2019re using (Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Microsoft 365, classic vs \u201cNew Outlook,\u201d web/mobile, or whether your organization controls your account). Below is a breakdown of what\u2019s possible and how to do it.\n\n---\n\n## What\u2019s possible\n\n- **Address Book columns**: You *can* hide or show which columns (fields) appear in the Address Book view (e.g. company, business phone, etc.). ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/outlook/contacts/hide-columns-in-address-book?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Electronic Business Card view**: You can choose which fields appear on printed/stored business cards and in what order. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/create-and-share-contacts-as-electronic-business-cards?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Profile cards / contact cards**: Some fields are shown by default and can\u2019t be removed; others are optional and may be shown or hidden via admin settings. Customization of labels (field names) or moving fields around may be allowed via registry settings (in Win32 = desktop Windows apps) or through Microsoft 365 admin settings. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/manage/customize-profile-cards?view=o365-worldwide&utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## What cannot generally be done\n\n- Completely removing *default required fields* on profile/contact cards (such as name, email, job title, etc.) if your organization or Outlook version fixes those fields. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Outlook/profile-cards-in-microsoft-365?utm_source=openai))  \n- Showing custom fields on the profile card if they aren\u2019t permitted by policy, or if that functionality is limited in your version. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/manage/customize-profile-cards?view=o365-worldwide&utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## How to show fewer fields (or customize which fields appear)\n\nHere\u2019s how to adjust or simplify contact cards in different parts of Outlook. Pick the section that matches what you\u2019re trying to control.\n\n| Scenario | What to change | How to do it |\n|---|---|---|\n| **Address Book columns view** (when viewing a list of contacts in Outlook) | Hide unwanted columns like Business Phone, Location, Alias etc. | Modify a registry key: add or change `ABHiddenColumns` under `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Office\\16.0\\Outlook\\Preferences` with the appropriate binary values for each field/column to hide. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/outlook/contacts/hide-columns-in-address-book?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Electronic Business Card** (the \"card\" inside a contact\u2019s detailed info) | Customize which fields are shown, layout, order, remove blank lines, change background or layout | Go to People \u2192 New Contact or open an existing contact, double-click the business card image \u2192 in the Edit Business Card dialog use *Fields* list: add/remove fields, move them up/down, add blank lines. Reset Card returns to default layout. ([support.microsoft.com](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/create-and-share-contacts-as-electronic-business-cards?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Profile/contact cards shown by hovering over name or pictures** (Win32 / desktop Outlook) | Change which optional fields are shown; replace labels; hide some optional attributes | If you\u2019re an admin: use Microsoft 365 admin center \u2192 Org settings \u2192 People settings \u2192 Profile card \u2192 Contact info to toggle visibility of optional properties. For Win32 apps, registry keys can replace labels or define which MAPI/ADS-attributes to show. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/admin/manage/customize-profile-cards?view=o365-worldwide&utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Fields without any data** | Outlook generally doesn\u2019t show fields that are empty in a profile/contact card view. So if you delete or clear fields (or ensure they are blank), those blank items simply don\u2019t display. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4565249/outlook-365-contacts-card-view?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me exactly which version of Outlook you're using (e.g. Outlook for Microsoft 365 desktop on Windows, web, \u201cNew Outlook,\u201d mobile, or your organization\u2019s managed account), I can give you step-by-step instructions specific to your setup. Want me to walk you through that?"
    }
]