This section would describe how to create new distribution list in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007. Microsoft Outlook would create a distribution email list from the contact list, and store it in the contacts folder so that you you can treat a group of contacts as a single contact. The idea of Outlook distribution list creation would be beneficial if you often send messages to the same group of people or if you want to pass same set of information to a bunch of people at the same time. So in this article you would explore different methods to edit and set up distribution list.

What is a Distribution List?

A Distribution list, also known as contact group is a group of mail recipients who are addressed under one single name. Message sent to a contact group would be received by all receipients listed in the group without having to enter each recipient's individual address. Contact groups can be included in messages, meeting requests and in other contact groups. Unlike email-list, members cannot reply to the distribution list's name to send messages to all other members in the group.

Methods to Create new Distribution List in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007

Here you would learn how to set up a new contact group in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007

Method 1:How to make a Contact Group in Outlook 2016

Follow the below steps to know how to create new distribution list in Outlook from a list of email addresses and find the method to edit distribution list Outlook 2016

• Goto People or Contacts view of Outlook.
• Click on the New Contact Group to set up distribution list.

• Enter a name for the Contact Group and click on the Add Members in the toolbar.
• Select if you want to add contacts from the Outlook Contacts or from the Address Book (Global Address List).

• Now your list will contain all the names and email addresses added.
• Click on Save and Close.

NOTE: The Outlook distribution list will appear in the alphabetical order if they are correctly entered from the global address list regardless of how they are entered. And if not entered from the global list they would appear as entered, without any order.

• You can easily distinguish contact groups from individual contacts as you can see a word Group written below the name of the list in the Contacts view.

• Now the process to set up distribution list is complete and you can send a message to the group by entering group name in the To: section of the email message.
• Next to the group name you would find a small plus sign. By clicking on this plus sign you can expand the group and see all the individual members of the list. Thereby you can delete/ add members to contact group in Outlook.

Now you have successfully finished the process to create and edit distribution list Outlook 2016.

Method 2: How to create a e-mail distribution list Outlook 2013

Now let us learn how to set up a new contact group in Outlook 2013

• Open Outlook 2013.
• Click on Address book.

• Now Click on File menu in Address book.
• Then choose New Entry.

• Choose New Contact Group during Outlook 2013 distribution list creation.

• Now you have set up distribution list
• Click on Add Members to add contacts.
• Then choose From Outlook Contacts from the drop down menu.

• Select all the contacts you want so as to add members to contact group Outlook 2013.
• Then click on the Members button and click OK.

• Now provide a group name.

The proces to make a contact group in Outlook 2013 is complete.

Method 3: How to create a new email distribution list Outlook 2010

Follow the steps below to create and edit a contact group in Outlook 2010

• Click on Contacts in the navigation pane.

• Select New Group Contact.
• Enter a name for the distribution list when the new window is opened.
• Then click on Members.
• Select From Address Book so that you can open the Global Address List.

Note: You can even click on Add New to add existing contacts from your personal Contacts folder.

• Enter a name in the Search field and select it.
• Click on Members to add members to contact group Outlook 2010.

• Repeat the step to add additional members and click OK when finished.
• New members will be added to your group after you set up distribution list.
• Click Save & Close when the process to create new distribution list is complete.

Now you are finished with the steps to set up distribution list within MS Outlook 2010.

Method 4: Create distribution list in Outlook 2007 from contacts

The steps below will guide you to create an email distribution list Outlook 2007

• Click New and select Distribution List from the standard toolbar to set up distribution list

  Note: If the standard toolbar is not created,

  • Click File & click New
  • And select Distribution List
• Enter a name for your list in the Name textbox when a blank Distribution List appears.
• Go to the Ribbon, and click Select Members in the Members section.
• Now The Select Members window will appear.
• Double click each contact that you want to add to the list. These will appear in the Members textbox.
• When you are finished selecting the contacts, click OK.
• In the Distribution List window, go to the Ribbon and in the Actions section & click on Save & Close.
• Now the process to create new distribution list in Outlook is done and you would find the newly created list.

Now you have setup a distribution email lists in Outlook 2007

Conclusion

In the above section you would find the methods to create new distribution list in Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007. Outlook distribution list creation would be a real time saver, if you frequently email the same group of recipients. You can edit a contact group in Outlook by adding the distribution list to your email instead of adding each individual contact one at a time. The idea to make or set up a new contact group in Outlook would defenitely save your time and effort wisely. Various effective methods to create distribution email list Outlook has been discussed here.