• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Contacts are not available in Windows Fax & Scan

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › People › Contacts are not available in Windows Fax & Scan

Last reviewed on December 16, 2013     13 Comments

Applies to: Windows

Problem: When you use Windows 64-bit Fax and Scan application, Outlook's contacts are not available.

Cause: This is because Outlook is a 32-bit application and runs on a WOW layer on the 64-bit operating system.

Outlook 2010 or 2013 64-bit does not include Fax transport as its only supported in 32-bit Outlook. We do not expect Microsoft to release a 64-bit Fax transport for Outlook.

Outlook uses 32-bit MAPI while Fax and Scan is 64-bit. The 32-bit outlook.exe sets the registry key in 32-bit WOW registry (HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Clients\Mail) and it cannot be used by the 64-bit Fax and Scan. Because of this, you cannot view the Outlook Contact list in Windows Fax in Windows 64 bit operating systems.

To use Outlook Contacts with Fax and Scan, you need to export the contact list from Outlook and into Windows Address Book.

Export contacts from Outlook

  1. File menu, Import and Export menu
  2. Export to a file
  3. Select CSV - Comma Separated Values (Windows) format, click Next
  4. Select Contacts folder, click Next
  5. Enter a name for your file and finish the export wizard.

Import Contacts into WAB

  1. Open the Windows Address Book by typing wab in the Start menu's Search field
  2. Click on the Import button
  3. Select the CSV file you just exported and complete the wizard.

Outlook 2010 / 2013 64-bit

While this will not be an issue if you use Outlook 2010 64-bit, other add-ins may not work with Outlook 2010 64-bit. 64-bit Fax & Scan will be able to use 64-bit Outlook's Contacts as an Address book.

Contacts are not available in Windows Fax & Scan was last modified: December 16th, 2013 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Import a WAB file into Outlook Contacts
  • Note: Outlook 2010 does not support the use of PAB files. It can impor
    Converting from a MAPI Address Book to Contacts
  • Transfer Outlook Contacts to Kindle Fire and Android tablets
  • Please note that personal address book (PAB) was deprecated, beginning
    Import a distribution list from the PAB

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

AOF (@guest_209966)
January 15, 2018 8:55 pm
#209966

Am I correct in believing that this is only a copy and not actively linked for changes and new entries in Office Outlook?
I have the 32bit Office 2010 and installed 32bit on the advise given by Microsoft when initially releasing Win 10 to Insiders

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  AOF
January 15, 2018 8:58 pm
#209967

Correct, its just a copy and is not linked to new contacts created in outlook.

0
0
Reply
AOF (@guest_210397)
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
February 19, 2018 6:37 pm
#210397

Thanks for that, I have just reinstalled Win 10 and Office in 64 bit. I prefer to keep my files out of the C:\ OS and move them to a separate Data partition and the Contacts are no longer listed, nor can I find a way to reconnect them. I relinked all the standard Win 10 Docs, Pics etc entries to the new location and then removed the dross before I realise there was no reconnection and my memory fails me as to where the default location was. Any new email entries go to save the .pst at the new location!. A browser search gives conflicting information about the original address and trial and error has failed. MY THOUGHT WAS THAT RATHER THAN MUCK ABOUT EXPORTING AND THEN IMPORTING IT WOULD BE SIMPLER TO JUST LOCATE A COPY THE .pst TO THE DEFAULT LOCATION and occasionally overwrite the file for updates. Needless to say I am disgusted at the lack of care shown by Microsoft as a lot of us have been moaning about this since Win 10 started! No Update cure, not even the information regarding 64 bit Office as you give here. I may be among the paranoid… Read more »

0
0
Reply
Doug Mortensen (@guest_189785)
March 12, 2015 2:08 am
#189785

I just tried the "public folder as an Address Book" approach, but it seems that it is specifically "public folder as an *email* address book". The net result is that although it appears in Windows Fax & Scan, it does not expose any of the fields besides the contact name and the email address. Even though we have fax numbers in the public folder, these fax numbers do not appear as being usable in Windows Fax & Scan. Bummer...

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky(@diane-poremsky)
Author
Reply to  Doug Mortensen
March 12, 2015 8:26 am
#189787

That's odd - as long as the fax # is in the fax number field and is recognized as a number, it should be visible.

Which version of Exchange do you use? I'll see if i can repro.

0
0
Reply
Doug Mortensen (@guest_189817)
Reply to  Doug Mortensen
March 13, 2015 3:53 pm
#189817

Exchange 2007 on SBS 2008 Std. Outlook 2013 32-bit on Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit.

0
0
Reply
Martin Sheridan (@guest_178130)
July 11, 2013 9:59 am
#178130

They have a Office 365 Midsize Business plan. We were going to use a shared mailbox but we run into the same issue with Outlook address books in 64 bit Windows 7 and the client would need to pay for another mailbox. The problem with using Windows Contacts (aka WAB) in Windows 7 is with 32 bit Windows 7. It always wants to use the address books from Outlook. I did however workout a somewhat ugly workaround by blanking out the registry entry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\(Default)

This obviously has some negative impacts with other programs that need to use mail.

The bug (windows fax and scan and outlook address books) seems to be fixed in Windows 8 64 bit and Outlook 2013.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_178153)
Reply to  Martin Sheridan
July 12, 2013 4:46 am
#178153

Thanks for the update.

You'd only need a license for the shared mailbox if you need to log into it with it's own account but an unlicensed mailbox (Managed mailbox) would not work because you can't set it's contacts folder as an address book. (I forgot about that - I don't use Fax and Scan and I don't have a modem so I can only test it to a point and Windows 8 seems to whine about 'no modem' a lot more. )

If public folder mailboxes are available in your plan, a public folder contacts folder can be used as an Outlook address book.

0
0
Reply
Brandon Chapman (@guest_174482)
March 6, 2013 8:40 am
#174482

Actually, Diane, you can't if you're using Windows Vista x64 or Windows 7 x64 with 64-bit Outlook. Windows Fax & Scan still pulls up Windows Contacts. I just tried both of these scenarios in Hyper-V yesterday.

0
0
Reply
Martin Sheridan (@guest_178127)
Reply to  Brandon Chapman
July 11, 2013 8:03 am
#178127

We are facing this problem with a client that has been happily faxing for years with windows fax and scan and its predecessors. We understand that we can use WAB for 64 bit fax and scan and we can even share a contact list or group to other computers on the network and use the following key to point the address book to a shared address book

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\Wab File Name\

However there is a further complication that we have not solved. Windows 7 32 bit fax and scan uses Outlook address books and there does not seem to be a way to make it use WAB.

Anyone have any ideas on workaround/solution please let us know or is there a GOOD third party solution that is cost effective

BTW we had used windows 7 xp mode to get around the above and use Outlook address books but this is very ugly and cumbersome for the client. We have also migrated them to Office 365 which does not support public folders

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_178129)
Reply to  Martin Sheridan
July 11, 2013 9:37 am
#178129

On Office 365: Which Office 365 plan? The E plans don't have traditional public folders, but they do have shared mailboxes, the new public folder mailboxes, and contacts in the GAL. The P plans do not - I'm to the point where I only sell E plans for this reason. The less expensive plans are better suited for home users who want exchange.

The wab is not supported on Windows 7. Can't you use Windows Contacts with fax and scan? Double click on the *.wab to import into Contacts.

0
0
Reply
Brandon Chapman (@guest_174462)
March 5, 2013 9:57 am
#174462

This is fixed with Outlook 2013 x64, at least with Windows 8 x64. I haven't tried with Windows 7 x64/Outlook 2013 x64 yet.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky (@guest_174464)
Reply to  Brandon Chapman
March 5, 2013 11:28 am
#174464

You can use Outlook contacts in Fax and Scan when both Outlook and Windows are 64-bit.

0
-1
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 30 Issue 19

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
  • Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell
  • Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
  • New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies
  • Insert Word Document into Email using VBA
  • Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell
  • Warn Before Deleting a Contact
  • Classic Outlook is NOT Going Away in 2026
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Classic Outlook is NOT Going Away in 2026

Newest Code Samples

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2025 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment