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How do I disable Microsoft Entourage's auto-fill address feature?

Dave, Thanks for your great tip about clearing Microsoft Entourage message archives of attachments on my Mac OS X system [see A Useful Tip for Microsoft Entourage on The Intuitive Life]. Now can you help me delete all the unwanted email addresses that secretly pop up when I fill out the TO: field. The ones that exist from prior email, spam, etc?

Dave's Answer:

Fortunately, that's easier than you think.

Entourage X stores a max of 200 entries in its recently seen address list so the easiest solution to clearing out a specific address is to just wait a while.

If that's not speedy enough for you, you can clear the address cache at any time by going to Preferences -> Compose and clicking on the button on the bottom of that pane labeled "Clear List".

If you want to disable this feature entirely and have Entourage only offer auto-complete for addresses in your address book, simply uncheck the option "Display a list of recently used addresses when address messages".

The following screen shot shows what I'm talking about: this is from Entourage 2004, v 11.1.0.

[Microsoft Entourage Preferences: Compose]
click on the image for a full-size screen shot

Advanced tip: if you want to just get rid of one particular email message, add that address to your Address Book, then delete the new entry. That should clear it out.


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Reader Comments To Date: 12

Josh said, on July 15, 2005 3:57 PM:

I have a customer who would like to disable the feautre completely and not let Entourage store recent addresses. Is there a way to stop this function?

Erik said, on August 13, 2005 3:39 AM:

Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to clear the address cache. You saved me! :-D

Laura said, on January 26, 2006 11:42 AM:

Sure...this is great info! I've always been annoyed by the automatic listing of every single teeny tiny email address that I've EVER received. BUT!! There's no pleasing some people, and in fact, I find this often handy...I want to know: can an Entourage user SELECTIVELY delete a virtual address? Folks that I've emailed once, I have no need to hold onto...others? are very handy! It seems it's all or nothing; and I'm looking for some middle ground.

Thanks in advance
- Laura

renee said, on March 28, 2006 8:52 AM:

Hi Dave- How do I delete any saved credit card info from my PC? Thanks for your help in advance.

Eddie said, on March 15, 2007 1:29 PM:

Where is the Recent Address list stored? I want to download it regularly?

Shilo Case said, on March 30, 2007 3:35 PM:

Unlike some of the others here, I'd like to find the list email addresses to remove those that I don't want and download all others to a mailing list ... can it be done?

Shilo

CyberMunchy said, on May 13, 2007 8:32 PM:

Hey Shilo, did you find out a way of getting the auto-stored email addresses into a list? That's what I need to do too!

BZ said, on September 17, 2007 2:12 PM:

Remove an entry from the recently used address list
1. Click Mail Mail button, and then click New New button.
2. In the To box, type the first few letters of the address, and then click the address you want to delete on the pop-up menu.
3. Hold down CONTROL, click the address, and then click Add to Address Book on the contextual menu.
4. In the contact window that appears, click Delete Delete button .

woodley said, on May 30, 2008 8:54 AM:

thank you thank you!

Gene said, on October 30, 2008 1:02 PM:

Hey, just wanted to say thanks like other people. Was looking at other sites and they were saying add address to contacts and then delete contacts you didn't want. Was looking for some simple and you have saved the day.

Thank you

shirl said, on February 6, 2009 7:08 AM:

Hi Dave

First of all I have no clue regarding computers other than using them for the office. So I will try to explain my dilemma to my best ability.
1) I got a new computer which uses vista, before when writing an email the program automatically filled in the receiver email address when typing the first few letters - always ! Now it does only do that when I just used that particular address recently. Is there a way to change that setting that it fills it in or suggests matching addresses EVERY time?
2) I use the tough pad instead of a mouse on my laptop but this automatic scroll feature drives me nuts. Every time I use to move down or up too fast or too often this stupid automatic scroll feature kicks in and it scrolls and scrolls uncontrollable. How can I turn that feature off?
Thank you very much.
Shirl

Neil said, on April 22, 2010 1:10 PM:

There is a much easier way to delete individual unwanted addresses from the Recently Used list. Create a new mail and add the address that you wish to remove as a To: Recipient. Next double click on the address and it will open the contact card for that user. This is not the Address Book contact card but Entourage's own contact card. Click on Name and e-mail and then highlight the old address (the one you wish to remove) then simply click on the Remove button. Voila! That address will no longer be auto populated when you create a message to that individual.

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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