Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager software system that is primarily used as an email client, but it also has other features including calendaring, task management, contact management, note-taking, journal logging, and web browsing. As multi-user software, it can be used by both people and companies.

However, some users have experienced problems with Outlook. People claim that even when they have permission to view all of the folder’s objects, they still get the following error warning in Microsoft Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, or Outlook for Office 365 when they attempt to choose a public folder that contains contacts from the address book list.

“The address list cannot be shown” error in Outlook can be caused by sync difficulties in cached mode, a corrupted Autocomplete List and PST file, a damaged Outlook installation, an incorrectly set user profile, or non-encryption of data between the Exchange Server and Outlook. Additionally, a misconfigured firewall or outdated firewall settings may be to blame for the Remote Desktop Gateway server’s momentarily unavailable error message.

In this article, we will look at “How to fix The address list cannot be displayed error in Outlook?”

Repairing the PST File:

When you send or receive something in Outlook, Outlook uses the user’s folders to get the necessary information. Outlook utilizes a file with the extension “.pst” for this. You can have issues with your address book if the.pst file is corrupt. The built-in Microsoft tool “SCANPST.EXE” can repair.pst files and so might be able to fix the issue. Follow the appropriate steps to repair the PST file in the device:

Step 1: Exit the Outlook application.

Step 2: Press the Windows button, type Outlook in the search box, and then, in the list that appears, right-click Outlook and choose “Open File Location.”

Step 3: The following folder will be opened which contains software shortcuts.

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

 Step 4: Select “Open File Location” from the context menu by right-clicking the Outlook shortcut icon in this folder.

 Step 5: The following folder will be opened.

 C:\Program Files (x86)\ Microsoft Office\root\ Office16

Step 6: Find the SCANPST.EXE file in this Office folder, then right-click it and select “Run as Administrator.”

Step 7: Click “Browse” in Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair.

Step 8: Next, click the PST file. 

Step 9: Now To begin scanning the PST file, click the Start button.

Step 10: If prompted, select “Repair” to correct the file’s problems.

Step 11: Restart Outlook and make sure everything is running smoothly now.

Reinstalling the Outlook Address Book:

Follow the appropriate to reinstall the Outlook Address Book on the device:

Step 1: Firstly, open the Outlook application.

Step 2: Click Email Accounts from the Tools menu.

Step 3: Choose Outlook Address Book, then click “Next”.

Step 4: When prompted to confirm the removal, click “Yes”. 

Step 5: Then, click “View” or modify existing directories or address books.

Step 6: Click on Additional Address Books, then “Next”.

Step 7: Select Outlook Address Book, then select “Next” again.

Step 8: When the notice appears, click “OK” to restart Outlook.

Using the Online Mode:

Follow the appropriate steps to use the online mode on the device:

Step 1: Open Outlook, then select the File tab.

Step 2: Click on “Account Settings” in the right pane of windows and then select “Account Settings”.

Step 3: Select your account, then click “Change” under the Email tab.

Step 4: Select “More Settings”

Step 5: Select the Advanced tab, then de-check the box. employ the cached exchange mode.

Step 6: Click apply, then click “OK”.

Step 7: Restart the Outlook application.

Enabling Data Encryption Between Outlook and Exchange Server:

Follow the appropriate steps to enable data encryption between Outlook and Exchange Server in the device:

 Step 1: Launch Outlook and select the File tab.

Step 2: Click on Account Settings, and then click on Account Settings again in the drop-down list.

Step 3: Click Change under the User Account heading on the Email tab.

Step 4: Select “More Settings”

Step 5: Check the box next to Encrypt Data Between Microsoft Outlook And Microsoft Exchange by selecting the Security tab.

Step 6: Restart the Outlook application.