This morning a test message called “Riverside Cafe – spring 2026 price list” landed in my Bluebird Landscaping inbox. The header just said Miller. No address, nothing to tell me which Miller it was or whether it came from inside my company.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to show email address in Outlook on the web when the header only gives you a name. I tested every step in a Microsoft 365 work mailbox, and I’ll be honest about the one thing I couldn’t find.
Hover over the name for a quick look
Why: the hover card is the fastest way to learn who someone is without leaving the message.
How: open the email, then rest your mouse on the sender’s name or a name chip after To. A small card pops up. Microsoft calls it the profile card, though you’ll also hear contact card or people card.
On my card I saw the name, the job title Power Platform Engineer, the department IT, availability, local time, and recent files and messages. It also said Update your profile, because it was my own card.
Notice the address isn’t at the top. That surprised me. If all you need is to block a sender in Outlook Online, you’ll want the real address first, so keep going.
Click the name when the hover card hides the address
Why: the full profile card has a Contact information section, and that’s where the address lives.
How: click the name instead of hovering. The bigger card opens with tabs such as Overview, Profile, Organization, Files, Messages, and LinkedIn. Pick Profile and look under Contact information.
There I found Work email with the full address, plus Chat, Job title, and Department. I blurred my test address in the screenshot. On the Overview tab, the same Contact information sits below the recent messages.
An Add to contacts button sits on the card too. Saving someone there means their details stay handy, which helps when you forward several emails at once to the same person.
Type the name in To to see the full address
Why: when you’re writing, not reading, the To box is the quickest check.
How: start a new message and type a few letters of the name. I typed miller, and the suggestion showed the display name with the full email address right under it, plus Show more results.
This is also how I make sure I pick the right person before I send a confidential email. Two people with the same first name is an easy mix-up.
Don’t trust a display name on its own
Why: a display name is just a label. The header in my test showed Miller and nothing else, so the name alone can’t tell you where a message really came from.
How: before you reply to anything about money, passwords, or files, open the card and read the address. If it looks wrong, don’t answer it. You can also set up inbox rules in Outlook Online so mail from addresses you trust lands in its own folder.
Know what you can’t change
Why: some of what you see on the card isn’t up to you. Microsoft says your work or school controls certain profile information, and anything the admin disabled or didn’t sync won’t display.
How: if a coworker’s card is missing a field, ask your IT admin. I also looked for a Microsoft setting that always shows full addresses instead of display names in Outlook on the web. I couldn’t find one, so I use the card or the To box.
I tested a work account only. I didn’t test external senders, classic Outlook, Outlook for Mac, or personal Outlook.com, so your card may look different. For more how-tos, browse my Outlook Online tutorials.
My checklist for finding an email address in Outlook
- Hover over the name for a quick look at who it is.
- Click the name, open Profile, and read Work email under Contact information.
- Type the name in To and read the address under the suggestion.
- Check the address before replying to anything about money or passwords.
- Ask IT when a field is missing from a coworker’s card.
A few more Outlook fixes I use all the time
Seeing the full address is the best way to catch a wrong recipient before you hit Send. If one slips through, check my guide on how to recall an email in Outlook. If you write to the same people all the time, an Outlook email group saves picking them one by one.
Questions I get about this
How do I see the sender’s full email address in Outlook on the web?
Click the sender’s name in the message header to open the profile card, then look under Contact information for Work email. Hovering shows a smaller card that may not include the address at the top.
Why does Outlook only show a name and not the email address?
The message header shows the display name. The address is on the profile card, which opens when you hover over or click the name.
Can I make Outlook always show email addresses instead of names?
I couldn’t find a Microsoft setting for that in Outlook on the web. I check the profile card or the To box suggestion instead.
Why is some information missing from a profile card?
Your work or school controls part of the card, and fields an admin disabled or didn’t sync won’t show. Microsoft explains this on its Profile cards in Microsoft 365 page.
I am Carissa Gudinoa, a technology buff, and Office online and Apple expert with over 9 years of experience. I am passionate about helping others get the most out of their Apple devices. I have written extensively about Apple products and technologies. I am committed to providing my clients with the best possible service and am always up-to-date on the latest Apple products and features. I also write extensively on other software available for use at minimal cost or free. This includes Word Online, Outlook Online, Excel Online, and other Office online programs… Check out more.