Outlook vs Mail.app: email display name question

[dictoresno]

When I get a new email from someone in my contacts in the built in iOS Mail app, it displays their full name from my contacts, such as "Steven Jones". This is what I'm looking for.

Now in Outlook, Polymail and Airmail, emails come in from that same person as just "Steve" or whatever they make their display name I'm assuming.

Is there a way to sync contacts in order to get the email display names to be correct in Outlook or other email apps? I know the other app Spark allows for it and names display the same way as the regular mail app. Any ideas?

 

[dictoresno]

I'm still looking for an answer to this. I would like to use outlook on my iPhone and computer, but I can't import my iCloud contacts into outlook on the computer. also, I've noticed that outlook for iOS displays email addresses or other random display names (James W, James, Jim@etc.com) depending on what they set up as their display name. However apples mail app and Spark email display whatever name I have that person saved at in my contacts. Only these two apps do this. Polymail, Email, Airmail and Outlook all display whatever the sender chose as their display name.

is there ANY way to change this? if spark can make this work, can't outlook?

 

[pacorob]

I'm not really sure what is making the difference. Why don't you ask the developers of e.g. Airmail, Email (by Easylido), Polymail and Outlook if they can adjust it on their end (especially Outlook) if you use that e-mail app)?

I also wonder what this setting is. I just noticed it after you said it. I have still Airmail, Apple E-mail installed and now use Email (by Easylido) and Spark but can't make up my mind yet. Indeed Spark does show first and last name in certain cases and other app like Emaily by Easy.. or Airmail show indeed only the first name.

 

[dictoresno]

My guess is Spark and Apple Mail use your contact list as a cross reference. If you have let's say "John Doe" as a contact and his email address saved under his contact card, they will display any emails from him as "John Doe". However, Outlook and Polymail don't use contacts so any emails from people will default to just the email address or the senders chosen display name. So in your inbox your new mail will just say "John" or "johndoe@example.com" instead of their full name.

I want Outlook to mimic Apples mail by using contact information as its first choice for display names, then sender set or default ones if they aren't on my contact list.

 

[gaanee]

Both Spark and Email apps show permission for Contacts under Settings, so they can access Contacts stored on iPhone to display the full name.
@pacorob Contacts for which Spark shows the first and last name, do you have their email also saved in Contacts. My guess is if you don't have their email id saved in Contacts then the app just shows their display name.

On the other hand, Outlook doesn't show Contacts permissions in Settings app, so it's not accessing your contacts on the iPhone

 

[dictoresno]

Both Spark and Email apps show permission for Contacts under Settings, so they can access Contacts stored on iPhone to display the full name.
@pacorob Contacts for which Spark shows the first and last name, do you have their email also saved in Contacts. My guess is if you don't have their email id saved in Contacts then the app just shows their display name.

On the other hand, Outlook doesn't show Contacts permissions in Settings app, so it's not accessing your contacts on the iPhone

Good call, neither does Polymail. I guess that's the answer then. I'll write to Microsoft and see why their app won't do that whereas other email apps do. So it's not like it's an apple restriction.

 

[pacorob]

Both Spark and Email apps show permission for Contacts under Settings, so they can access Contacts stored on iPhone to display the full name.
@pacorob Contacts for which Spark shows the first and last name, do you have their email also saved in Contacts. My guess is if you don't have their email id saved in Contacts then the app just shows their display name.

On the other hand, Outlook doesn't show Contacts permissions in Settings app, so it's not accessing your contacts on the iPhone

I have indeed stored that contacts in 'Contacts' and allowed access to Contacts app by Spark.