How to Manage Your Google Workspace’s Directory Contacts Visibility Settings

Quick and easy-to-follow guide for Google Workspace administrators

You can control whose information is displayed in the Directory contacts group in Google Contacts at https://contacts.google.com for specific OUs or everyone in the domain.

How to control who is visible in the shared Contacts Directory step-by-step with images

Step 1

In the Google Admin console at https://admin.google.com, click the menu icon next to the Google Admin logo in the top left. Hover over Directory and select Directory settings.

Step 2

Click the Visibility settings section.

Step 3

To configure contacts visibility only for some organizational units

You can configure the Directory visibility setting for all users in the domain by selecting the top-level organizational unit on the left under Organizational Unit, or set it up for specific organizational units by selecting them and then updating the setting.

All sub-OUs inherit the settings of their parent OU.

Step 4

By selecting No users, you hide the Directory contact group. This will prevent users from using the auto-complete feature when typing someone’s email address or names when sharing files, inviting to events, or sending emails.

You can select All users to show all users in the Directory contacts group with no restrictions.

Alternatively, you can only show Users in a custom directory. If you select this option, you need to create a custom category based on a Group in your domain.

After making any updates, click SAVE. Note that changes may take up to 24 hours to take effect.