How to Recover Deleted Emails in Outlook (Even After Emptying)

Deleted an important email and emptied the bin? Take a breath, because there's a good chance it's still recoverable. Outlook keeps deleted messages in more than one place, and Microsoft has a second safety net most people don't know exists. Here's where to look, in the order to look, for every version of Outlook.

Step 1: Check Deleted Items and Junk

1. Open the Deleted Items folder in your folder list.
2. Find the email. Searching inside the folder is quicker than scrolling.
3. Select it and choose Move, then pick Inbox or another folder. In new Outlook you can also right-click and select Restore, or simply drag it back.

Don't forget the Junk Email folder too. Emails sometimes land there by mistake, and Microsoft says junk email is permanently deleted after 30 days on Outlook.com and Outlook on the web, so check it sooner rather than later.

Step 2: Use the Recoverable Items folder

If the email isn't in Deleted Items, perhaps because you emptied the folder or used Shift and Delete, the next stop is a hidden folder called Recoverable Items.

In new Outlook, Outlook.com or Outlook on the web

1. Select the Deleted Items folder.
2. At the top of the message list, next to Recover items deleted from this folder, select Recover.
3. Tick the emails you want and select Restore.

In classic Outlook

1. Make sure you're online and connected to the mail server.
2. Select Deleted Items in your folder list.
3. On the Home tab, select Recover Deleted Items From Server.
4. Select the emails, choose Restore Selected Items, then OK.

Microsoft notes that items you restore from Recoverable Items go back into Deleted Items first, so move them on to your inbox from there.

Why you might not see the recover option

This is the part that saves a lot of frustration. Microsoft says that if you see a folder called Trash instead of Deleted Items, or there's no Recover Deleted Items command, your account doesn't support recovering items once they've left Deleted Items. That usually means an IMAP or POP account from another provider. In that case, check your email provider's own webmail, which may keep its own copy in a trash folder.

Where to look, depending on how you deleted it

What happened	Where to look
You pressed Delete	Deleted Items
You emptied Deleted Items	Recoverable Items
You used Shift and Delete	Recoverable Items
It vanished without you deleting it	Junk Email, then search all folders
It's past the recovery period	Ask your administrator

Recovering a deleted folder

Deleted a whole folder? While it's still sitting inside Deleted Items, you can expand Deleted Items, find the folder and drag it back into place with everything inside. Microsoft says you can't recover a folder once it's permanently deleted, but you can still recover the individual messages from it using the Recoverable Items steps above.

Search before you panic

Sometimes an email hasn't been deleted at all, it's just been moved. A rule might have filed it, or you may have dragged it into a folder by accident. Before you start recovering, search your whole mailbox for the sender's name or a word from the subject line. Make sure the search covers all folders, not just the one you're in. It's surprising how often the missing email turns up in Archive or an old project folder.

On your phone

Microsoft says you can't get into Recoverable Items from a mobile browser, so for anything beyond the Deleted Items folder, use a PC or Mac. You can still check and restore from Deleted Items in the app.

If it's been too long

There's a time limit on recovery, and work accounts often have it set by the organisation. Microsoft says that once the recovery period expires, your administrator may still be able to recover an item, so it's worth asking IT before giving up. If neither of you can find it, it's probably gone for good.

Stop it happening again

• Archive instead of deleting. Archived emails stay searchable and out of your way.
• Check whether Outlook empties Deleted Items every time you sign out. Microsoft says it might, and you can switch that off in Settings.
• Use folders for anything you might need, rather than leaving it in Deleted Items or Junk.

If your inbox is busy because of marketing email, my guide to connecting email marketing to lead ads shows how to route leads somewhere better than a crowded inbox, and this piece on AI notetakers covers another source of email clutter.

My verdict

Look in Deleted Items and Junk first, then use Recover items deleted from this folder or Recover Deleted Items From Server to reach the hidden Recoverable Items folder. If you see Trash instead of Deleted Items, check your provider's webmail. Ask your administrator before giving up on an older email.

Frequently asked questions

Can I recover emails after emptying Deleted Items in Outlook?

Often, yes. Use Recover items deleted from this folder, or Recover Deleted Items From Server in classic Outlook, to reach Recoverable Items.

Where do recovered Outlook emails go?

Items restored from Recoverable Items go to the Deleted Items folder first. Move them to your inbox from there.

Why can't I see Recover Deleted Items in Outlook?

If you see Trash instead of Deleted Items, or no recover command, your account doesn't support recovering items that have left Deleted Items.

How long does Outlook keep junk email?

Microsoft says junk email is permanently deleted after 30 days on Outlook.com and Outlook on the web.

Can I recover deleted Outlook emails on my phone?

You can restore from Deleted Items in the app, but Recoverable Items needs a PC or Mac.