How to Delete a Folder in Outlook (and Get It Back)

Folders that made sense for old projects end up cluttering your Outlook sidebar, and scrolling past them every day gets tiresome. Deleting them takes seconds. The thing to understand first is that a folder's emails go with it, so it's worth a quick check before you click. Here's how to delete a folder in every version of Outlook, how to get one back, and how to empty a folder without deleting it.

Delete a folder in new Outlook

1. In the folder pane on the left, right-click the folder you want to remove.
2. Select Delete.
3. Select OK to move the folder and its contents to Deleted Items.

Delete a folder in classic Outlook

1. Right-click the folder in the folder pane.
2. Select Delete Folder.
3. Select Yes to confirm.

Delete a folder on your phone

In the Outlook app, open the folder list from the menu, tap the edit option, choose the folder and tap Delete. As on the desktop, only folders you created can be deleted.

Remember: the emails go too

Microsoft is blunt about this: when you delete a folder, you're also deleting everything inside it. If there's any chance you'll want those emails, move them somewhere else first, or back the folder up to a data file as Microsoft suggests. A minute spent checking now can save a frantic search later, especially for folders holding client conversations.

Folders you can't delete

If the delete option is greyed out, you've probably picked a built-in folder. Microsoft says you can't delete folders such as Inbox, Outbox or Sent Items. The same goes for other default folders like Deleted Items and Junk Email. You can only delete folders you created yourself.

Delete for good: empty Deleted Items

Deleting a folder doesn't erase it straight away. It sits inside Deleted Items, and Microsoft explains that when you empty Deleted Items, everything in it, including any folders you've deleted, is permanently erased. If you're deleting folders to free up mailbox space, empty Deleted Items afterwards; if you're just tidying, you can leave it as a safety net for a while.

Get a deleted folder back

1. Open Deleted Items and expand it to show folders inside.
2. Find the folder you deleted.
3. Drag it back to where it belongs in your folder list.

Microsoft says you can recover a deleted folder, together with all its messages, as long as it's still in Deleted Items. Once a folder has been permanently deleted, you can't recover the folder itself, but you may still be able to recover individual messages from the hidden Recoverable Items folder.

Empty a folder without deleting it

Sometimes you want to keep the folder but clear out what's inside, such as a newsletters folder that's full of old issues. Right-click the folder and choose Delete All, then confirm. The emails move to Deleted Items and the folder stays put, ready for new messages.

Your options at a glance

You want to	Do this
Remove a folder and its emails	Right-click, Delete (or Delete Folder)
Keep the folder, lose the emails	Right-click, Delete All
Keep the emails, lose the folder	Move the emails out first, then delete the folder
Undo a folder you deleted	Drag it back out of Deleted Items
Erase it for good	Empty Deleted Items

Don't forget your rules

If you have rules that file emails into a folder, deleting that folder breaks them. Outlook may show an error, or emails that would have been filed there simply stay in your inbox. Check your rules after a clear-out and either delete them or point them at a different folder.

Deleting folders on a shared mailbox

If you work in a shared mailbox, for example a team inbox or an info address, be extra careful. Deleting a folder there removes it for everyone who uses the mailbox, not just for you. Check with the team first, and agree who's responsible for tidying shared folders so nobody deletes a colleague's filing system by accident and spends a morning trying to rebuild it.

A tidier folder structure

Before you rebuild, think about how you look for emails. Most people find things by search far more than by folders, so a few broad folders such as Clients, Suppliers, Finance admin and Archive usually work better than dozens of tiny ones. Archive anything finished rather than creating a new folder for every project. If you're streamlining how you handle client emails generally, my email sequence prompt pack helps on the sending side, and this swipe file for keeping customers is useful for the conversations you'll want to keep.

My verdict

Right-click the folder and choose Delete or Delete Folder, then confirm. Move anything you want to keep first, because the emails go too. Built-in folders can't be deleted, and nothing's gone for good until you empty Deleted Items, so you can drag a folder back if you change your mind.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete a folder in Outlook?

Right-click the folder and choose Delete in new Outlook, or Delete Folder in classic Outlook, then confirm.

Does deleting a folder in Outlook delete the emails in it?

Yes. Everything inside the folder moves to Deleted Items with it.

Why can't I delete a folder in Outlook?

You can't delete built-in folders such as Inbox, Outbox or Sent Items. You can only delete folders you created.

How do I get back a folder I deleted in Outlook?

If it's still in Deleted Items, expand Deleted Items and drag the folder back into place.

How do I empty a folder without deleting it?

Right-click the folder and choose Delete All. The folder stays and its emails move to Deleted Items.