How to recover missing or deleted emails


Find out how to recover accidentally deleted emails in Microsoft Outlook.

Missing emails

It's worth doing a full mailbox search to look for missing emails, using the search box in the top right-hand corner of Outlook (make sure you search all folders, and not just the current one).

Outlook (2010, 2013, 2016 and 365 desktop)

To recover an accidentally deleted an email/folder/calendar entry that isn't in your Deleted Items folder, first click on the folder that your item was in (such as Inbox). Then click on the Folder tab, and click on Recover Deleted Items. It will give you a list of files that can be recovered.

Click on the file you want to recover, then click Recover Selected Items and click OK.

For Calendar items you will need to go into the Calendar then go into Recover Deleted Items.

Outlook Web app

Please follow the link to Recover deleted items or email in outlook web app link.

Your Deleted Items folder contains all of your e-mails which have been deleted from your inbox or other folders. These will remain available indefinitely unless you delete them manually. You can empty or delete the folder from Outlook Web App or any other email program. You can also set up Outlook to delete items in the Deleted Items Folder on exit.

If you can't find your missing item please contact the IT Service Desk for further advice.