How to Recover Deleted Emails in Outlook (Every Version, 2026)
Outlook deletes emails in two stages. When you press Delete, the email goes to Deleted Items — still recoverable in one click. When you delete it from Deleted Items (or empty the folder), it moves to a hidden Recoverable Items folder on the server, where it stays for a set window before being purged for good.
Most “I deleted an email and need it back” situations are recoverable. Here’s how to find them in every version of Outlook.
Stage 1: Restore from Deleted Items
If you only pressed Delete once, the email is in Deleted Items. This is the easiest case.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Open classic Outlook.
- In the navigation pane, click the Deleted Items folder.
- Find the email. Use the Search box at the top if you need to filter.
- Right-click the email and select Move > Inbox (or another folder).
- The email is restored immediately.
You can also drag the email from Deleted Items back to your Inbox in the navigation pane.
New Outlook & Outlook on the Web
- Open new Outlook or outlook.office.com.
- Click Deleted Items in the folder list.
- Find the email.
- Right-click and select Move > Inbox (or pick a different folder).
Outlook for Mac
- Open Outlook for Mac.
- Click Deleted Items in the sidebar.
- Drag the email back to Inbox or right-click and choose Move > Inbox.
Outlook Mobile
- Tap the menu icon (top-left).
- Tap Deleted Items.
- Tap and hold the email to select it.
- Tap the folder icon at the bottom and choose Inbox.
Stage 2: Recover from the Recoverable Items Folder
If the email isn’t in Deleted Items — because you emptied the folder, used Shift+Delete, or it was auto-purged — it’s most likely still in the hidden Recoverable Items folder on the server. Microsoft keeps deleted items there for 14 days by default. On Microsoft 365 work and school accounts, an admin can extend the window up to a maximum of 30 days (14 is still the out-of-the-box default). Outlook.com consumer accounts use the 14-day default and can’t be changed.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Open classic Outlook.
- Click the Deleted Items folder in the navigation pane.
- Go to the Folder tab in the ribbon.
- Click Recover Deleted Items From Server.
- A dialog opens listing every recoverable email.
- Select the email(s) you want back. Hold Ctrl to multi-select or Shift to select a range.
- Choose Restore Selected Items at the top.
- Click OK.
- Restored items return to the Deleted Items folder. From there, move them to your Inbox using Stage 1.
Note: Recover Deleted Items From Server only appears if you’re using an Exchange or Microsoft 365 account. POP3 and most IMAP accounts don’t have this option because deleted items aren’t stored on the server.
New Outlook & Outlook on the Web
- Open new Outlook or outlook.office.com.
- Click Deleted Items in the folder list.
- At the top of the message list (or at the bottom of the folder, depending on your layout), click Recover items deleted from this folder (sometimes labeled Recover deleted items).
- The Recoverable Items pane opens.
- Use the search box to filter by sender, subject, or keyword.
- Select the email(s) you want to recover.
- Click Restore.
- Restored items go back to the Deleted Items folder.
Outlook for Mac
The new Outlook for Mac supports recoverable items the same way:
- Click Deleted Items.
- Click Recover items deleted from this folder at the top of the list.
- Pick the items, click Restore.
The legacy Outlook for Mac (rebased on the older codebase) does not support Recoverable Items recovery directly. Use Outlook on the web instead.
Outlook Mobile
Outlook mobile does not support recovering items from the server. To get to Recoverable Items, open Outlook on the web in a mobile browser (request desktop site) and follow the new Outlook steps above.
Stage 3: When the Retention Window Has Passed
After 14 days (or up to 30 if your admin has extended the window for work/school accounts), Outlook permanently purges items from Recoverable Items. At that point, the only paths to recovery are:
Ask your IT admin
If your account is on Microsoft 365 work or school, the administrator has more options:
- Single Item Recovery — admins can restore items from the deleted items retention bin even after they’re invisible to you.
- Litigation Hold — if your mailbox is on hold for compliance reasons, deleted items are kept indefinitely and admins can restore them.
- Backup — some orgs run third-party backups (Veeam, Druva, etc.) that keep copies for months or years.
Email your IT helpdesk with:
- The exact date and time of the email (or your best guess)
- Sender and subject
- Why you need it back
Check sender’s Sent folder
If the email was sent to you by a colleague, ask them to forward it again from their Sent Items. Most people don’t think of this — it’s faster than the recovery dance.
Check Outlook archives or PST files
If you ever exported your mailbox to a .pst file or set up an Outlook archive, the email might be there. Open File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File in classic Outlook and browse old archives.
Check connected devices
If you had Outlook synced to a phone or another desktop and one of them is offline, the local cache might still have the email. Open Outlook on the offline device before it syncs, find the email, and forward it to yourself.
Quick Reference
| Situation | Where to look | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Just pressed Delete | Deleted Items folder | None |
| Emptied Deleted Items | Recoverable Items (server) | 14 days default; up to 30 for work/school if admin extends |
| Used Shift+Delete | Recoverable Items (server) | Same |
| Past retention window | IT admin recovery | Varies by org policy |
| Account is POP3/IMAP | Local backup or sender’s Sent | None (server may not store deletions) |
Why Items Disappear
A few common reasons emails seem to vanish without you deleting them:
- Rules — an Outlook rule might be moving incoming messages to a folder automatically. Check Home > Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts.
- Focused Inbox — the email is in Other, not Focused. Click the Other tab at the top of your inbox.
- Filters — your message list has a filter applied (Unread, Flagged, etc.). Reset it.
- Sync issues — the message is on the server but the local cache is stale. Press F9 in classic Outlook to force a send/receive.
- Junk filter — Outlook moved the email to Junk. Check the Junk Email folder.
If the email isn’t deleted after all, none of the recovery steps above will help — but the search above might surface it.
Stop Losing Important Emails
Recovery is great when it works, but the best fix is not deleting things you need in the first place. Carly is an AI assistant that triages your inbox so important threads stay visible and the noise gets archived — connecting to Outlook plus 200+ other apps.
More on Outlook: How to archive emails in Outlook · How to create rules in Outlook · How to create folders in Outlook · How to recall an email in Outlook · How to export emails from Outlook
Ready to automate your busywork?
Carly schedules, researches, and briefs you—so you can focus on what matters.
Get Carly Today →Or try our Free Group Scheduling Tool or Free Booking Page
