How to Find or Recover Deleted Emails

How to Find or Recover Deleted Emails

When you delete an email in Outlook, it moves to the Deleted Items folder and stays there for a period determined by your organization's retention policy. Even after emptying the Deleted Items folder, emails can still be recovered for a limited time from a hidden recovery folder.

Step 1: Check the Deleted Items Folder

  1. In Outlook, click the Deleted Items folder in the left pane.
  2. Look for the email you need. You can use the search bar within the folder to narrow results.
  3. Right-click the email and select Move > Other Folder, then choose your Inbox or the appropriate folder.

Step 2: Recover from the Recoverable Items Folder

If the email is not in Deleted Items (because you emptied the folder or it was automatically purged):

  1. Click the Deleted Items folder.
  2. At the top of the message list, click Recover items recently removed from this folder.
  3. Select the email(s) you want to recover and click Restore. They will be moved back to your Deleted Items folder, from where you can move them to the correct location.

Time Limits

The recoverable items folder retains deleted emails for a set number of days (typically 14 to 30 days, depending on your organization's policy). After that period, the email is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered through Outlook. If you need an email that is older than this retention window, submit a ticket and CMO IT Services will check backup options.

Can't find it? Submit a ticket and a CMO IT Services technician will assist you.

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