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Start in Deleted Items; if the message is not there, your recovery option depends on which Outlook app you use and whether your account supports recovery. Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows offer a Recover Items flow, classic Outlook for Windows may offer a server-recovery command, and Outlook for iOS and Android cannot recover messages already removed from Deleted Items. If you are on a phone, use a PC or Mac for the Recover Items step.
Choose the recovery path for your Outlook version
| Outlook version | Where to look first | If the message was removed from Deleted Items |
|---|---|---|
| Outlook on the web or Outlook.com | Deleted Items and Junk Email | Use Recover items deleted from this folder on a PC or Mac. |
| New Outlook for Windows | Deleted Items and Junk Email | Use Recover items deleted from this folder. |
| Classic Outlook for Windows | Deleted Items and Junk Email | Try Recover Deleted Items From Server if the account supports it. |
| Outlook for iOS or Android | Deleted Items and Junk Email | The apps do not expose Recoverable Items; switch to a computer for web recovery. |
Microsoft’s steps and available commands vary by Outlook client. If you are unsure which Windows app you have, note whether your interface matches new Outlook or classic Outlook before following the steps below.
Restore a message still in Deleted Items or Junk Email
Microsoft Support identifies Deleted Items as the first place to look for a deleted message. Check Junk Email as well: messages classified as junk may be there rather than deleted.
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- Open Deleted Items. If the email is not there, open Junk Email.
- Select the message. Choose Move and select Inbox or another folder. Depending on the interface, Microsoft also describes using the right-click menu and choosing Move or Restore.
In Outlook for iOS or Android, select a message in Deleted Items and use the message options to move it to Inbox or another folder. This works only while the message remains in a folder available in the app.
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Recover a message removed from Deleted Items on the web
In Outlook.com and the applicable Outlook on the web guidance, Microsoft says Deleted Items is automatically cleared after 30 days. Items removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days, and Junk Email is also automatically deleted after 30 days. These are Microsoft’s stated web-service periods, not a guaranteed retention window for every work or school mailbox; act promptly.
- On a PC or Mac, open Outlook on the web or Outlook.com and open Deleted Items.
- Above the message list, select Recover items deleted from this folder.
- Select the email and choose Restore. Check the folder where it is restored.
Microsoft’s recovery guide says a mobile browser cannot access Recoverable Items. If you are using a phone or tablet, switch to a PC or Mac for this step.
Recover a message in new Outlook for Windows
- Open Deleted Items and look for the message; check Junk Email too.
- If the message is still there, select it and move it to the desired folder.
- If it is no longer in Deleted Items, open that folder and select Recover items deleted from this folder.
- Select the email and choose Restore.
These labels apply to new Outlook. If your app is classic Outlook, use the separate server-recovery steps below instead.
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- Connect Outlook to the internet and open Deleted Items. If the message remains there—or in Junk Email—select it and move it to a folder.
- If it is no longer in Deleted Items, select that folder, then choose Recover Deleted Items From Server.
- Select the message and choose Restore Selected Items.
The server-recovery command appears only when the account supports recovery. If you see a Trash folder instead of Deleted Items, Microsoft says that can indicate the account does not support recovery after the folder is emptied. Some IMAP and POP configurations cannot recover permanently deleted items.
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If you cannot find the message
A message that seems missing may not have been deleted. Microsoft’s missing-message guidance recommends checking these places and settings:
- Junk Email: Check whether Outlook classified the message as junk.
- Other: If Focused Inbox is enabled, check the Other tab.
- Filters: A view filter may hide the message from the current list.
- Inbox and Sweep rules: A rule may have moved the email to another folder.
If the email is missing from the recovery list, do not assume it can still be restored. For a work or school mailbox, ask your organization’s administrator whether its retention rules allow another recovery route. Microsoft says an administrator may be able to recover an item after the user’s recovery period in some cases, but organization policies determine what is available. If neither you nor the administrator can find it, Microsoft says it was probably permanently deleted from the mailbox.
Microsoft support guidance
For the full client-specific steps, see Microsoft Support’s Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook and its guidance on missing messages in Outlook.com.
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