Accidentally deleted a folder in outlook

Losing a folder in Outlook can be a frustrating experience, especially if it contains essential emails or attachments. Whether the deletion was accidental or intentional, there are ways to recover these missing folders. Fortunately, Outlook has built-in features that allow users to retrieve deleted items, and understanding how to use these tools can help you recover lost data with ease. 

How Folders Are Deleted in Outlook

Before diving into the recovery methods, it’s important to understand how folders get deleted in Outlook. Users may accidentally delete a folder using the following methods:

Manual Deletion: This happens when you accidentally drag and drop a folder to the Deleted Items folder or press the delete key while the folder is selected.

Emptying Deleted Items Folder: If the Deleted Items folder is emptied, all the folders and emails in it are permanently deleted.

Server-Side Deletion: In some cases, synchronization issues with a mail server (e.g., Exchange, IMAP, etc.) could result in folder deletion.

Using Rules or Filters: Sometimes, Outlook’s rules or filters might unintentionally remove folders from the main view.

Methods to Recover a Deleted Folder in Outlook

Method 1: Recover From the Deleted Items Folder

The first and easiest step in recovering a deleted folder in Outlook is to check the Deleted Items folder. When a folder is deleted, it is typically moved to this folder first. Here’s how to check:

Open Outlook: Launch the Outlook application on your computer.

Navigate to the Deleted Items Folder: On the left sidebar, locate and click on the Deleted Items folder under your email account.

Search for the Folder: Browse through the Deleted Items folder and look for the missing folder. If you find it, you can simply drag it back to your Inbox or another folder of your choice.

Recover the Folder: Right-click on the deleted folder and select Move > Other Folder to restore it to your desired location.

In most cases, if the folder was deleted recently, it should be in the Deleted Items folder.

Method 2: Recover From the Recoverable Items Folder

If you’ve emptied your Deleted Items folder, there’s still hope for recovery. Outlook includes a feature known as the Recoverable Items folder. This folder holds deleted items for a certain period before they are permanently deleted. Here’s how to recover a folder from this section:

Open Outlook: Open your Outlook application.

Access the Deleted Items Folder: Navigate to the Deleted Items folder.

Click on “Recover Items”: At the top of the Deleted Items folder, you should see an option that says Recover Items from Server. This option may vary depending on your version of Outlook, but it generally allows access to the Recoverable Items folder.

Search for the Folder: Once in the Recoverable Items folder, search for the folder that was deleted. The folder may still appear here, even after the Deleted Items folder is emptied.

Recover the Folder: Select the folder and click on the Recover button to restore it to its original location or move it to another folder.

Method 3: Using the Microsoft Outlook Web App (OWA)

If you’re using Outlook as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can also recover deleted folders through the web interface. Here’s how:

Go to Outlook on the Web: Open your browser and go to Outlook on the Web.

Sign In: Log in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Go to Deleted Items: On the left sidebar, find and click on the Deleted Items folder.

Recover Items: Look for a link at the top that says Recover deleted items from the server. Click on it to access the Recoverable Items folder.

Search and Recover the Folder: In the Recoverable Items folder, search for the deleted folder. Once found, select it and click Restore.

This process works similarly to the desktop version of Outlook, and it may be easier for those who are using Outlook in a browser-based environment.

Method 4: Using PowerShell Commands (For Advanced Users)

For advanced users, if you are dealing with an Exchange or Microsoft 365 environment, you can use PowerShell to recover deleted folders. This method is mainly for administrators managing Exchange servers. If you’re comfortable with scripting, here are the steps:

Open PowerShell: On your computer, search for PowerShell and run it as an administrator.

Connect to Exchange Server: To begin, connect to your Exchange server by running the following command:

powershell

$UserCredential = Get-Credential $Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri http:///PowerShell/ -Authentication Kerberos -Credential $UserCredential Import-PSSession $Session -DisableNameChecking

Search for Deleted Items: Once connected, you can run commands to search for deleted items, such as:

powershell

Search-Mailbox -Identity “” -SearchQuery “is:deleted” -TargetMailbox “” -TargetFolder “”

Recover the Folder: Once the folder is located, use commands to restore the folder to its original location.

This method requires administrative access and knowledge of PowerShell, so it’s best suited for server administrators.

Method 5: Check for Backups (If Available)

If you regularly back up your Outlook data, there might be a backup that includes the deleted folder. You can restore Outlook data from an older backup by following these steps:

Find the Backup File: Locate your backup file, which may be an PST (Personal Storage Table) or OST (Offline Storage Table) file.

Open Outlook: Launch Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

Browse to the Backup File: Select the backup file and open it.

Restore the Folder: Once the backup file is opened, navigate through the folders to locate the deleted folder and drag it back to the main folder list.

This method only works if you have been regularly backing up your Outlook data.

Method 6: Use a Third-Party Recovery Tool

Panda Assistant is a versatile and efficient data recovery software designed to help users retrieve lost or deleted files from various storage devices. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted important documents, lost files due to system crashes, or formatted your device unintentionally, Panda Assistant offers a comprehensive solution to recover your data.

With a user-friendly interface, Panda Assistant simplifies the recovery process, even for users with limited technical knowledge. It supports a wide range of file types, including documents, photos, videos, and emails. The software works with hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and other external storage devices, making it a reliable tool for both personal and professional use.

These tools typically allow you to scan specific drives, such as your local hard drive or network drives, and recover deleted files, including Outlook folders.

Preventing Future Folder Deletions

Once you’ve successfully recovered your deleted folder, you might want to take steps to prevent future accidental deletions. Here are some tips:

Regular Backups: Ensure you regularly back up your Outlook data to a secure location. Outlook offers options to back up your data automatically to external drives or cloud services.

Archiving: Use Outlook’s archiving feature to move older emails and folders to an archive file. This reduces the risk of accidental deletion by keeping the primary inbox less cluttered.

Enable Folder Recovery: In Exchange environments, admins can enable more extended retention for deleted items, giving users a longer period to recover deleted items.

Confirmation for Deletions: Consider enabling confirmation messages for deletion actions within Outlook, which can help prevent accidental deletions.

Accidentally deleting a folder in Outlook can be a stressful experience, but with the right knowledge and tools, it’s often possible to recover the lost folder. From checking the Deleted Items folder to using PowerShell commands for Exchange, there are several methods to help you retrieve your important data. If all else fails, third-party recovery tools can also help in more complex cases.