How to recover a deleted folder from outlook​?

Losing important emails or folders from your Outlook account can be a distressing experience. Whether you’ve accidentally deleted a folder, or it was removed due to a system glitch, the thought of permanently losing access to valuable data can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Microsoft Outlook offers several recovery methods to help you retrieve deleted folders, even if they seem to be permanently gone. 

Outlook Folders

Outlook organizes emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks into various folders. Common default folders include the Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts, and Junk Email folders. However, Outlook also allows users to create custom folders to help organize emails more effectively.

When a folder is deleted in Outlook, it does not vanish immediately. Instead, it is typically moved to the “Deleted Items” folder, where it can be restored if you act quickly. If the folder is deleted from there, Outlook provides additional recovery options to retrieve the data.

Recovery Methods for Deleted Folders in Outlook

Here, we will explore different ways to recover a deleted folder in Outlook. Depending on the type of account you use (e.g., Microsoft Exchange, Outlook.com, or Office 365), the steps may vary slightly.

Method 1: Recover Deleted Folders from the “Deleted Items” Folder

If you’ve deleted a folder by mistake, the first place to check is the “Deleted Items” or “Trash” folder. This is where deleted items are temporarily stored before they are permanently removed. Here’s how to recover a deleted folder:

Open Outlook: Launch the Outlook application on your desktop or sign in to your Outlook.com account via the web.

Go to the “Deleted Items” Folder:

In Outlook for Office 365 or Outlook 2019. navigate to the Folders pane on the left-hand side.

Click on the Deleted Items folder. If you’re using a web version, it will be listed as “Deleted Items” or “Trash” depending on the platform.

Look for the Deleted Folder:

Browse through the folder contents to check if your deleted folder is still listed there.

If you find the deleted folder, right-click on it and choose Move > Other Folder.

Select the location where you want to restore the folder and click OK.

Check If the Folder Is Still Available:

After restoring the folder, it should reappear in its original location in the folder list. If you can’t find the folder, it might have been moved to the Recoverable Items folder.

Method 2: Recover Deleted Folder from the “Recoverable Items” Folder (For Exchange and Office 365 Accounts)

If the folder is not found in the “Deleted Items” folder, it may have been moved to the Recoverable Items folder. This folder stores deleted items for an additional period, allowing you to recover items even after they’ve been removed from the Deleted Items folder.

Here’s how to recover a deleted folder from the Recoverable Items folder:

Access the “Deleted Items” Folder:

In Outlook, go to your Deleted Items folder.

Recover Items:

In Outlook for Office 365 or Outlook 2019. click on the Home tab in the ribbon, and then click Recover Deleted Items from Server.

If you’re using the web version, go to the Deleted Items folder and look for a link that says Recover items deleted from this folder.

Search for Your Folder:

In the Recover Deleted Items window, browse or search for the folder you wish to recover.

You can use the Search box to help find your folder quickly.

Restore the Folder:

Once you’ve located the folder, select it and click on the Restore button to move it back to your main Outlook folders.

Check Folder Location:

After the recovery process is complete, verify that the folder has been restored to its original location.

Method 3: Restore a Folder Using Outlook’s Web Version (For Outlook.com Users)

If you’re using Outlook.com, there are specific steps you can take to recover deleted folders:

Log into Outlook.com:

Go to outlook.com and log in with your credentials.

Open the “Deleted Items” Folder:

On the left-hand side, click on the Deleted Items folder under the Folder list.

Look for the Deleted Folder:

If you find the folder in the Deleted Items folder, right-click on it and choose Move > Other Folder to restore it.

Use the “Recover Items” Feature:

If you can’t find your folder in Deleted Items, scroll down to the bottom and click on Recover items deleted from this folder.

This opens the Recoverable Items window, where you can find and restore your deleted folder.

Check Restored Folder:

After the folder is restored, go back to the main folders view to verify that the folder has been successfully recovered.

Method 4: Recover from a Backup (For Office 365 Users)

If the previous methods do not work or if you have a backup of your Outlook data, you can restore the folder from your backup:

Check for Backup:

Office 365 and Exchange accounts often back up your Outlook data automatically. If you have set up backups for your Outlook data, go ahead and check the most recent backup.

Restore the Backup:

If you have a backup, you can restore the entire mailbox or specific folders using Outlook’s built-in recovery options or a third-party backup solution.

Verify the Folder Restoration:

Once the folder is restored from the backup, check the folder structure to ensure that the deleted folder has been fully recovered.

Method 5: Contact Your IT Administrator (For Corporate Accounts)

For users with corporate Outlook accounts, particularly those using Microsoft Exchange or Office 365. the IT administrator may be able to assist with the recovery process if the folder was permanently deleted or lost due to a server issue.

Reach Out to IT Support:

Contact your company’s IT department to request help in recovering the deleted folder.

Ask About Server Backups:

IT administrators may have access to additional tools and backups that can help restore the folder from a server-side backup.

Monitor the Recovery:

Once the IT team has restored the folder, verify that it has been recovered correctly.

Additional Tips for Preventing Future Folder Deletions

While recovering a deleted folder can be done with the methods mentioned above, it’s always better to be proactive and avoid the problem entirely. Here are some tips to prevent future folder loss in Outlook:

Use Outlook’s Auto-Archive Feature:

Set up auto-archiving to regularly back up your emails and folders. This helps ensure you always have a recent backup in case of data loss.

Enable Email Forwarding:

Forward important emails to another account or a secure location for an additional backup.

Create Local Backups of Your Outlook Data:

Regularly export your Outlook data to a PST (Personal Storage Table) file. This will give you a complete backup of your email folders and can help you recover data even if Outlook experiences issues.

Be Cautious When Deleting Folders:

Always double-check before deleting any folder or email in Outlook. It’s easy to accidentally delete something important, so be careful when managing your folders.

Use the “Recover Deleted Items” Feature:

Familiarize yourself with the “Recover Deleted Items” feature in Outlook, as it is the first line of defense against accidental deletions.