Accidentally deleting an important email can be frustrating, especially when you have already emptied the Trash or Deleted Items folder. The good news is that Outlook may keep deleted emails for a limited period even after they have been removed from the Trash folder. This gives you another opportunity to recover messages that you thought were gone for good.
Whether you are using Outlook on the web, the new Outlook app, or another supported Outlook setup, the recovery process usually starts with checking the Deleted Items folder.
If the email is no longer there, you can look for the Recover items deleted from this folder option and restore available messages.
Let’s do it with this guide!
How to Recover Outlook Emails Deleted From Trash
To recover an Outlook email,
- Open Outlook and sign in to your account.
- Go to Deleted Items or Trash and check whether the deleted email is still available.
- If the message is missing, select Recover items deleted from this folder.
- Find the email you want to recover and select Restore.
- Check your Inbox, Deleted Items, or the original folder to confirm that the email has been restored.
Let’s explore it!
1: Open Outlook and Sign In
Start by opening Outlook and signing in to the account where you originally received the email. If you have more than one Microsoft account, make sure you are using the correct Outlook account.
In Outlook on the web, open your browser and sign in to Outlook. After your mailbox loads, look at the folder list on the left side of the screen.
Depending on your Outlook version, the folder may be called Deleted Items or Trash. Select it to see messages that have recently been deleted.
You can navigate through the mailbox using Mail > Folders > Deleted Items or the equivalent folder arrangement shown in your version of Outlook.
2: Search the Deleted Items Folder
Once you open Deleted Items, look through the messages to see whether the email you need is still there. If you remember the sender, subject, or a specific word from the email, use Outlook’s Search feature to find it faster.
For example, you can search for the sender’s name or a distinctive word from the subject line. This can save time if your Deleted Items folder contains a large number of messages.
If you find the email, select it and use the Move option to return it to your Inbox or another folder.
You can navigate through Deleted Items > Search > Select the message > Move > Inbox.
If the email is not there, continue to the next step.
3: Open the Deleted Item Recovery Area
When an email has already been removed from Deleted Items, Outlook may provide a separate recovery option. This is where you can check for messages that are still temporarily available for restoration.
Open the Deleted Items folder and look for an option such as Recover items deleted from this folder. The wording and location can vary slightly depending on the Outlook version you are using.
Select this option to open the recovery list.
You can generally navigate through Deleted Items > Recover items deleted from this folder > Review available messages.
The recovery window may display messages that are no longer visible in your regular Deleted Items folder.
4: Find the Email You Want to Recover
After opening the recovery area, look through the available messages and locate the email you want to restore.
Pay attention to the sender, subject, and date. These details can help you identify the correct message, particularly if several emails were deleted around the same time.
If Outlook provides a search or sorting option in the recovery window, use it to narrow down the results.
You can navigate through Recovery Area > Search or Sort > Locate the email > Select the message.
Remember that Outlook may not display every message you have ever deleted. Older emails may no longer be available for recovery because of retention limits.
5: Restore the Deleted Email
Once you find the correct message, select it and choose Restore. Outlook will attempt to return the email to its previous location or another appropriate folder.
In many cases, the recovered email will appear in the Deleted Items folder first. If that happens, open Deleted Items and move the message to your Inbox or another folder.
You can navigate through Recovery Area > Select Email > Restore > Deleted Items > Move > Inbox.
After restoring the message, search for it again to make sure it is where you expect it to be.
6: Check Your Inbox and Other Folders
After completing the recovery process, check your Inbox and other mail folders. Do not assume the message has disappeared simply because it is not immediately visible in your Inbox.
Use Outlook’s search feature and enter the sender’s name, email address, subject, or keyword associated with the message.
You can navigate through Inbox > Search > Enter sender or subject > Review the results.
If you find the email, consider moving it to a dedicated folder so it is easier to locate in the future.
7: Check Whether the Email Is Still Recoverable
If Outlook does not show the email in the recovery area, the message may have passed the account’s recoverable-item retention period. The exact retention behavior can vary between personal Outlook accounts and work or school accounts managed by an organization.
For workplace accounts, your Microsoft 365 administrator may have additional retention or recovery controls. If the message is important for business, legal, financial, or compliance reasons, contact your organization’s IT administrator as soon as possible.
You can check Outlook > Deleted Items > Recover items deleted from this folder > Available messages. If the message does not appear there, further recovery may require administrator-level assistance, depending on the account configuration.
FAQs
Can I recover an Outlook email after emptying Trash?
Sometimes, yes. If the email has been removed from Deleted Items, Outlook may still have it available through the Recover Items Deleted from this Folder feature. Availability depends on the account and retention period.
Where do permanently deleted Outlook emails go?
After an email is removed from Deleted Items, it may temporarily remain in Outlook’s recoverable items area. Once the applicable retention period expires, the message may no longer be recoverable through normal Outlook options.
Why can’t I find the Recover Deleted Items option?
The option can vary depending on your Outlook version, account type, and mailbox configuration. Personal and organization-managed accounts can have different recovery features.
Can I recover an email deleted months ago?
It depends on your account’s retention settings. If the message is older than the applicable recovery period, Outlook may no longer have it available. Work or school accounts may also have administrator-managed retention policies.
Will recovering an email restore its attachments?
If the original email is successfully recovered, its attachments and message content should generally be restored along with it. You should open the recovered message and verify that the attachments are present.
Can I recover an email permanently deleted from Outlook?
You may be able to recover it if Outlook still retains the message in its recovery area. If it is no longer available there, normal Outlook recovery may not be possible.
Where will my recovered email appear?
The recovered message may return to its original folder or Deleted Items, depending on the Outlook version and recovery method. If you cannot immediately find it, use Outlook Search to locate it.
How can I avoid permanently losing important emails?
Instead of leaving important messages in Deleted Items, move them into a dedicated folder such as Important, Work, or Receipts. You can also use Outlook’s organizational features to keep important messages easier to find.
Final Words
Recovering deleted Outlook emails is often possible if you act quickly. Start by checking Deleted Items or Trash, because the message may still be sitting there. If it has already been removed, use Recover items deleted from this folder to check whether Outlook still has a recoverable copy.
The most important thing is to avoid waiting too long. Recovery availability is limited by retention rules, so an email that can be recovered today may not be recoverable later.
If the message is available, restore it and verify that it appears in the correct folder. For work or school accounts, contacting your organization’s administrator may provide additional recovery options when standard Outlook recovery is no longer enough.