How to Recover Deleted Emails in Outlook on Windows and the Web
Open Deleted Items first, because deleted emails land there first. If the email is gone, Outlook can pull it back from the hidden Recoverable Items folder on the mail server. Your admin sets how long that window lasts.
By Neeraj Singh ~6 min Updated Nov 2026 Checked against Microsoft Support
Error message
Your deleted email is missing from the Deleted Items folder
Summary
Check the Deleted Items and Junk Email folders first and move the email back to your Inbox. If the email is gone, open Deleted Items and select Recover Deleted Items From Server in classic Outlook. New Outlook uses the Recover button next to Recover items deleted from this folder. Emails removed with Shift+Delete or by emptying Deleted Items land in the hidden Recoverable Items folder. Exchange Online keeps them for 14 days by default and your admin can raise that to 30 days.
Where deleted emails go in Outlook
Outlook moves a deleted email to the Deleted Items folder first. You can drag it back to any folder from there.
Microsoft says items reach the hidden Recoverable Items folder in three cases. You delete them from Deleted Items, empty Deleted Items or press Shift+Delete.
Microsoft Learn gives 14 days as the Exchange Online default for deleted items. Admins can raise it to 30 days. Microsoft Support shows one sample policy with 30 days in Deleted Items plus up to 14 more days.
Your admin sets the real window for your account. After that window, only your admin can look further.
Why a deleted email is hard to find
The email sits in Junk Email and not in Deleted Items.
Someone emptied Deleted Items or pressed Shift+Delete, which sends the email to Recoverable Items.
An admin policy cleared the email from Deleted Items after a set time.
Your account is not an Exchange account. Microsoft says a Trash folder in place of Deleted Items means your account cannot use Recover Deleted Items.
The retention period for the email has ended.
✓ How to fix it
Method 1
Restore Emails From Deleted Items and Junk Email
1Select the Deleted Items folder in the folder pane. If your folders are hidden, select the Show Navigation Pane button. Check Junk Email too.
2In classic Outlook, select the emails, right-click and select Move. You can also use Move on the Home tab or drag the emails to a folder.
3In new Outlook, check the box next to every email and select Move on the Home tab. You can also right-click an email and select Restore.
Recover an Email After Shift+Delete or Empty Deleted Items
1Use Method 2 in classic Outlook or Method 3 in new Outlook. Both read the Recoverable Items folder.
2Microsoft Learn calls this a soft delete. The item moves to the Deletions subfolder of Recoverable Items and stays there until the retention period ends.
3Act fast. Exchange Online keeps soft deleted items for 14 days by default. The maximum is 30 days.
4Do not purge items in the Recover Deleted Items window. Microsoft says a user cannot recover a purged item.
5If you press Shift+Delete on a folder, Microsoft says the folder itself cannot be recovered. Its emails move to Recoverable Items and you can recover them for up to 14 days by default.
1Contact your admin if the email is not in Recover Deleted Items. Microsoft Support tells you to do this when you still cannot find an item.
2Microsoft Learn says an admin can still recover purged items while the retention period lasts. Single item recovery must be on before the email was deleted. Exchange Online enables it for new mailboxes by default.
3Admins open the Exchange admin center and go to Recipients and then Mailboxes. They select your mailbox and select Recover deleted items under Others.
4They filter for the email, select Apply filter, select the messages and select Recover deleted items. The admin needs the Mailbox Import Export role.
Deleted emails go to Deleted Items first and then to the hidden Recoverable Items folder after Shift+Delete or an emptied Deleted Items folder. Use Recover Deleted Items From Server in classic Outlook or the Recover button in new Outlook. Exchange Online keeps items for 14 days by default and up to 30 days. After that only your admin can help.
Frequently asked questions
How do I recover deleted emails in Outlook?
Open the Deleted Items folder and move the email back to your Inbox. If the email is not there, select Recover Deleted Items From Server in classic Outlook or the Recover button in new Outlook.
How long can I recover deleted emails in Outlook?
Microsoft Learn gives 14 days as the Exchange Online default. Admins can set it up to 30 days. Your admin sets the real window for your account.
Can I recover an email after Shift+Delete?
Yes, when your account supports it and the retention period has not ended. Microsoft says Shift+Delete sends the item to Recoverable Items. Use Recover Deleted Items to bring it back.
What if I emptied the Deleted Items folder?
Microsoft says emptying Deleted Items also sends emails to Recoverable Items. Open Deleted Items and select the recover command for your version of Outlook.
Why is Recover Deleted Items From Server missing?
Microsoft says your account does not support this recovery when the command is missing. A Trash folder in place of Deleted Items gives the same result.
Where do restored emails go?
Microsoft says items restored from Recoverable Items move to the Deleted Items folder. Move them from there to your Inbox or another folder.
Can my admin recover emails I cannot?
Yes, while the retention period is active. Microsoft Learn says an admin can recover items a user purged. The admin works in the Exchange admin center under Recipients and Mailboxes.
Can I recover a deleted folder?
Only when the folder is still in Deleted Items. Expand it and drag it back to your folder list. Microsoft says permanently deleted folders cannot be recovered. You can still recover their messages.
