Outlook & Email
Recovering Deleted Emails
This guide shows you how to recover an email you have deleted, including retrieving items from the hidden recoverable items folder if you have already emptied your Deleted Items.
Time needed
5 minutes
Platform
Microsoft 365
Guide steps
3 clear sections
Before you begin
You are signed in to Outlook on the web or the desktop app.
Follow along
Step-by-step guide
Restore from the Deleted Items folder
- Instruction 1: In Outlook, click the Deleted Items folder in the left-hand list.
- Instruction 2: Find the email you want to restore. You can search within the folder using the search bar.
- Instruction 3: Right-click the email and select Move > Inbox (or any other folder you want to restore it to).
- Instruction 4: In Outlook desktop, you can also drag the email back to your Inbox.
Action map
Restore from the Deleted Items folder
- 01
In Outlook, click the Deleted Items folder in the left-hand list.
- 02
Find the email you want to restore. You can search within the folder using the search bar.
- 03
Right-click the email and select Move > Inbox (or any other folder you want to restore…
Visual guide
Use this visual action map alongside the written instructions above.
Open Outlook help & learning for Recovering Deleted EmailsRecover items after emptying Deleted Items — Outlook on the web
- Instruction 1: If you have already emptied the Deleted Items folder, the email may still be in the Recoverable Items folder (a hidden safety net).
- Instruction 2: In Outlook on the web, right-click the Deleted Items folder in the left panel.
- Instruction 3: Click Recover items deleted from this folder.
- Instruction 4: A panel will open showing items that were permanently deleted but are still within the retention window (usually 14–30 days, depending on your organisation's settings).
- Instruction 5: Select the email and click Restore. It will return to your Deleted Items folder — then move it to your Inbox.
Recover items in Outlook desktop
- Instruction 1: In Outlook desktop, click the Folder tab in the ribbon.
- Instruction 2: Click Recover Deleted Items. This opens a window showing items in the Recoverable Items folder.
- Instruction 3: Select the email you want to recover and click Restore Selected Items.
- Instruction 4: The email will return to your Deleted Items folder.
Quick fixes
Troubleshooting
The email is not in Deleted Items or Recoverable Items
The email may have been beyond the retention window and permanently purged. Contact the helpdesk — an administrator may be able to search the compliance archive if your organisation has one configured.
I cannot see the Recover Deleted Items option
This feature requires a Microsoft 365 Exchange Online account. If you are using an IMAP or POP account, once an email is permanently deleted it cannot be recovered from this method. Contact the helpdesk.
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