How to Recover Deleted Emails in Outlook (Even After Emptying the Bin)
Deleted an important email by mistake? Emptied Deleted Items and immediately regretted it? There's a good chance you can still get it back — but don't wait too long.
Step 1: Check Deleted Items
Deleted emails go to the Deleted Items folder first.
1. Click Deleted Items in your folder list.
2. Find the email (use the search box if there are lots).
3. Right-click it and choose Move > Inbox (or Restore), or drag it back to your Inbox.
2. Find the email (use the search box if there are lots).
3. Right-click it and choose Move > Inbox (or Restore), or drag it back to your Inbox.
Step 2: Recover items after emptying Deleted Items
Even after Deleted Items has been emptied, Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts keep emails in a hidden Recoverable Items area for a while.
New Outlook and Outlook on the web
1. Click Deleted Items.
2. At the top of the message list, click Recover items deleted from this folder.
3. Select the emails you want back (tick several at once if needed).
4. Click Restore.
2. At the top of the message list, click Recover items deleted from this folder.
3. Select the emails you want back (tick several at once if needed).
4. Click Restore.
The emails go back to your Deleted Items folder (or their original folder). Move them to your Inbox.
Classic Outlook for Windows
1. Click Deleted Items.
2. On the Folder tab, click Recover Deleted Items. (Or click Recover items recently removed from this folder at the top of the list.)
3. Select the emails.
4. Make sure Restore Selected Items is chosen and click OK.
2. On the Folder tab, click Recover Deleted Items. (Or click Recover items recently removed from this folder at the top of the list.)
3. Select the emails.
4. Make sure Restore Selected Items is chosen and click OK.
How long do I have?
• Work and school (Microsoft 365) accounts: usually 14 days by default, though your IT admin may have set up to 30 days or more.
• Outlook.com / Hotmail: usually 30 days.
• Outlook.com / Hotmail: usually 30 days.
After that, they're gone for good — so act quickly.
What about Shift + Delete?
Shift + Delete skips the Deleted Items folder and deletes an email "permanently". Good news: those emails still go to Recoverable Items, so you can get them back using Step 2.
Still can't find it?
The email might not be deleted at all:
• Check the Archive folder — it's easy to archive by accident (the Backspace key archives in classic Outlook).
• Check Junk Email.
• Search All folders, not just the Inbox.
• Check your rules — one might be moving certain emails into a folder automatically.
• Check the Other tab if you use Focused Inbox.
• Check Junk Email.
• Search All folders, not just the Inbox.
• Check your rules — one might be moving certain emails into a folder automatically.
• Check the Other tab if you use Focused Inbox.
Gmail, iCloud and other accounts
If you use Outlook with a Gmail, iCloud or other IMAP account, Outlook's recovery options won't work. Check the Trash or Bin in that provider's own website instead — Gmail keeps deleted emails in Bin for 30 days.
Wrapping up
Check Deleted Items first. If it's been emptied, use Recover items deleted from this folder — and do it within a couple of weeks. If it's not there, check Archive, Junk and your rules.
