Outlook emails offer robust features like seamless email management, calendar integration, task organization, powerful search, spam filters, etc. However, sometimes you encounter issues when your Outlook emails get deleted all of a sudden. Losing emails on Outlook can be a frustrating experience, especially when the message contains something critical.
Whether your emails are deleted due to accidental deletion, corrupted data files, or syncing issues, there are several recovery methods available that you can try to retrieve your lost emails. This guide explores several methods to help you know how to recover lost emails from Outlook on Windows PC. Keep reading!
What Causes Deletion of Emails from Outlook Account?
Before you use any Windows data recovery software or manual workarounds to recover your lost/deleted Outlook emails, it’s important to find the exact cause for the same. Some main reasons why emails are deleted from Outlook accounts are:
- Accidental Deletion: One of the most common reasons why emails get deleted is user error. You may have unintentionally deleted an important email while cleaning the inbox or managing other folders.
- Misconfigured Email Filters or Rules: If Outlook’s rules and filters are misconfigured on your account, it moves your emails to unexpected folders or deletes them altogether.
- Corrupted PST or OST Files: Outlook stores data locally in PST (Personal Storage Table) or OST (Offline Storage Table) files. When these files become corrupted, your emails can go missing.
- Malware or Unauthorized Access: Cyberattacks or infections by malicious programs, like viruses or malware attacks can lead to the unauthorized deletion of emails.
- Account Expiry or Deactivation: Outlook accounts linked to inactive subscriptions or those deactivated due to prolonged inactivity might result in email deletion.
Quick Methods to Recover Lost Outlook Emails
Understanding the above causes can help you identify the exact recovery method to recover missing emails when needed. Here are some quick recovery workarounds that you can try:
Method 01: Check the Deleted Items or Trash Folder
Every deleted email on your Outlook account goes to the Deleted Items or Trash folder before they get permanently removed. You can follow the below steps to recover your lost emails from the Deleted Items folder of your Outlook account:
- Open your Outlook account and click on the Deleted Items (or Trash) folder from the left pane.
- Go through the emails and select the one you need to recover.
- Right-click on the required email and select Move > Inbox or drag it directly back to your Inbox.
Method 02: Recover Emails from the Recoverable Items Folder
If your Deleted Items folder is emptied or you can’t find the deleted email there, it’s time to check the Recoverable Items folder. This hidden folder is available for Microsoft 365, Exchange Server, and IMAP accounts and serves as a safety net for permanently deleted emails.
Here’s how to retrieve lost emails from Outlook on your Windows PC using the Recoverable Items folder:
- Launch Outlook on your device and go to the Folder tab in the ribbon.
- Now, select the Recover Deleted Items or Recover Items Deleted from this Folder option (depending on the Outlook version).
- Locate and select the emails you want to recover, and click the Restore Selected Items option.
Method 03: Use Backups to Recover Lost Emails
If you back up your Outlook data on a regular basis, you can use this backup file to restore lost emails. Outlook stores data in PST (Personal Storage Table) files, which you can easily restore using the Import/Export feature. For this:
- Open Outlook, and click on File. Then, go to Open & Export > Import/Export.
- Select the “Import from another program or file” option and click Next.
- Now, choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) option and go through the backup file.
- Select the folder(s) you want to restore and click Finish.
Method 04: Use Windows Data Recovery Software
When all the above methods to recover lost emails from Outlook fail, try using a Windows data recovery software. Tools like Stellar Data Recovery Standard allow you to restore lost data in various formats, including photos, videos, documents, emails, and many more. You can use this tool to restore your files deleted due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attacks, system errors, or any other reasons.
The Stellar Data Recovery Standard tool supports the recovery of files in two different scanning modes: Quick Scan and Deep Scan. Quick scan searches for recently deleted files, providing faster results, while deep scan performs a thorough search for lost or corrupted data. It also allows you to preview the recoverable files before saving them on your device.
Follow the below steps to learn how to retrieve lost emails from Outlook on your Windows PC using this amazing software:
Step 1: Download and install the Stellar Data Recovery Standard software on your Windows device. Launch the software and from the homepage, select Emails and click Next.
Step 2: From the Recover From window, choose the storage drive where the Outlook offline items are stored and click Scan to initiate the scanning process.
Step 3: After completion of the scan, preview the recoverable files and choose the Outlook files you want. Click Recover to save the selected file at the desired location on your device.
Method 05: Contact Your Email Provider or IT Support
Instances may occur when all the aforementioned methods on how to retrieve lost emails from Outlook on your Windows PC fail. In such cases, your email provider or IT administrator may be able to assist. They can check server logs, restore data from server backups, or resolve account-specific issues. You just need to provide few information, like the date and time of the lost email, subject or sender details, etc. to restore your lost Outlook emails.
Conclusion
When you find any important email lost from your Outlook account, go with the above-mentioned recovery methods to get it back. Start with the basics—check the Deleted Items folder and search across all available backups. For more complex issues, explore the Recoverable Items folder or use third-party Windows data recovery software tools. Finally, you can consider preventive measures like implementing regular backups and reviewing your Outlook rules to ensure your emails remain secure and accessible.
