How to Recover Deleted Folders from Outlook?

Summary: Accidental deletion is more common than you might think. If you end up deleting important email folders in Outlook containing some critical emails and now need to recover deleted outlook folders, then follow the recovery methods discussed in this guide. For quick recovery, you can use Outlook recovery tools, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook.

While cleaning up or managing your mailbox in Outlook, you may have deleted a folder of emails that you need. It may have been an accidental deletion or maybe due to the changes you applied to your Outlook, such as automatic archive and mailbox cleanup.

In a nutshell, accidental deletion of important folders can be a nightmare for anyone.

In this expert guide, you will learn different methods to recover deleted outlook folders and restore lost emails in Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Table of Content:

• Methods To Recover Deleted Outlook Folders

1. Use Microsoft Outlook’s Built-in Recovery Features
2. Recover Deleted Items From Server- Recover Deleted Outlook Folders
3. Use an Outlook Recovery Software

• Conclusion- Recover Deleted Outlook Folders

Methods To Recover Deleted Outlook Folders

When it comes to recovering deleted Outlook folders, there are several methods that users can explore. These methods range from utilizing Microsoft Outlook’s built-in features to seeking professional recovery services. Each method has its own set of advantages and limitations, and users should choose the one that best suits their specific requirements and level of expertise.

Method 1: Use Microsoft Outlook’s Built-in Recovery Features

Microsoft Outlook comes with built-in features that can help you recover and restore deleted folders and emails. When you delete a folder in Outlook using the DEL key or right-click > Delete Folder option, the folder is moved to the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder by default.

The deleted folder and all the emails in that folder remain available for recovery until the retention period expires. The retention period is usually set to 30 days. However, this may slightly vary based on your organization’s policies.

Post the retention period, the emails in the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder are permanently deleted and removed from Outlook.

Thus, if you have recently deleted a folder in Outlook, you can follow these steps to recover it in Outlook:

• In Outlook, click on the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder in the left pane.
• Find the deleted folder and emails you want to recover and restore.
• Right-click on the deleted folder and choose Move. Select a folder from the list.

• Click OK. This will restore the deleted folder in Outlook along with all the emails in it.

You can now access, open, and view the recovered email folder and all the emails in Outlook. In case the deleted folder is no longer visible in the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder, you can try to recover the folder from the server, discussed in the next method.

Also Read: How to Recover Contacts in Outlook Missing After Windows 10/11Update?

Method 2: Recover Deleted Items From Server- Recover Deleted Outlook Folders

Outlook provides an option to recover and restore permanently deleted folders from the server. When you use the Shift + DEL key or empty the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder, the deleted folders and emails are permanently removed from the Outlook client.

To recover such deleted folders, you can use the Recover Mail Items From Server option. The steps are as follows:

• In Outlook, click on the Deleted Items, Trash, or Bin folder. 
• Then under the Home tab, you will see a new option, click on the ‘Recover Mail Items From Server’ option.

Also Read: How to Fix Outlook Not Responding Error?

NOTE: In case you don’t see the ‘recover Mail Items From Server’ option under the Home tab, the option must have been disabled by your organization or your Outlook email account does not support the recovery of deleted folders from the Outlook email server. In such a case, follow Method 3.

• From the list of deleted items, find your deleted folder and then click ‘Restore Selected Items.’

• Click OK. This will restore the selected mail folder to your Outlook client from the server.

Based on the number of emails in the deleted folder and the size of emails, this may take a while to restore. Once restored, you can view all the emails from the recovered deleted folder in Outlook.

Method 3: Use an Outlook Recovery Software

You can use advanced third-party Outlook recovery software, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook, to recover and restore deleted folders from Outlook with complete integrity and precision.

Stellar Repair for Outlook is a specialized email recovery tool that can help you recover deleted folders from the Outlook data file, i.e. PST, where Outlook stores all mail items. With three-step recovery, the software can help you get back access to all your mail folders even if they are permanently deleted or purged from Outlook.

Also Read: How to get Activation Key for Stellar Outlook Repair?

These steps are:

Step 1: Scan the Outlook PST file.

Step 2: Preview and verify the deleted folder and mail items in it. You can use the search bar to locate the deleted folder you want to recover.

Step 3: Select and save the deleted folder into a PST file, which you can import to your Outlook account and restore the deleted email folder in Outlook.

The software can also export the recovered folder directly to Microsoft 365 or Office 365 and Live Exchange Server mailbox in a few clicks. So if you are using one of these accounts, all you need to do is enter the valid credentials and server details.

It uses Microsoft Secure authentication to export your data. So you don’t have to worry about data privacy and security.

Conclusion- Recover Deleted Outlook Folders

Accidental deletion is quite common. However, deleting important data, such as email folders in Outlook. can significantly affect your personal or professional life and business. This can further lead to downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. However, by following the recovery methods discussed in this guide, you can easily recover and restore all your deleted folders and emails in a few clicks with the help of built-in recovery methods and advanced Outlook recovery software, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook.

With the help of this software, you can effectively repair a corrupt damaged, or encrypted PST file and recover deleted emails and mail folders from the Outlook data file to a new PST, which you can import to your Outlook account and restore deleted folders.

Also Read: How to Repair PST when ScanPST is not responding?