Connect and organize on the go with Outlook mobile LEARN MORE Email, calendar, contacts all in one place Work efficiently with email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and more—together in one place.
By default, messages that are sent to you are stored in your Inbox. But you can organize your messages into a hierarchical folder system and adjust it as your needs change.
Default folders
Your account starts with these default folders:
- Inbox Incoming messages arrive in your Inbox unless you've created an Inbox rule to redirect them to another folder, or they're identified as junk email.
- Drafts If you create or respond to a message, but can't finish it right away, it will automatically be saved to your Drafts folder. You can come back to the message later to continue editing it, and then send it.
- Sent Items By default, a copy of every message you send is put in your Sent Items folder.
- Deleted Items When you delete a message, it's moved to the Deleted Items folder.
- Junk Email Messages that have junk email characteristics but that aren't blocked by a spam filter before they reach your mailbox will automatically be moved to this folder. Learn about junk email and phishing has more information about your Junk Email folder.
You may see other folders that have been created by your administrator.
Right-click menu for folders
Most of what you can do with a folder will be found in the right-click menu. Actions you can take include:
- New Folder Use this to create a new sub-folder in the folder you right-clicked. Note: Due to possible mail delivery and syncing issues, do not create subfolders of the 'Inbox.'
- Rename Folder Rename the folder. You can't rename the default folders, such as the Inbox folder.
- Delete Delete the entire folder. Delete will move the folder to the Deleted Items folder.
- Delete All Deletes everything in the folder, including any sub-folders.
- Move Folder Opens a window where you can select a folder to move this folder to. You can also move a folder by clicking it and dragging it to where you want it.
- Mark all as read Marks every item in the folder as read.
- Permissions Allows you to manage who has access to your access.
- Folder Properties Allows you to review your storage, permissions, and other settings related to your account.
Creating folders
You can create additional folders to organize your messages any way you want. For example, you can create a folder for a specific project, or for all messages sent by a particular person, or all messages sent to a distribution group that you're a member of.
To create a new folder, right-click the parent folder you want to create the new folder in. If you want a top-level folder (a folder at the same level as your Inbox), you would use your mailbox as the parent folder. Note: Do not create subfolders of the 'Inbox' due to possible mail delivery and syncing issues.
To create a folder within your account:
- Right-click your account.
- Click New Folder.
- Type the name you want to use for this folder and press Enter key.
Moving folders
There are two ways to move a folder.
- Click the folder you want to move and drag it to where you want it.
- Right-click the folder you want to move and click Move Folder. A window will pop up that will allow you to search for the destination folder. Click the folder you want to move to and click Move. Or click Cancel to close the move folder window without moving the folder.
The Deleted Items folder
![Notes Notes](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126256598/454872904.png)
When you delete a message, it's first moved to the Deleted Items folder. You can either let messages stay there, or you can set Outlook to automatically empty your Deleted Items folder when you sign out. Your administrator may have set up a policy to empty items from your Deleted Items folder after they've been there for a preset number of days. For example, there may be a policy that removes anything that's been in your Deleted Items folder for 30 days.
Recover deleted items
If your administrator has enabled the recover deleted items feature, you can use it to recover items that have been deleted from your Deleted Items folder. How long items will be recoverable depends on settings that are controlled by your administrator.
To recover items that have been deleted from your Deleted Items folder, you must use Outlook on the web. After you have logged into your account, follow instructions for recovering the delete messages.
The item will be moved to its default location. Messages will go to your Inbox, calendar items will go to your Calendar, contacts to your Contacts folder, and tasks to your Tasks folder. Top of Page
What else do I need to know?
- The folders you create can be at the same level as your default folders, for example, the Inbox or Sent Items folders. Or, you can create sub-folders within any existing email folder. Due to possible mail delivery and syncing issues, do not create subfolders of the default 'Inbox' folder.
- If you want to create a personal information folder as a sub-folder to a mail folder, you can create the folder and then move it to the location you want. Some folders, for example, the Inbox, can't be moved to another location.
- Some folders, for example, the Inbox, can't be renamed. If the folder can't be renamed, the Rename option in the menu will appear dimmed.
- After you delete a folder, it's moved to the Deleted Items folder. The folder isn't permanently removed until you empty the Deleted Items folder or delete the folder from the Deleted Items folder.
The follow document explains how to recover messages that have been emptied from your Deleted Items folder.
When you delete an item (email, calendar event, task, etc.), it is moved to your Deleted Items folder. Depending on your settings, these messages may be periodically emptied from your Deleted Items folder. Once this folder has been empty, some Microsoft clients, including Outlook Web App and some desktop versions of Outlook, allow you to recover deleted items that are no longer visible in your Deleted Items folder.
Recover Deleted Items
Select your client below for instructions:
Turning on or off automatic emptying of the Deleted Items folder
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recover deleted items
Outlook on the web
When you delete a message, it's first moved to the Deleted Items folder. You can either let messages stay there, or you can set Outlook on the web to automatically empty your Deleted Items folder when you sign out.
- Log intoOutlook on the Web.
- Right-click Deleted Items folder within folder list (not under Favorites).
- Click Recover deleted items.
4. Right-click the item you want and then click Recover. The item will be moved to its default location. Messages will go to your Inbox, calendar items will go to your Calendar, contacts to your Contacts folder, and tasks to your Tasks folder.
Note: You can also select 'Purge' to permanently delete an item. If you purge an item, you won't be able to use Recover deleted items to get it back. Purging a message won't remove it from any backups that were made before you purged it.
2. Click Recover Deleted Items
If you don't see Recover Deleted Items, you're probably not using an Exchange account or you don't have a folder selected in that account.3. Click the message you want to recover, and then click Recover Selected Items.
If you don't see Recover Deleted Items, you're probably not using an Exchange account or you don't have a folder selected in that account.3. Click the message you want to recover, and then click Recover Selected Items.
Note: To select multiple items, press Ctrl as you click each item, and then click Recover Selected ItemsRecovered items are restored to the folder you're working inTop of Page
Outlook 2013
- Click 'Mail'.
- Click Folder > Recover Deleted Items.If you don't see Recover Deleted Items, you're probably not using an Exchange account or you don't have a folder selected in that account.
- Click the message you want to recover, and then click Recover Selected Items .Tip To select multiple items, press Ctrl as you click each item, and then click Recover Selected Items .Recovered items are restored to the folder you're working in.
![Free Free](/uploads/1/2/6/2/126256598/525791075.png)
Outlook 2010
- In the folder from which the item was deleted, or in the Deleted Items folder, on the Folder tab, in the Clean Up group, click Recover Deleted Items.- The Recover Deleted Items command is missingAn Office 365/Exchange account is required for this command to appear. If you are using an Office 365/Exchange account and don't see the command, contact your Exchange administrator.
- Click an item, and then click Recover Selected Items .Tip To select multiple items, press CTRL as you click each item, and then click Recover Selected Items.
- In the main inbox menu, select Deleted Items.
2. Select the item you wish to recover, and in the main menu, select Move. You can then specify where you wish to move the item to.
Other clients
The Recover Deleted Items feature is only available for the following desktop clients: Outlook 2016 for Windows, Outlook 2013 for Windows, and Outlook 2010 for Windows.
If you are not using one of the clients listed above, you will need to use Outlook on the web to recover your deleted items.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Turning on or off automatic emptying of the Deleted Items folder
Outlook on the web
- Log into Outlook on the Web.
- Choose Options at the top right, and then Settings on the left.
- Make sure the Mail tab is selected.
- Scroll all the way down to Message Options
- Clear (or unclear) the Empty the Deleted Items folder when I sign out check box.
- Click Save.
Outlook
- On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Other tab.
- Select or clear the Empty the Deleted Items folder upon exiting check box.
- Note: To be notified before you empty the Deleted Items folder
- Click the Tools menu
- Click Options
- Click the Other tab
- Click Advanced Options
- Select or clear the Warn before permanently deleting items check box