Suggestions to Recover Deleted Emails From Outlook Personal Folder

Recovering deleted emails from your Outlook Personal Folder (PST file) can be straightforward if done promptly. Below are some steps and suggestions to help you recover deleted emails:

1. Check the Deleted Items Folder

• Why: Emails are usually moved to the “Deleted Items” folder when you delete them. They may still be recoverable if they haven’t been permanently deleted.
• How:
  • Open Outlook.
  • In the left-hand pane, click on the Deleted Items folder.
  • Look for the emails you want to recover. If found, right-click on the email and choose Move > Other Folder to restore it to its original location.

2. Recover Items from the Recoverable Items Folder

• Why: If you emptied the Deleted Items folder, emails might still be retrievable from the “Recoverable Items” folder, which Outlook keeps as a backup for a while.
• How:
  • Open Outlook.
  • Click on the Folder tab at the top.
  • Select Recover Deleted Items from the ribbon (this option might not be visible if you’re using a local PST file, but it’s available if you’re using an Exchange or Office 365 account).
  • Select the emails you wish to recover and click Restore Selected Items.

3. Use Outlook’s Search Feature

• Why: Sometimes deleted emails are hard to find due to misplacement or accidental archiving. The search function can help you locate them even if they are in different folders.
• How:
  • In Outlook, type keywords from the deleted email in the Search bar at the top.
  • Click on the Search Tools > Search Location, and select All Mail Items to search all folders, including Deleted Items and Archive folders.
  • If you find the email, you can move it back to the desired folder.

4. Check the Archive Folder

• Why: Outlook often automatically archives old emails. If you have the auto-archive feature turned on, emails might have been archived rather than deleted.
• How:
  • In Outlook, go to the File tab, click Open & Export, and then select Open Outlook Data File.
  • Browse to the Archive folder and check if the deleted emails are stored there.

5. Use the “Recover from Backup” Feature (If Enabled)

• Why: If you have a backup of your Outlook data, you may be able to restore the deleted emails from there.
• How:
  • If you’re using an Exchange account, check with your IT administrator to see if server-based backups are available.
  • If you have a PST file backup: Close Outlook, navigate to the backup PST file location, and then open it in Outlook by selecting File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

6. Repair the PST File (If Emails Are Corrupted)

• Why: A corrupted PST file may cause missing or inaccessible emails.
• How:
  • Close Outlook.
  • Locate the Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) on your computer. It is typically found in the following directory:
    • For Office 365 / Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX
  • Double-click scanpst.exe and follow the instructions to repair your PST file. Once done, open Outlook and check if the deleted emails have been restored.

7. Use Third-Party Recovery Tools

• Why: If the above methods don’t work, third-party tools may be able to recover deleted emails, especially if they are stored in a corrupted PST file.
• How: Some popular tools for recovering deleted emails from Outlook include:
  • Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair
  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
  • DiskInternals Outlook Recovery

These tools scan your Outlook data files for lost or deleted emails and provide the option to recover them.

8. Check Webmail (If Using Exchange or Office 365)

• Why: If you use Outlook with an Exchange or Office 365 account, your deleted emails may be recoverable through webmail (like Outlook on the web).
• How:
  • Log in to your Office 365 or Exchange account via webmail.
  • Check the Deleted Items and Recoverable Items folders for the missing emails.
  • Some services, like Office 365, may also provide a Retention Policy that holds deleted items for a certain period before they are permanently deleted.

9. Ask Your IT Administrator (For Corporate Accounts)

• Why: If you’re using a company email account (e.g., Exchange, Office 365), IT administrators may have server-level backups or recovery tools that can help restore deleted emails.
• How: Contact your company’s IT support team and ask if they can assist in recovering the emails from a server backup or other recovery system.

10. Prevent Future Email Loss

• Why: To avoid losing important emails in the future, consider implementing the following preventive measures:
  • Regular Backups: Set up regular backups of your Outlook data files (PST files).
  • Enable Auto-Archive: Set Outlook to automatically archive old emails, which can be a safe backup solution.
  • Use Cloud-Based Email Services: If possible, consider using cloud-based email services like Office 365 or Google Workspace for better email retention and recovery options.

By following these methods, you can recover deleted emails from your Outlook Personal Folder. However, it’s important to act quickly because the longer you wait, the more likely the deleted emails may be permanently lost or overwritten.