How to Recover Deleted Folder in Outlook Quickly

Have you ever fiddled around to have that ‘ouch’ feeling after accidentally deleting the wrong folder using Outlook? You don’t have to worry, I have got everything under control for you. Here, I will explain to you how to recover deleted folders in Outlook and restore them easily whether you are using Outlook desktop application or Outlook web app.

Table of Contents:

• Recover Deleted Folders in Outlook Process
  • Method 1 – Recover from Deleted Items Folder
  • Method 2 – Recover Deleted Folder in Outlook 365 or Exchange Server
  • Method 3 – Recover Deleted Folders in Outlook Web Access
• When Recovery Isn’t Working
  • Method 4 – Working with Your IT Administrator
  • Method 5 – Checking Offline Backups
  • Method 6 – Checking Auto-Archive
• Recover deleted folders with an automated method
  • Step-by-Step Recovery Process of Deleted Folders in Outlook
• Prevent Folder Losses in the Future
• Conclusion

Recover Deleted Folders in Outlook Process

It should be noted that Outlook does not completely erase the folder you delete the moment you delete it. However, they are automatically dumped into the “Deleted Items” folder which serves as a backup for easy retrieval. In fact, you’re not out of luck even when emptying the Deleted Items folder. Because Outlook still retains items in a bin labelled “Recoverable Items” for a certain amount of time in server-client environment.

Let’s take a look at the methods down below.

Method 1 – Recover from Deleted Items Folder

The simplest way to restore a deleted folder in Outlook is to find the lost folder in the “Deleted items” section. This section may also be presented as “Trash” in some Outlook versions. Do the following:

1. Open your Outlook application.
2. Navigate to the “Deleted Items” or “Trash” folder in your folder list.
   
3. Look for your deleted folder.
4. Right-click on the folder you want to recover.
5. Select “Move” followed by “Choose folder…“.
   
6. Select the location where you want to restore the folder.
7. Click “OK” to complete the restoration.

Note: You can recover deleted emails in Outlook along with any other items using this basic solution.

Method 2 – Recover Deleted Folder in Outlook 365 or Exchange Server

In server environments like Exchange server and Microsoft 365, there is another layer of safety. If you can’t find your folder in Deleted Items, you can look for the Recoverable items option.

1. Go to the “Deleted Items” folder.
2. Click on the “Home” tab in the ribbon.
3. Select “Recover Deleted Items” (look for the envelope icon with an arrow).
   
4. Or look for the same in the Folder menu in the ribbon.
   
5. Browse through the list of recoverable items and select your deleted folder.
6. Click “Restore Selected Items“.
7. Check your folder list. The recovered folder should appear in its original location.

Method 3 – Recover Deleted Folders in Outlook Web Access

Users can also recover folders in Outlook Web. The process is as follows:

1. Log into Outlook Web Access on your device.
2. Right-click on the “Deleted Items” folder.
   
3. Select the “Recover deleted items” option.
4. Look for the deleted folder in the list.
5. Select (checkmark) it and click on the “Restore” option.

When Recovery Isn’t Working

If the above methods don’t work, you still have a few options left:

1. Talk to your IT administrator as they might have other Outlook recovery tools in their possession.
2. Find out whether there are any offline copies of your Outlook folders.
3. Try to search for any auto-archived folders.

It is also important to note that sometimes conventional recovery techniques just cannot be applied. Below is a detailed breakdown of these alternative approaches.

Method 4 – Working with Your IT Administrator

If you’re in a corporate environment, your IT administrator has powerful recovery tools at their disposal.

Step 1: Document the following details before contacting IT:

• The exact name of the deleted folder.
• Approximate deletion date and time.
• The folder’s original location.
• Any important emails or items you specifically remember being in the folder.

Step 2: Contact your IT administrator with:

• A clear description of the recovery methods you’ve already tried.
• The details you documented above.
• The urgency level of your request.

Step 3: They may be able to:

• Access Exchange Server backup archives.
• Restore from organizational backup systems.
• Use specialized recovery tools not available to regular users.
• Recover items beyond the standard retention period.

Method 5 – Checking Offline Backups

If you’ve been backing up your Outlook data, here’s how to recover deleted folders in Outlook from it:

Step 1: Locate your Outlook data file backups:

• Look for .pst or .ost files in your backup locations
• Check Windows Backup if you’ve enabled it

Step 2: Restore from a backup file:

• First, open Outlook
• Then, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File
• After that, navigate to your backup location
• Next, select the .pst file
• Now, wait for the file to load in your folder list

Step 3: Find and restore your folder:

• First, look for the loaded backup file in your folder list
• Then, locate the folder you need to recover
• After that, right-click and choose “Copy Folder“
• Next, select the destination in your current mailbox
• Finally, click “OK” to complete the restoration

Method 6 – Checking Auto-Archive

Outlook’s Auto-Archive feature might have preserved your folder. So check if you can recover deleted folder in Outlook from archive.

Step 1: Find your archive file:

• By default, it’s located in: C:\Users[YourUsername]\Documents\Outlook Files\archive.pst
• Or check the location specified in your Auto-Archive settings:
  • File > Options > Advanced
  • Scroll down to Auto-Archive Settings
  • Note the archive file location.

Step 2: Access the archive:

• In Outlook, click File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File
• Then, navigate to your archive file.
• After that, select the archive.pst file.
• The archive will appear in your folder list.

Step 3: Restore from archive:

• First, expand the archive folder structure.
• Then, look for your missing folder.
• If found, right-click and select “Move Folder“.
• Next, choose the destination in your active mailbox.
• Finally, click “OK” to restore.

Remember that these methods are your last line of defense when standard recovery options fail. Each approach has its own timeline and success rate:

• IT Administrator recovery: Usually available for 14-30 days after deletion (varies by organization)
• Offline backups: Dependent on your backup schedule and retention
• Auto-Archive: Available as long as you haven’t cleared your archive files

Recover deleted folders with an automated method

The SysTools Outlook Deleted Items Recovery Tool is a software utility that has been developed to help users bring back the permanently deleted folder from Outlook managed PST, OST and BAK files. This professional tool is the best at completing a search and find lost or deleted folders and items in Microsoft Outlook and it is a one-stop solution for individual and corporate users who usually need to restore their important folders in Outlook.

1. Deep Scan Recovery: Uses complex analysis to rapidly search through PST/OST/BAK data folders in order to restore lost folders not available via common Outlook repair tools.
2. Selective Folder Recovery: Enables users to easily scan and, thus, selectively restore certain folders only, without restoring other material which may not be necessary in the process.
3. Multiple Format Support: Organically retrieves lost folders from numerous Outlook file variants, including PST, OST and BAK files with intact folder structure and data properties
4. Batch Recovery Capability: Allows for the recovery of several lost folders at once along with recovery from various Outlook PST files that makes mass PST recovery more efficient.
5. Previews Data before recovery: Previews all the data, original and recovered, in the interface before the recovery process. The deleted items are highlighted in red color.

Download Now Purchase Now

Download Now Purchase Now

Step-by-Step Recovery Process of Deleted Folders in Outlook

1. Download and install the software on your computer.
2. Start the program and go to the ‘Add File’ button to add PST, OST, BAK etc.
   
3. Select the file and let the tool search the chosen file for all possible folders and items that can be recovered.
   
4. The user can preview the recoverable folders before the actual data recovery in the working interface of the program.
   
5. If you want to recover folders then you need to select the Export option available.
   
6. Select the export format of your choice (eg., PST) and apply additional settings.
   
7. Finally, click the “Export” button to start the Outlook folder recovery process.
   

By means of this tool, users can easily restore deleted Outlook folders without additional guidance. The interface of the software is user friendly and self-explanatory. While the data is protected during the restoration.

Prevent Folder Losses in the Future

It often is much easier, cheaper, and efficient to stop or prevent something than for it to escalate into something that requires a huge amount of time, money, and hard work. Here are some proactive steps to prevent permanent loss of folders in Outlook:

1. Make it a habit to back up your Outlook files.
2. The usage of folders should be done carefully and time should be dedicated to the organization of folders.
3. Think about replacing the delete action with archiving of folders.
4. Better still, ensure you look twice before you delete any of the folders.
5. If the entire Outlook file is deleted, you can look for hard drive recovery solutions or SSD recovery solutions.

Conclusion

It is certainly inconvenient to lose an important Outlook folder. The good news is that in most cases the folders can be restored by following these tips. With these tools and knowledge you have at your disposal you can straightforwardly approach the folder recovery in Outlook.

Have any of you used any of these methods? When dealing with any type of failure it is crucial that action is taken rapidly and that the right steps are followed. Remember to save this page in your favourites because you never know when you will need to recover deleted folder in Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007 & 2003.