How to Recover Deleted Email Items

Learn how to recover your deleted emails in Outlook.

When you delete an email message, a contact, a calendar item, or a task, it's moved to the Deleted Items folder. A deleted item (email message, contact, calendar event, or task) can be recovered from the Deleted Items folder. Note:  The email system automatically deletes junk email 15 days after it is received. Messages in the deleted Items folder will be purged after 30 days. Purged messages are moved to a hidden recovery folder that can be accessed in Outlook and Outlook on the web. Items remain in this recovery folder for an additional 30 days. Mac users will need to use Outlook on the web to recover deleted items. Affiliates and Emeritus will only be able to complete these steps from Outlook on the Web.

Microsoft Outlook

New Outlook for Windows:

1. Click on the Deleted Items folder
2. Find the message to recover and right click it to select restore

After you recover an item, you can find it in your deleted items folder and then move it to another folder

Outlook on the web (Windows and macOS):

1. Click on the Deleted Items folder under your Mailbox on the left hand side
2. Find the message to recover and right click the message 
3. Click Restore 

After you recover a message, search in the original folder for the message (typically your Inbox). Additional email information can be found on the Faculty and Staff email page.

For additional questions you can contact the JMU IT Help Desk at helpdesk@jmu.edu or 540-568-3555.