Outlook Folders Disappeared From Inbox Issue – Fixed
You might have heard many Outlook users complaining that ‘Outlook folders disappeared’ suddenly. This may occur due to various reasons such as accidental deletion, and folder corruption. However, it can be fixed through different troubleshooting steps. If you are also trapped in such an issue, walk through the blog till the end to get reliable solutions. Well, to keep your data safe in such a scenario, take a backup of all Outlook folders using PST Converter.
Here is a real-time user query-
“I’m facing a problem with my Outlook account and urgently need assistance. All my inbox email disappeared from Outlook without my knowledge. These folders contain crucial work emails and documents that I rely on daily. However, I do not remember deleting the folder. Despite searching everywhere, including the Deleted Items folder, I can’t find them. Can you please help me recover these missing folders within Outlook?”
So, many Outlook users commonly face this issue. But, what are the possible reasons that the Outlook folders disappeared? Let us discuss them in the following section.
Reasons – Why Email Folders Disappeared in Outlook?
Email folders may disappear in Outlook for various reasons:
- Sometimes, users accidentally delete folders or move them to a different location within Outlook.
- Corruption in Outlook data files, PST, or OST can lead to folders missing in Outlook.
- Users can customize folder views in Outlook. However, if settings are changed, folders can be misplaced or hidden.
- Occasionally, Software bugs or glitches within Outlook can cause unexpected behavior too.
- Security software or add-ins installed on the computer could interfere with Outlook’s functionality.
- Problems with the Outlook user profile, like corruption or misconfiguration, may cause emails missing from sent folder in Outlook.
- Or, updates to the operating system or other software components might cause compatibility issues with Outlook.
So, potential causes for the problem ‘emails disappeared from Outlook inbox’ may include these. Let us explore various troubleshooting methods to find all the missing folders.
How to Fix When Outlook Folders Disappeared?
First of all, users can perform the following troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue of disappearing Outlook folders:
- Fix your Internet Connection issue at first, if any. Poor internet can cause synchronization issues in Outlook thus, some folders may not appear in the mailbox.
- Another step is to close Outlook and restart your system. Sometimes, simply shutting down the system for a few minutes, resolves the issue. Now, reopen Outlook and look for the missing folders.
If third-party add-ins or security software causes the ‘all my inbox email disappeared Outlook’ issue, you can temporarily disable them. This will help you figure out if the issues are related to these applications or not. Once you resolve the problem, selectively enable them one by one. Further, check the specific add-in or security software causing the interference and permanently uninstall them.
Top Ways to Find Disappeared Outlook Folders
Follow the methods below to search for the missing folders and resolve the Outlook folders disappeared issue:
- Go to the Deleted Items or Trash folder in Outlook. Check if you accidentally deleted the missing folders. Then, restore the deleted emails from there to solve the problem. However, this is only possible if you haven’t emptied the Trash folder yet.
- If you have already cleared your Deleted Items folder, there is a possibility to retrieve it from the server. However, it is important to note that once a folder has been permanently deleted, you cannot recover email folders disappeared in Outlook. Nevertheless, you may still have a chance to recover the emails stored in the folder from a relevant folder on the server. Folders like Recoverable Items or a similar location might save the deleted folders.
- Outlook allows users to personalize folder views according to their preferences. Therefore, if Outlook view settings have been modified, you can encounter the ‘emails are disappearing from my Outlook inbox’ problem. In that case, verify the Outlook view settings and make sure they don’t hide or filter out the missing folders.
- Use the Inbox Repair Tool to Repair PST File and fix any potential issues with the Outlook data file. When Outlook experiences such problems or corruption in the PST file, users can utilize this tool to identify and fix these issues. You can simply run this tool and specify the path of the PST file that you want to repair. Alternatively, you can also use the DRS PST Recovery Tool to get quick and efficient results. Also, using the advanced search option, you can scan any particular folder within the Outlook file.
Further, if the issue persists, consider contacting Microsoft Support for assistance.
Convert OST to PST- Resolve Outlook Folders Disappeared Issue
‘Emails are disappearing from my Outlook inbox, how to recover all the lost data?’
Are you not able to recover missing folders by any of the methods suggested above? Well, one of the prominent reasons for the problem can be an issue with the Exchange Server or Outlook synchronization. In that case, converting OST to PST can help recover missing data. You can conveniently restore data from the OST file and prevent any major loss.
There are two methods to convert OST files to PST- Import/Export Feature and using a professional tool. Because the manual process is risky for crucial data, using a professional converter is the better choice. Use a secure and reliable OST to PST Converter by DRS Softech to restore lost data into the Outlook mailbox. Converting OST to PST offers flexibility and data recovery options. Moreover, it ensures that users have access to their email data in various scenarios. It is a highly advanced utility but requires no additional specifications to operate.
You can also use the tool to backup OST files into various formats and save them locally. It is loaded with multiple features that ensure 100% accurate conversion. In addition, it offers a free demo tool to get familiar with the tool’s workings.
Conclusion
The ‘Outlook folders disappeared’ problem can be caused due to distinct reasons. Thus, we have provided methods to treat them accordingly. You first need to figure out how and why emails are disappearing and then execute the suggested troubleshooting methods. However, restoring missing data from the OST file is the ultimate solution, whatever the reason. You can use the suggested tool for quick recovery of missing data.
About The Author:
Shivam is a digital marketer and technical content writer at DRS Solution®, specializing in topics like databases, email recovery, and migration solutions. She enjoys researching and crafting content that assists database administrators, businesses, and beginners in resolving various issues related to MS SQL, MySQL, and Microsoft Exchange.