I lost all my outlook email from the last year.

Hello Jeffry Loranger,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum! I'm sorry to hear that your Outlook emails from the past year have disappeared. I understand how alarming this is. Here's what you can try:

1. Check recoverable deleted items

In Outlook.com (web):

• Go to https://outlook.live.com
• Click Deleted Items folder
• At the top, click "Recover items deleted from this folder"
• Look for your missing emails (recoverable up to 30 days) and click Restore

2. Check for hidden filters and folders

• Turn off Focused Inbox: Outlook > View > Show Focused Inbox (uncheck). In Outlook.com, Settings > Mail > Layout > Focused Inbox off.
• Clear date/view filters: Outlook > View > View Settings > Filter… > ensure Date/Time is not restricting results; click Reset View.
• Search Archive and subfolders: In the Search box, choose “All Mailboxes,” then search for a known sender/subject from last year. Also check Archive and Conversation History.

3. Check mailbox storage and retention

• Mailbox storage: In Outlook.com, Settings > General > Storage. Free space if near limit.
• AutoArchive/Retention: Outlook > File > Options > Advanced > AutoArchive Settings. Ensure last year’s items weren’t auto‑archived to a local PST; if they were, open that PST via File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

4. Rule out server-side settings that move or delete mail

• POP accounts: In Account Settings > Change > More Settings > Advanced, check if “Leave a copy of messages on the server” was off (could cause mail to live only on one device). If POP is in use, confirm the other device didn’t archive or remove last year’s mail.
• Inbox rules/forwarding: File > Manage Rules & Alerts; remove any rules that move/delete mail. In Outlook.com: Settings > Mail > Rules and Forwarding.

 5. Repair your Outlook profile

Sometimes a corrupted profile can cause display issues:

• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Select your account and click Repair.

For more details, you can check these official guides:

• Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook - Microsoft Support
• Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox - Microsoft Support

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

Thank you for your understanding and please feel free to let me know how it goes.

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