Lost files

Try this in order:

1. In Outlook on the device, open the full folder list.
   • In Outlook for iOS or Android, from Mail view, tap the account icon with 3 lines at the top left.
   • Tap the drop-down arrow next to the email account to expand all folders.
   • Check whether the missing folders are nested under another folder.
2. Search for messages that were inside the missing folder.
   • Use Outlook search and look for a sender, subject, or keyword from an email that was in that folder.
   • If messages appear, the folder may have been moved, hidden, or renamed.
3. Check Outlook on the web.
   • If the folders appear there, the mailbox still has them and the issue is likely with the app view or sync.
   • If they do not appear there either, the folders may have been moved, hidden, or deleted on the server side.
4. If using Outlook.com, check Deleted Items.
   • A deleted folder can sometimes be recovered if it is still in Deleted Items.
   • If the folder was permanently deleted, the folder itself cannot be recovered, but messages from it may still be recoverable.
5. In classic Outlook on desktop, check Recover Deleted Items.
   • Go to Deleted Items.
   • On the Home tab, select Recover Deleted Items From Server.
   • Restore any items found.
   • If the account shows Trash instead of Deleted Items, or there is no Recover Deleted Items command, that account does not support this recovery method.
6. If the folders were accidentally moved to the mailbox root in classic Outlook for Windows, use Advanced Find.
   • Select Inbox.
   • Click the Instant Search bar.
   • On the Search tab, select Search Tools > Advanced Find.
   • In Look for, select Any type of Outlook item.
   • Select Browse.
   • Select only the root folder, usually shown as the email address.
   • Clear Search subfolders and select OK.
   • Select Find Now.
   • If items appear, move them to the correct folder.
7. For Outlook for iOS, if files are missing in OneDrive integration, OneDrive for iOS can be reset from Profile > Settings > Account > Reset.

If the folders still do not appear anywhere, use search to locate urgent messages and move them into a newly created folder so they are accessible on phone and desktop.

• How do I view my sent, trash, archive and other folders?
• Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook
• Items placed in root folder seem to be lost in Outlook
• Find lost or missing files in OneDrive
• Outlook desktop version has lost folders vanished but still present on mobile phone - Microsoft Q&A
• Missing Folder - Microsoft Q&A
• I was trying to organize my email folders and while moving a historical email folder it vanished - i can not find it - the contents anything - Microsoft Q&A