Recover mailbox

Juan Sabio 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T13:54:59.99+00:00

This mailbox has been marked for removal on the server. Click here to remove. I did it but now I got my password to [Moderator note: Personally Identifiable Information removed]@sabio.co.za and I want to set up my email properly and recover it. Please, help me how to do it

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other
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  1. Michelle Nguyen 2,450 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-16T14:38:26.1666667+00:00

    Hello @Juan Sabio

    Based on the information you provided, I understand that you removed the mailbox from the application after receiving a message stating that the mailbox had been marked for removal from the server. You have now recovered the password and would like to add the email account again and restore access.

    To provide more accurate guidance, could you please share the following information?

    • Which email application are you using, such as Outlook, the Mail app on your phone, or another application?
    • Which device and operating system are you using?
    • Is this a Microsoft 365 business account, or is the email account managed by another provider?
    • What exact error message do you receive when you try to add the account again?
    • Can you still sign in to this email account through a web browser?

    If possible, please provide a screenshot of the error after hiding your full email address, password, and any other personal information.

    Please note that removing an account from an email application and deleting a mailbox from the server are two different situations. We first need to determine whether the mailbox still exists on the server. If this is a work account, you should also contact your organisation’s Microsoft 365 administrator and ask them to check the status of the account, licence, and mailbox.

    I am just another user on this forum, not a Microsoft employee. The information above will help me better understand the current status of your account, narrow down the possible cause, and determine the most appropriate next steps for your situation.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-16T14:01:50.79+00:00

    A Microsoft 365 administrator should first restore the affected user or reassign its Exchange Online license; rebuilding Outlook cannot recover a mailbox that is deleted, unlicensed, or inactive.

    1. Ask the Microsoft 365 administrator to check the account

    Because the account has already been removed and added again in Outlook without showing mail, do not repeat that process yet.

    The administrator should open the Microsoft 365 admin center and check these locations:

    1. Go to Users > Deleted users.
    2. If the affected account is listed:
      • Select it.
      • Select Restore user.
      • Follow the prompts to set a password.
      • Restore the account.
      • Assign a Microsoft 365 license containing Exchange Online.

    A deleted Microsoft 365 user and associated mailbox can normally be restored within 30 days. The administrator needs the User Administrator role, and an available license must be assigned afterward.^1^

    1. If the account is under Users > Active users instead:
      • Select the user.
      • Open Licenses and Apps.
      • Confirm that a license containing Exchange Online is selected.
      • Select Save changes.

    A License Administrator or User Administrator can perform this assignment.^2^

    If the Exchange license was removed, assigning it again within 30 days reconnects the mailbox. Exchange Online permanently deletes an ordinary unlicensed mailbox after that recovery period.^3^

    If neither the active nor deleted user can be found, the administrator should open a Microsoft 365 support request immediately. Mailbox recovery depends on how it was removed, and after the retention period the mailbox and its contents may be unrecoverable.^4^

    2. Verify the mailbox before changing Outlook again

    After the administrator restores and licenses the account:

    1. Sign in to Outlook on the web using the restored account and new/current password.
    2. Confirm that the Inbox and existing messages appear.
    3. Send a test message to the account and confirm it arrives.

    If Outlook on the web still cannot display the mailbox, the issue remains on the Microsoft 365 account or mailbox side. The administrator should use the mailbox diagnostic in the Microsoft 365 admin center or contact Microsoft 365 support rather than continuing to reinstall or re-add Outlook.

    3. Create a fresh Outlook profile only after web access works

    For classic Outlook for Windows:

    1. Close Outlook.
    2. Open Control Panel.
    3. Search for and open Mail.
    4. Select Show Profiles > Add.
    5. Give the profile a new name.
    6. Enter the affected email address and complete sign-in.
    7. Under Always use this profile, select the new profile.
    8. Open Outlook and allow the mailbox to synchronize.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/your-mailbox-has-been-temporarily-moved-on-microsoft-exchange-server-message-when-an-office-365-user#workaround ""Your mailbox has been temporarily moved on Microsoft Exchange server” message when an Office 365 user opens Outlook | Microsoft Support")

    Do not remove the old profile until the online mailbox is restored and any locally stored mail has been checked. Removing a profile deletes its offline cached data, although separate .pst files remain on the computer.^6^

    Also avoid posting the email address, password, or verification codes publicly.

    References

    1. Restore a user in the Microsoft 365 admin center
    2. Assign or unassign licenses for users in the Microsoft 365 admin center
    3. Can't access the mailbox of an unlicensed user in Exchange Online
    4. Delete or restore user mailboxes in Exchange Online
    5. "Your mailbox has been temporarily moved on Microsoft Exchange server” message when an Office 365 user opens Outlook | Microsoft Support
    6. Remove a profile | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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