Emails from some senders are being automatically sent to the Deleted Files folder without being read

Check the affected senders in Blocked senders, then disable any matching inbox rule; these are Microsoft’s documented first checks when Outlook.com messages incorrectly enter Deleted Items.^1^

1. Remove the sender from the blocked list

In Outlook.com on a computer:

1. Select Settings (gear icon) → Mail → Junk email.
2. Under Blocked senders and domains, look for:
   • The sender’s complete email address.
   • The sender’s domain—the part after @.
3. Select Remove beside any matching entry.
4. Under Safe senders and domains, select Add safe sender, enter the address, and select Save.

The Safe Senders setting normally prevents messages from that address or domain from being treated as junk.^2^

2. Disable rules that delete matching messages

1. Go to Settings → Mail → Rules.
2. Inspect every rule—not only rules named after the sender. Look for conditions matching:
   • Part of the sender’s address or domain.
   • Words in the subject or message body.
   • The recipient address or mailing list.
3. Turn off a suspected rule using its toggle and test with a new message.
4. If that stops the deletion, edit or delete the rule using More actions (…).

Rules run in their listed order, and a rule can delete or move messages based on criteria other than the sender.^3^

3. If only particular email threads are affected, stop ignoring them

The Ignore Conversation feature sends the selected thread—and future responses with that conversation subject—directly to Deleted Items. This is especially likely when some messages from a sender arrive normally but replies in one particular thread are deleted.^4^

The documented recovery procedure is available in supported desktop Outlook versions:

1. Open Deleted Items.
2. Select an affected conversation or a message within it.
3. On Home, in the Delete group, select Ignore.
4. Select Stop Ignoring Conversation.

The conversation returns to the Inbox, and future messages in that conversation should arrive there. This works only while the ignored conversation remains in Deleted Items.

4. Review Sweep actions

Outlook.com’s Sweep command can automatically delete all incoming mail from a particular sender, retain only the newest message, or delete messages after ten days.^5^

Select an affected message and inspect the Sweep options. Remove any active action that deletes messages from that sender. Be careful not to create a new Sweep action while checking.

If messages still move back immediately

If a restored message returns to Deleted Items within seconds after the blocked list, rules, Sweep, and ignored conversation have been addressed:

• Temporarily stop other mail applications and devices from accessing the account, then test delivery directly in Outlook.com. This distinguishes Outlook.com processing from an action synchronized by another mail client.
• In Outlook.com, select Help, describe the issue, and—if self-help does not resolve it—scroll to Still need help? and select Yes to contact Outlook.com support.^5^
• Include the affected sender, approximate delivery time, and whether the message moves back after being restored. Do not post private account details publicly.

References

1. Mail goes to the Junk folder by mistake
2. Safe Senders in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
3. [Outlook.com](https://support.microsoft.com/outlook/mail/manage-email-messages-by-using-rules-in-outlook)
4. Ignore all email messages in a conversation | Microsoft Support
5. Working with message folders in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support