where have all my self created folders gone?

In classic Outlook, restore the Folder Pane first by selecting View > Layout > Folder Pane > Normal, then expand your account name to display its folders.

1. Restore the folder list

1. Open View on the Outlook ribbon.
2. Select Layout > Folder Pane > Normal.
3. If the pane remains collapsed, select the > arrow at the left side of the Outlook window.
4. Expand the arrow beside your email account and check beneath Inbox and any other parent folders; your folders may be nested there. ^1^

2. Check whether the folders were deleted

1. Expand Deleted Items.
2. Look for the missing folders beneath it.
3. If found, drag each folder back to the appropriate location in your folder list.

A folder still in Deleted Items can be restored together with its messages. A permanently deleted folder itself cannot be restored this way, although its messages might remain recoverable:

1. Select Deleted Items.
2. On the Home tab, select Recover Deleted Items From Server.
3. Select the messages and choose Restore Selected Items > OK.
4. The messages return to Deleted Items, from where you can move them into a newly created folder.

If Recover Deleted Items From Server is unavailable, that account does not support this recovery method. ^2^

3. Determine whether this is limited to the PC

Sign in to the same mailbox through Outlook on the web:

• Folders visible online: the mailbox data still exists, so the problem is with classic Outlook’s local display, profile, or synchronization.
• Folders missing online too: they may have been deleted, stored under another account, or kept only in a local Outlook data file (.pst).

If you previously created an archive or local data file:

1. In classic Outlook, select File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
2. Browse to Documents > Outlook Files and open each relevant .pst file.
3. Expand the newly added data file at the bottom of the Folder Pane and inspect its subfolders. ^3^

4. Only if a local data file appears damaged

Back up the data file before attempting repair. Locate it through File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files, close Outlook, and run SCANPST.EXE against the affected .pst. If errors are found, select Repair, reopen Outlook, and check Recovered Personal Folders or Lost and Found. Microsoft notes that the scan may need to run more than once. ^4^

Do not remove your Outlook profile or delete any .pst/.ost files while searching; locally stored folders could otherwise be lost.

References

1. Show all folders in Outlook | Microsoft Support
2. Classic Outlook
3. Classic Outlook
4. Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)