i have lost all my emails, didn't deleted them and i want to recover them, please help.

Co Tran 0 Reputation points
2026-11-10T21:16:11.8566667+00:00

I have lost all my emails (hotmail) few days ago, i didn't deleted them (doesn't appear in the deleted folder). Please help.

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Email
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  1. Vikki-T 13,945 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-11T06:41:24.31+00:00

    Hello Co Tran,

    I understand how worrying it must be to find that your Hotmail emails have disappeared without any action on your part.

    Since the AI answer already provides the relevant recovery steps, please try them from Outlook.com on a desktop browser and let me know whether the missing messages appear under Recover items deleted from this folder or through a search across All folders.

    It would also help if you could clarify whether only the Inbox is affected or whether messages are missing from Sent Items and your other folders as well. Please also confirm whether the same emails are missing on every device or only in one Outlook app or browser.

    If the messages cannot be found anywhere after these checks, use Help within Outlook.com and select Still need help? to contact Outlook.com Support. This is a user-to-user support forum, so contributors cannot access mailbox activity or restore messages from Microsoft’s systems.

    In the meantime, please avoid emptying folders, modifying rules, or performing further bulk actions, as this may reduce the available recovery options. Thank you so much for your understanding.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-10T21:16:44.7566667+00:00

    Use Outlook.com’s Recover items deleted from this folder option on a computer, because messages absent from Deleted Items may remain recoverable there for up to 30 days.^1^

    Recover the messages

    1. On a PC or Mac, sign in to Outlook.com with the affected Hotmail account.
    2. In the left folder list, select Deleted Items.
    3. Above the message list, select Recover items deleted from this folder.
    4. Select the missing messages—or select all available messages—and choose Restore.
    5. Check the original folders and Inbox for the restored messages.

    This recovery area cannot be accessed from the Outlook mobile apps or a mobile browser. Messages removed from Deleted Items remain recoverable for 30 days; after that period, recovery may no longer be possible.^1^

    If nothing appears in the recovery list

    Check whether the messages were moved or hidden rather than deleted:

    • Search using a known sender, subject, or phrase.
    • Set Filter → All in the Inbox.
    • Check Archive, Junk Email, custom folders, and both Focused and Other tabs.
    • On a computer, open Settings → Mail → Rules and remove or disable any rule that moves or deletes messages.
    • Open Settings → Mail → Forwarding and check for forwarding that you did not configure.

    Microsoft notes that Junk Email is automatically removed after 30 days and is then unrecoverable.^1^

    Secure the account if the disappearance was unexpected

    If you do not recognize a rule, forwarding address, or other mailbox change:

    1. Review the Microsoft account Recent activity page for unfamiliar access.
    2. Change the account password.
    3. Remove unknown rules or forwarding settings.
    4. Sign out other sessions and enable two-step verification.

    The Recent activity page displays account sign-ins from the previous 30 days, including available device or application details.^1^

    Contact Outlook.com Support

    If the messages are absent from every folder and from Recover items deleted from this folder, contact Outlook.com Support:

    1. In Outlook.com, select Help on the menu bar.
    2. Enter a description such as “All Hotmail messages disappeared and are not in Recoverable Items.”
    3. Complete the suggested self-help.
    4. Scroll to Still need help? and select Yes.

    Support can review the mailbox state, but if the messages are outside the available retention period and no longer exist in the recovery area, they may be permanently unrecoverable.^2^

    References

    1. Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox | Microsoft Support
    2. Missing emails in hotmail account - Microsoft Q&A
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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