Unable to delete emails from the Outbox folder

Collins Mara 20 Reputation points
2026-11-13T02:18:53.7466667+00:00

I have an email stuck in my Outbox that I cannot delete. The system indicates that Outlook is in the process of sending it to the recipient. As a result, my Inbox is not updating on either my computer or my Apple device.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-13T02:19:07.47+00:00

    For classic Outlook for Windows, start with the least disruptive fix:

    1. In Outlook, go to Send/Receive > Work Offline.
    2. Open Outbox.
    3. Delete the stuck message, or move it to Drafts.
    4. Turn Work Offline off.
    5. Send a new test message.

    If the message still cannot be removed, the mailbox folders may be out of sync or corrupted. Reset the Outlook folders:

    1. Exit Outlook.
    2. Press Windows + R.
    3. Run:
    Outlook.exe /resetfolders

    If the issue continues, reset the default folder names:

    1. Exit Outlook.
    2. Sign in to Outlook Web App.
    3. Go to Settings > Options > General > Region and time zone.
    4. Change the language, select the date and time format, select Rename default folders so their names match the specified language, and save.
    5. If the preferred language is already selected, switch to another language, save, then switch back and save again.
    6. Restart Outlook.

    If Outlook shows no message in Outbox but still keeps trying to send one, use MFCMAPI to remove the hidden stuck item. Warning: this includes a permanent delete step.

    1. Close Outlook.
    2. Install the MFCMAPI tool.
    3. Open MFCMAPI and select OK.
    4. Select Session > Logon.
    5. Select the Outlook profile and choose OK.
    6. Double-click the affected account.
    7. Right-click Root Mailbox > Open contents table.
    8. Check columns such as From, To, and Subject.
    9. If a message with subject Read appears, select it, then choose Actions > Submit > Abort submit.
    10. Right-click Delete message and choose Permanent delete passing DELETE_HARD_DELETE (unrecoverable).
    11. Restart Outlook and test send/receive again.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Aetherin 3,930 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-13T02:37:04.3733333+00:00

    Hi @Collins Mara,

    I would like to share an update regarding a connectivity issue affecting multiple Microsoft 365 services.

    According to Microsoft's notification (Incident ID: MO1550821), users may experience connectivity or access issues with Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Defender XDR.

    Microsoft has identified elevated infrastructure load across multiple regions as a likely cause of these issues. They are currently restarting and repairing affected infrastructure, while also investigating unexpected increases in service traffic and exploring ways to redirect traffic to alternative infrastructure.

    The incident is currently classified as Service Degradation, and Microsoft is actively working to restore normal service.

    User's image

    This incident may be related to the issue you're experiencing because Exchange Online is among the affected services. The reported connectivity problems could prevent Outlook from properly communicating with your mailbox, potentially causing emails to remain stuck in the Outbox while new incoming messages are not synchronized with your Inbox. Since both sending and receiving emails appear to be affected in your case, the symptoms are consistent with the impact described in Microsoft's notification. However, Microsoft has not specifically confirmed that the inability to delete emails from the Outbox is related to this incident, so further investigation may be needed if the issue persists after the service is restored.

    If you have access to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, you can review Microsoft's service health advisory and follow the latest updates directly through this incident link.

    If you're an end user without admin permissions, kindly reach out to your Microsoft 365 administrator and ask them to monitor this incident and keep you informed of any relevant updates.

    Please kindly note that this is a user-to-user support forum, and I’m an end user just like you, not a member of the product team. As such, I’m unable to directly influence or expedite the resolution, nor can I provide a confirmed timeline for when the issue will be fully resolved and all services will return to normal. However, please rest assured that the relevant teams are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I hope this information helps clarify the situation.

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