Today - Outlook keeps archiving my sent and received emails and removes them from my inbox, never had this problem before

Question

Today - Outlook keeps archiving my sent and received emails and removes them from my inbox, never had this problem before

Dave Berry 20

As from this morning - Outlook keeps archiving my sent and received emails and removes them from my folders I've always used, never had this problem before.

Every time I move the files into a folder after a few minutes they have gone back in an archive file and removed from my folders.

I then have to go into the archive file and move the files back to the inbox, then move the email o a folder, but three times now they get automatically moved back to archive file.

Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-19T15:12:01.6533333+00:00

I move all my received emails to many different folders stored on an Outlook data file - but when the system synchs it moves everything back from the data file to the outlook archive folder

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi @Dave Berry

Thank you for the additional details and the screenshots.

Based on the layout in the images, it appears that Immersive Reader (Focus Mode) might have been enabled, possibly as a result of the recent update resetting some interface preferences.

This specific mode is designed to center text and widen margins for a focused reading experience, which explains why the standard Zoom Level and Reset View steps didn't seem to have any effect. Immersive Reader essentially overrides those standard display settings.

To see if this restores your preferred layout, please try toggling this mode off in both windows:

In your Compose Window (Image 1): Click the Message tab and look toward the far right of the ribbon. Check if the Immersive Reader button is highlighted; if so, click it to turn it off.
In the Reading Pane (Image 2): You should see an Immersive Reader tab currently active on your top ribbon. Click it and select "Close Immersive Reader".

Once this mode is closed, the text should immediately return to the full width of the pane and your original font scaling.

Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-22T15:56:45.73+00:00

Brilliant - option 2 worked, immersive reader was on. Thanks a million for your help this week.
Anonymous

2026-01-23T06:50:48.0833333+00:00

Hi @Dave Berry

I'm glad to hear the issue is resolved. Let me know if you need any further help.

1 additional answer

Your answer

Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-19T15:12:01.6533333+00:00

I move all my received emails to many different folders stored on an Outlook data file - but when the system synchs it moves everything back from the data file to the outlook archive folder
Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-22T15:56:45.73+00:00

Brilliant - option 2 worked, immersive reader was on. Thanks a million for your help this week.
Anonymous

2026-01-23T06:50:48.0833333+00:00

Hi @Dave Berry

I'm glad to hear the issue is resolved. Let me know if you need any further help.

Answer 1

Anonymous

Hi @Dave Berry

Thank you for posting your question in the Q&A Forum.

I understand how frustrating it is when Outlook starts behaving unexpectedly, especially when it disrupts how you organize your mail. Since this began suddenly today, let’s start by checking the Outlook settings you can control directly.

Please try the steps below in order:

1. Disable global AutoArchive

Go to File > Options > Advanced.
Under AutoArchive, click AutoArchive Settings.
Uncheck Run AutoArchive every X days.
Click OK, then restart Outlook and check whether messages remain in place.

2. Check folder-specific AutoArchive settings
Even if AutoArchive is disabled globally, individual folders can still archive items.

Right-click the Inbox (and any affected folder) > Properties.
Open the AutoArchive tab.
Select Do not archive items in this folder.
Repeat for Sent Items and any other folders where messages disappear.

3. Check mobile sync / swipe actions
If you use Outlook on a mobile device, swipe actions or mobile sync settings may be triggering an Archive command that syncs back to Outlook on your computer.

As a test, completely close the Outlook app on your phone for 10 minutes.
If emails stop moving during that time, review the mobile app’s Swipe Actions and mail settings.

For more detailed information on how these settings work, you can also refer to this official Microsoft support article: AutoArchive settings explained - Microsoft Support

Please try these steps and let us know whether the messages still move back to the Archive folder after a few minutes. Based on the results, we can continue troubleshooting from there.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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.

Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-20T09:09:58.7066667+00:00

Thanks for your help, unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem, global auto archive was already unchecked, folder specific options were already set to do not archive, and outlook on my mobile was closed for 15 mins, the few test files I moved prior to that have been automatically archived again and removed from the folder where I moved them. Also this morning my Outlook reading pane font has changed - its massive and I've tried to get it small again but can't do this either.
Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-20T15:47:56.04+00:00

It seems that the problem was a Microsoft Windows update that has caused myself and many others the problems, I uninstalled the update from a few days ago and almost everything is fine now. Still can't get the preview pane to look like it has for the last x number of years.
Anonymous

2026-01-20T23:28:36.16+00:00
Hi @Dave Berry

Thank you for providing that update.

The behavior you described appears to be associated with the recent Windows Update, and sharing your findings will be very helpful for other community members experiencing similar symptoms.

Regarding the massive Reading Pane font, this can sometimes occur when view or display settings are reset. To restore your preferred layout, please try these two quick steps:

Check the Zoom Level: Look at the bottom-right corner of your Outlook window. If the percentage is above 100%, click it and set it back to 100%.

Reset the View: Go to the View tab on the top ribbon and click the Reset View button. This will force the spacing and fonts back to their default state.

Since uninstalling the update has addressed the primary archiving issue, we recommend monitoring the performance for now.
Dave Berry 20 Reputation points

2026-01-21T08:40:57.8366667+00:00

Thanks for solutions, zoom level was already at 100% and resetting the view didn't do anything. The reading pane text has changed font size, but also the left and right indents have been changed meaning I can only view the text in the centre of the pane, when I compose an email to send, the screen only allows me to start at the centre of the page and the typing line is short before it starts a new line.