How do I restore my emails that have been deleted by hackers

steven slater 5 Reputation points
2026-10-19T18:29:26.0566667+00:00

My email has been hacked. I have got control back but the hackers have deleted all my files on the email . I have tried to recover them but restore deleted emails but nothing is happening. What can I do

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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 90,730 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-19T19:13:12.63+00:00

    Hi, @steven slater

    About the missing emails:

    To be safe, I recommend the following steps:

    Check your account rules and forwarding settings, hackers create rules that automatically forward or delete emails. You can do this in Outlook settings under Mail > Rules and Forwarding. https://support.microsoft.com/office/manage-email-messages-by-using-rules-in-outlook-c24f5dea-9465-4df4-ad17-a50704d66c59

    Just to be safe, I’d recommend to sign out everywhere. Visit: https://account.live.com/proofs/manage/additional Scroll down to Sign me out and select "Sign me out".

    • After signing out everywhere, please monitor if the issue persists in the coming hours.

    Click "Add comment" to let me know.

    Thanks!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-19T18:29:43.1+00:00

    If Restore deleted emails is not bringing anything back, the messages were likely already removed from Deleted Items and may only be recoverable from Recoverable Items.

    Try this on a computer, not in a mobile browser or mobile app:

    1. Open Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
    2. In the left pane, select Deleted Items.
    3. At the top of the message list, select Recover items deleted from this folder or the Recover button.
    4. Select the messages to restore, then select Restore.

    Important limits:

    • Email is automatically deleted from Deleted Items after 30 days.
    • Items removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days.
    • In Outlook for iOS, Outlook for Android, and a mobile browser, messages removed from Deleted Items cannot be recovered there; use a computer.
    • Messages deleted from a child's account cannot be recovered.

    If the messages do not appear in Recover items deleted from this folder, they were probably permanently removed from the mailbox and cannot be recovered by self-service.

    Since the account was hacked, also check for anything the attacker may have left behind:

    • In Outlook settings, review Mail > Rules and remove suspicious rules.
    • Check Forwarding and make sure mail is not being sent elsewhere.
    • Keep two-step verification enabled and review account security settings.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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