Can't move or delete emails

PERKINS, Tryphena (HIGH GLADES MEDICAL CENTRE) 0 Reputation points
2026-11-03T10:22:22.8766667+00:00

Can't move or delete emails in this folder, always could before, this has only started in the last few months, my colleague has the same issue too.

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For business
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Alina Le 5,805 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-03T10:37:14.0333333+00:00

    Hello PERKINS, Tryphena (HIGH GLADES MEDICAL CENTRE)

    To better understand this issue, could you please confirm the following:

    1/ Does this issue occur only in this specific folder, or are you unable to move/delete emails in other folders as well?

    2/ Is this folder part of your own mailbox, or is it a shared folder/shared mailbox? If shared, who owns it?

    3/ Does the same issue occur in Outlook on the web? https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/

    4/ When you try to move or delete an email, do you receive any error message, or does nothing happen?

    5/ Since you mentioned that your colleague is experiencing the same issue, could you confirm whether they are accessing the same folder/mailbox?

    Looking forward to hearing from you!

    Was this answer helpful?

  2. AI answer

    2026-11-03T10:22:41.92+00:00

    If this is happening in Outlook for Windows and started recently for multiple people, use this order:

    1. Update Outlook
      Go to File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
    2. Restart Windows
      This helps complete any pending Office or Windows updates.
    3. Try Outlook on the web
      If moving or deleting works there, the issue is likely in the Outlook client rather than the mailbox.
    4. Create a new Outlook profile
      If the problem continues in Outlook for Windows, create a new profile and test again. Keep the current profile so it can be switched back if needed.
    5. If the item still cannot be deleted, try Outlook on the web first
      Microsoft recommends closing all clients that access the mailbox, then starting Outlook and retrying. If that fails, try deleting the item in Outlook on the web.
    6. If Outlook on the web also cannot delete the item, use Outlook cleanup switches
      Close Outlook, then run:
      • outlook /cleanreminders
      • outlook /cleandmrecords
    7. If only one IMAP folder is affected when moving mail
      Try switching to a different folder and back, then retry the move. If needed, close and restart Outlook and try again.
    8. If this is a folder move/delete problem in Exchange Server 2016 or 2019 online mode
      The operation can fail when the destination already contains a folder with the same name, including Deleted Items. In that case, install the required Exchange cumulative update:
      • Exchange Server 2019: Cumulative Update 4 or later
      • Exchange Server 2016: Cumulative Update 15 or later
    9. If none of the above works
      Open an in-app support ticket from Outlook using Help > Contact Support. In a business environment, the tenant administrator can also open a support ticket from the Microsoft 365 admin portal.

    References:

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

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.