I can not see my contact list and many emails are missing from my inbox

andy zilveti 0 Reputation points
2026-11-04T14:49:12.0766667+00:00

I was hacked by a fraudulent email that i believed was sent from Outlook and all my contacts were emailed with a spam message.

I can no longer see my hotmail contact list and many emails are missing from my inbox

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Account management, security, and privacy
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  1. Kai-H 30,565 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-05T10:38:01.3166667+00:00

    Hi, @andy zilveti

    Sorry for this unwanted situation. Hackers often hide email in folders people rarely open. In Outlook.com, look in the left folder list for folders like RSS Feeds, Conversation History, Notes, or any folder you don't remember making. If you find your emails there, select them, right-click and choose Move > Inbox.

    Next, go to Settings > Mail > Sweep. Sweep rules are kept separate from regular rules, and they can quietly delete or move mail. Remove any you don't recognize. While you're in Settings, open Mail > Junk email too and check Blocked senders. If your friends or family were added there, their emails will never reach you.

    For your contacts, if you've ever had this email set up on your phone, open the phone's Contacts app. Your contacts may still be saved there, and you could re-add or export them from the phone.

    It's also a good idea to make sure the hacker can't get back in, because changing your password doesn't always kick them out. Go to https://account.live.com/consent/Manage and remove any app you didn't approve. Then, in your Microsoft account security settings, use Sign out everywhere and remove any app passwords.

    If you also use the Outlook program on a Windows PC, close it, press Windows key + R, type outlook.exe /cleanserverrules and press Enter. This removes all your mail rules, including any the hacker made. Your own rules will be deleted too, so you'll need to set those up again.

    Hackers sometimes create a hidden rule you can't see in Settings. If your emails keep disappearing after all of this, Outlook.com support will need to remove it for you.

    Hope this helps!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-04T14:49:59.2333333+00:00

    Secure the compromised account first, remove any unauthorized forwarding or rules, and then recover the missing messages and contacts from Outlook.com’s deleted-item recovery areas.

    1. Secure the account

    Perform these steps from a trusted computer:

    1. Run a full malware scan before changing the password.
      • In Windows Security, open Virus & threat protection.
      • Select Scan options → Full scan → Scan now.
    2. After the scan, change the Microsoft account password to a new, unique password. If you cannot sign in, use Microsoft’s password-reset process.
    3. Review the account’s connected accounts, forwarding, and automatic replies, removing anything you did not configure.
    4. Use Microsoft’s hacked-account sign-in helper if access or security verification remains a problem. It can provide self-help or an option to contact an agent. ^1^

    Also review the account’s Recent activity for unfamiliar devices, locations, successful sign-ins, or security changes. Add a current recovery phone number and alternate email address. ^2^

    2. Remove malicious mail rules

    An unauthorized rule may be moving or deleting incoming messages.

    On a computer, sign in to Outlook.com and:

    1. Select Settings (gear icon).
    2. Open Mail → Rules.
    3. Delete any rule you do not recognize, particularly one that deletes, archives, moves, or redirects messages.
    4. Open Mail → Forwarding and remove or disable any destination you did not set.
    5. Check Automatic replies and connected accounts for unauthorized changes.

    Outlook.com rules must be reviewed on a computer. ^3^

    3. Recover missing email

    Check these locations in Outlook.com:

    1. Deleted Items
      • Select the missing messages and choose Restore.
    2. If they are not visible there:
      • Open Deleted Items.
      • Above the message list, select Recover items deleted from this folder.
      • Select the messages and choose Restore.
    3. Also inspect:
      • Archive
      • Junk Email
      • The Other tab, if Focused Inbox is enabled
    4. Above the Inbox, select Filter → All to ensure filtering is not hiding messages.

    Use a PC or Mac for the recoverable-items step; it is unavailable in Outlook mobile apps and mobile browsers. Messages removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days, while messages in Junk Email are automatically removed after 30 days and then cannot be recovered. ^3^

    4. Restore the contact list

    In Outlook.com:

    1. Select People in the navigation pane.
    2. Select Deleted.
    3. Select each missing contact or contact list, right-click it, and choose Restore.
    4. If the contacts are not there:
      • Remain under People → Deleted.
      • Select Recover deleted at the top.
      • Select the contacts and choose Restore.
    5. If they still do not appear, open Mail → Deleted Items, locate the contact items, right-click them, and select Restore.

    Recovered contacts return to their original folder when possible; otherwise, they return to the default Contacts folder. ^4^

    If recovery is unsuccessful

    If items do not appear in Deleted, Deleted Items, or the corresponding recovery area, they may no longer be recoverable. In Outlook.com, select Help on the menu bar, describe the compromised account, and continue to Still need help? → Yes to contact Outlook.com support. ^3^

    References

    1. How to recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
    2. Help protect your Outlook.com email account | Microsoft Support
    3. Email is missing from your Outlook.com inbox | Microsoft Support
    4. Web
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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