How to recover deleted e-mail messages

After deleting an e-mail message, you may realize you made a mistake and want it recovered. Below is information on how to recover those deleted e-mail messages, if possible.

E-mail trash bin has not been emptied

After an e-mail message is deleted, it is moved to the trash bin in your e-mail account or e-mail program.

1. Click the Trash or Deleted Items link or icon to open the e-mail trash bin.
2. Find the message you want to recover and click that e-mail message.
3. In the e-mail message, under e-mail options, look for an option to move the e-mail message. Click that move option and select the Inbox as the destination to move the e-mail message.

Some e-mail programs and online accounts allow you to check the box next to an e-mail message from the Trash bin. Instead of opening the e-mail message, check the box next to the e-mail, then select the Move option from the e-mail options menu.

E-mail trash bin is emptied

In most cases, once the e-mail trash bin is emptied, the deleted e-mails are gone and cannot be recovered. However, if you are using a Microsoft Exchange mailbox, deleted e-mails are still recoverable if you use Microsoft Outlook.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Click the Deleted Items folder.
3. In the Ribbon at the top, click the Folder tab.
4. Click the Recover Deleted Items option on the Folder tab.

5. The Recover Deleted Items window opens, allowing you to look for deleted e-mail messages. When you find the e-mail message you want to recover, select that message and click the Recover Selected Items option at the top of the window.
6. The deleted e-mail is recovered from the Exchange server and placed back in the Deleted Items folder. From there, move the message to another folder, if desired.