The fastest way to delete all emails in Outlook
You can delete all emails in Outlook by selecting your entire inbox, then deleting the selection in one action. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop for Windows, or Outlook for Mac — but each method takes under a minute once you know where to look.
The key is using the select all function rather than manually clicking each email. Outlook will warn you before permanently removing messages, and you can recover deleted emails from the Trash folder for up to 93 days (on the web) or 30 days (on desktop) depending on your version.
Key Takeaways
- Outlook's select-all function lets you delete hundreds of emails at once, but the exact steps depend on whether you use the web version, Windows desktop, or Mac.
- Deleted emails move to your Trash folder first and stay recoverable for 30 to 93 days before permanent removal, depending on your version.
- If you want to delete emails older than a certain date without touching recent ones, use Outlook's search and filter tools instead of selecting all.
- Permanently emptying your Trash folder is a separate step — deleting from your inbox does not automatically clear Trash.
Deleting all emails in Outlook on the web
Open Outlook in your web browser and go to your Inbox. At the top left of your email list, you will see a checkbox next to the column headers. Click that checkbox to select all emails currently visible on the page.
A banner will appear asking if you want to select all messages in your inbox, not just the ones on screen. Click Select all [number] messages in Inbox. Once all emails are selected, click the trash or delete icon in the toolbar at the top. Outlook will ask you to confirm — click Delete to move them to Trash.
Your emails are now in the Trash folder and can be recovered for up to 93 days. If you want to permanently remove them, go to your Trash folder, select all messages there the same way, and delete again. You can also right-click the Trash folder and choose Empty Folder to clear it all at once.
Deleting all emails in Outlook for Windows
Open Outlook and click on your Inbox in the left sidebar. Press Ctrl + A to select all emails in the current folder. A dialog box may appear asking if you want to select all messages — click Yes if it does.
Once all emails are selected (they will appear highlighted), press Delete on your keyboard or click the delete button in the toolbar. The emails move to your Deleted Items folder. Deleted emails stay in that folder for 30 days before Outlook removes them permanently, though your email provider may have different retention rules.
To permanently delete them, open your Deleted Items folder, select all messages there using Ctrl + A, and press Delete again. You can also right-click the Deleted Items folder and choose Empty Deleted Items Folder.
Deleting all emails in Outlook for Mac
Click your Inbox in the left sidebar, then press Command + A to select all emails. A confirmation dialog may appear — click Delete to confirm. Your emails move to the Deleted Items folder.
To permanently remove them, click Deleted Items, press Command + A again, then press Delete. You can also right-click Deleted Items and select Erase Deleted Items to clear the entire folder at once.
Deleting emails by date instead of all at once
If you want to keep recent emails but remove older ones, use Outlook's search function instead of selecting all. Click the search box at the top of your inbox and type before:[date] — for example, before:1/1/2023 — to show only emails from before that date.
Once the search results appear, select all of them using the select-all checkbox or Ctrl + A, then delete. This approach is safer than deleting everything because you can see exactly which emails you are removing before you confirm.
You can also use other search filters like from:[sender name] to delete all emails from one person, or subject:[word] to delete emails with a specific word in the subject line. Combine filters by typing them together — for example, before:1/1/2023 from:john@example.com deletes emails from John before that date.
What happens after you delete emails
Deleted emails do not disappear when ready. They move to your Trash or Deleted Items folder, where they stay for a set period. On Outlook.com (the web version), deleted emails remain recoverable for 93 days. On Outlook desktop, they typically stay for 30 days, though this can vary depending on your email provider and account settings.
After that recovery window closes, the emails are permanently removed and cannot be restored. If you delete emails by mistake, go to your Trash or Deleted Items folder right away, select the emails you want to keep, and move them back to your Inbox.
Emptying your Trash or Deleted Items folder is a separate action. straightforward deleting emails from your Inbox does not automatically clear them from Trash — you have to empty that folder separately if you want them gone for good.
Why you might want to delete all emails
People delete all their emails for different reasons. Some want to start fresh with a new email account or reduce storage space. Others are cleaning up before sharing their computer or closing an old email account. Outlook does not limit how many emails you can store, but a very full inbox can slow down the app slightly on older computers.
If you are deleting emails to free up space on your device, keep in mind that Outlook stores emails on your email provider's servers, not just on your computer. Deleting from Outlook deletes from the server too, so you will lose access on all your devices. If you might need these emails later, consider moving them to a folder or exporting them to a file before deleting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I undo a delete if I already emptied my Trash folder?
No — once you empty Trash or Deleted Items, the emails are permanently gone and cannot be recovered through Outlook. If your email provider (like Microsoft 365) has a separate backup or recovery system, you might contact their support, but this is not may provide. Always double-check what you are deleting before you empty Trash.
Will deleting all my emails affect my contacts or calendar?
No. Deleting emails only removes messages from your Inbox and Trash. Your contacts, calendar events, and other Outlook data stay intact. Each part of Outlook is stored separately.
What if I only want to delete emails from one sender?
Use Outlook's search function and type from:[sender's email address] to show only their emails. Select all the results and delete them. This is faster and safer than scrolling through your inbox manually.
Does deleting emails from Outlook delete them from my phone too?
Yes, if your phone is set up to sync with the same email account. Deleting on your computer removes the emails from the server, so they disappear from your phone the next time it syncs. If you want to keep emails on your phone, do not delete them from Outlook on your computer.
How do I export my emails before deleting them?
On Outlook desktop, select the emails you want to keep, then go to File > Save As and choose a file format like PST (Outlook Data File). On Outlook.com, you cannot export directly, but you can use third-party tools or contact Microsoft support for options. Always export before you delete if you think you might need the emails later.