Right-click the folder and select Delete

To delete a folder in Outlook, right-click on the folder name in the left sidebar and choose Delete Folder from the menu that appears. Outlook will move the folder to your Deleted Items folder. If you want to permanently remove it, go to Deleted Items, right-click the folder again, and select Delete a second time.

The exact wording changes slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version, but the process is the same: right-click, then delete. On a Mac, you may see Delete instead of Delete Folder, but it does the same thing.

If you are not sure whether you want to lose the folder permanently, leave it in Deleted Items for now. You can recover it from there within 30 days on most Outlook accounts before Outlook empties the trash automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any folder in your sidebar and select Delete Folder to move it to Deleted Items.
  • Folders stay in Deleted Items for about 30 days before Outlook removes them permanently, so you can recover them if you change your mind.
  • You cannot delete the built-in folders like Inbox, Sent Items, or Drafts, but you can hide them or move messages out of them.
  • If you delete a folder by mistake, go to Deleted Items, right-click the folder, and select Recover to put it back where it was.

What happens to messages inside the folder

When you delete a folder, all the messages inside it move to Deleted Items along with the folder itself. The messages do not disappear — they stay grouped together in Deleted Items, so you can still find them if you need to recover the folder.

If you want to keep some messages from the folder but delete the folder itself, move those messages to another folder first. Open the folder you want to delete, select the messages you want to keep (use Ctrl+A to select all, or Ctrl+click to select specific ones), then drag them to a different folder or right-click and choose Move.

You cannot delete built-in folders

Outlook does not let you delete the folders it creates automatically: Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts, Deleted Items, and Junk Email. If you right-click one of these, the Delete option will be grayed out or missing.

If a built-in folder is cluttering your view, you can hide it instead. Right-click the folder and look for Hide or Show/Hide depending on your version. The folder stays in your account but disappears from the sidebar, and messages still arrive in it normally — you just do not see it unless you unhide it later.

Recovering a folder you deleted by mistake

If you deleted a folder and realized you need it back, open your Deleted Items folder. You should see the folder listed there along with individual messages. Right-click the folder and select Recover or Move, then choose where you want it to go. It will return to that location with all its messages intact.

This works for about 30 days after deletion on most accounts. After that, Outlook permanently removes the folder and you cannot get it back. If you are not sure how long your account keeps deleted items, check with your email provider — some corporate accounts keep them longer.

Deleting folders on Outlook for the web

On Outlook.com or Outlook on the web, the process is nearly identical. Right-click the folder in the left sidebar and select Delete. The folder moves to Deleted Items just as it does on the desktop version.

If you are using Outlook on the web and the right-click menu does not appear, try clicking the three dots next to the folder name instead. Some versions of the web interface use a menu button rather than a right-click option.

Deleting folders on Outlook for Mac

On Mac, right-click the folder and select Delete from the menu. You can also select the folder and press the Delete key on your keyboard. The folder moves to Deleted Items, and you recover it the same way — by going to Deleted Items, right-clicking it, and selecting Recover.

If you cannot find a Recover option on Mac, try dragging the folder from Deleted Items back to the sidebar or to the folder where you want it. Mac versions of Outlook sometimes use drag-and-drop instead of a menu option for recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a folder that has subfolders inside it?

Yes. When you delete a folder, all its subfolders and all messages in every level delete along with it. They all move to Deleted Items together, so you can recover the entire structure if you need to.

What if I delete a folder and it does not appear in Deleted Items?

Check whether the folder was a subfolder of another folder. Subfolders sometimes stay grouped with their parent folder in Deleted Items rather than appearing as separate items. Look inside the parent folder in Deleted Items to find it.

Does deleting a folder in Outlook delete it from my phone too?

Yes, if your phone is synced to the same Outlook account, the deletion syncs across devices. The folder disappears from your phone within a few minutes. If you recover the folder on your computer, it reappears on your phone as well.

Can I delete multiple folders at once?

On the desktop version, select multiple folders by holding Ctrl and clicking each one, then right-click and select Delete. On the web version, you usually have to delete folders one at a time. Check your version to see if a multi-select option appears.