Deleted emails stay in your Trash folder until you empty it
When you delete an email in Outlook, it does not disappear when ready. Instead, it moves to your Deleted Items folder (called Trash on some versions). The email stays there until you empty that folder or until Outlook automatically deletes it after 30 days — the default setting in most versions. If you want an email gone for good right now, you have to take one more step.
The process differs slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook on your computer, or Outlook on your phone. All three methods work, but the steps are not identical. This guide covers each one so you can delete permanently from wherever you are.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting an email once moves it to Deleted Items; you must empty that folder to remove it permanently.
- On Outlook.com or Outlook on your computer, right-click the Deleted Items folder and select Empty Folder to delete everything at once.
- You can also select individual emails in Deleted Items and press Delete or Shift+Delete to remove them without emptying the entire folder.
- Outlook automatically deletes emails from Deleted Items after 30 days by default, but you can change this setting in account preferences.
- Once you empty Deleted Items or use Shift+Delete, the email cannot be recovered through Outlook — it is gone.
Permanently delete emails on Outlook.com
Open your Outlook.com inbox in a web browser. On the left side, find the Deleted Items folder and click it. You will see all the emails you have deleted but not yet permanently removed.
To delete everything in this folder at once, look for the checkbox at the top left of the email list (above the sender names). Click it to select all emails in Deleted Items. Then look for the trash or delete icon in the toolbar at the top of the email list and click it. Outlook will ask you to confirm — click Delete again. The folder will now be empty.
If you want to delete only certain emails from Deleted Items, click the checkbox next to each one you want to remove. Then click the delete icon. This leaves other deleted emails in the folder in case you change your mind about them.
Permanently delete emails on Outlook for Windows or Mac
Open Outlook on your computer. In the folder list on the left side, find Deleted Items. Click it to see all your deleted emails.
To empty the entire folder, right-click on Deleted Items itself (not an email inside it). A menu will appear. Click Empty Folder. Outlook will ask you to confirm that you want to permanently delete all items. Click Yes. Everything in Deleted Items will be gone.
To delete specific emails instead, click on one email in the Deleted Items folder to select it. Hold Ctrl (on Windows) or Command (on Mac) and click other emails you want to remove. Once you have selected all the ones you want gone, press the Delete key or Shift+Delete. Shift+Delete skips the Deleted Items folder entirely and removes the email permanently in one step.
Permanently delete emails on Outlook mobile apps
Open the Outlook app on your phone or tablet. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom left. Scroll down and tap Deleted Items.
To remove all deleted emails at once, look for the menu icon (three dots) at the top right of the screen. Tap it and select Empty Folder. Confirm when prompted. On some versions of the app, you may need to swipe left on the Deleted Items folder name itself and tap the trash icon.
To delete individual emails, tap and hold on an email in the Deleted Items folder. A checkbox will appear next to it. Tap other emails you want to remove. Once you have selected them all, look for the delete or trash icon and tap it. Confirm the deletion.
Change how long Outlook keeps deleted emails
By default, Outlook removes emails from Deleted Items after 30 days automatically. You can change this timing if you want deleted emails to stay longer or disappear faster.
On Outlook.com, click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail, then Folders and recovery. Under Recover deleted items, you will see a slider or dropdown. You can set it to keep deleted emails for up to 93 days. Click Save.
On Outlook for Windows, click File at the top left. Select Options. Click Advanced. Scroll down to find Deleted Item Recovery and choose how many days to keep deleted emails before they are permanently removed. Click OK.
On Mac, click Outlook in the menu bar, then Preferences. Find the account you want to change and click Advanced. Look for the Deleted Item Recovery setting. Change the number of days and close the window.
Recover a permanently deleted email if you act quickly
If you permanently deleted an email by mistake, you have a narrow window to get it back — but only on Outlook.com, not on the desktop or mobile apps.
On Outlook.com, click the gear icon and select View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail, then Folders and recovery. Click Recover deleted items. You will see emails you have permanently deleted in the last 93 days. Click the checkbox next to the email you want back, then click Restore. It will return to your inbox.
On Outlook for Windows or Mac, once you empty Deleted Items or use Shift+Delete, the email is gone. There is no recovery option in the app itself. Your only option is to contact Microsoft support and ask if they can recover it from their servers, but this is not may provide and may take several days.
Avoid accidentally deleting important emails
Before you empty Deleted Items, take a moment to scan the folder for anything you might need. Look for emails from your bank, insurance company, employer, or anyone else whose messages you should keep. If you see something important, move it back to your inbox by right-clicking it and selecting Move, then choosing your inbox or another folder.
You can also create a rule in Outlook to prevent certain emails from going to Deleted Items at all. On Outlook.com, click the gear icon and go to Mail, then Rules. Create a new rule that moves emails from specific senders to a folder you choose instead of letting them be deleted. On Outlook for Windows, go to File, Options, Advanced, and look for Rules and Alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover an email after I empty Deleted Items?
On Outlook.com, you have up to 93 days to recover it using the Recover deleted items tool. On Outlook for Windows or Mac, once Deleted Items is empty, the email cannot be recovered through the app. You would need to contact Microsoft support, though recovery is not may provide.
What is the difference between Delete and Shift+Delete?
Delete moves an email to Deleted Items. Shift+Delete removes it permanently without putting it in Deleted Items first. Shift+Delete is faster if you are certain you do not want the email, but it gives you no second chance to change your mind.
Does emptying Deleted Items delete emails from my other folders?
No. Emptying Deleted Items only removes emails that are already in that folder. Emails in your inbox, sent items, or any other folder are not affected.
Will permanently deleted emails be removed from my phone and computer at the same time?
Yes, if your devices are synced to the same Outlook account. When you empty Deleted Items on one device, the change syncs to the others within a few minutes. The email will be gone from all of them.
Can I set Outlook to permanently delete emails automatically without asking me?
Outlook already does this — it automatically removes emails from Deleted Items after 30 days (or whatever number of days you set in preferences). You cannot make it happen faster than that without manually emptying the folder yourself.