Emails missing

Question

I have opened outlook on my pc- something I do at least once a week. I havent had any updates/made any changes. My main account is blank- no sent, deleted, no received and all my folders gone

I have 2 other email accounts that I view through outlook and these are fine

Answer 1

Hello alison draper, 

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A! I understand how panic it is to open Outlook and see your primary inbox completely blank, especially when you haven't made any changes and your other two accounts are working perfectly fine. 

When one account goes blank but the others are untouched, it usually means that the specific local "data file" (the file on your computer that stores a copy of that exact email account) has become corrupted or disconnected. 

Since you found a recommendation to repair the Outlook installation and the data file, here are the exact steps on how to perform both of those repairs safely: 

1. How to repair the Outlook Data File (The Inbox Repair Tool) 

Microsoft includes a hidden, built-in tool called SCANPST.EXE specifically designed to scan and fix broken email files. 

1. Open Control Panel → Mail → Data Files.  Note the location of the data file linked to your affected email address. 
2. Close Outlook completely. 
3. Open File Explorer and go to:  C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16  (or check Program Files (x86) if needed). 
4. Double-click SCANPST.exe. 
5. Click Browse, select your data file, then click Start. 
6. If errors are found, click Repair. 

2. How to repair the Outlook Installation 

If repairing the data file doesn't bring your folders back, you can run a repair on the entire Office suite to fix any underlying software glitches. 

1. Right-click Start → select Installed apps (or Apps and Features). 
2. Find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365. 
3. Click Modify → choose Quick Repair → Repair. 
4. Restart your PC and open Outlook. 

I hope this helps you run those repair tools successfully and restores your missing folders! Please let me know if you need any further assistance. 

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Answer 2

It sounds like your main Outlook account might be experiencing an issue where the items are not visible. This can happen if a filter was applied to the default view settings of the Outlook folder. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check for Filters: Sometimes, items may not be deleted but are being filtered from view. To check this:
   • In Outlook, go to the View tab.
   • Select View Settings.
   • Click on Filter and review the settings to ensure no filters are hiding your emails.
2. Check Your Data File: If you suspect that your Outlook data file might be corrupted or missing:
   • Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\Outlook Files\ or C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\ to check for your PST file.
   • If you find it, you can try to open it in Outlook to see if your emails reappear.
3. Repair Outlook: If the above steps do not work, you may want to consider repairing your Outlook installation or the data file. You can use the built-in repair tool for Outlook data files.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult the Microsoft Community for further assistance.

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References:

• Items disappear or are not visible in an Outlook folder