Can I retrieve an email I accidentally permanently deleted just now

Hi Alexis, If you haven't retrieved your email yet, you can try these steps:

Step 1: Assign Required Roles 

You must be a member of the eDiscovery Manager or Compliance Search role group in the Microsoft Purview portal. 

• Access the Purview Portal > Settings > Roles and scopes > Role Groups > eDiscovery Manager > Edit > Choose Users 
• For more detailed instructions: Assign eDiscovery permissions in the Purview portal 

Step 2: Content Search 

• Access the Purview Portal > Navigate to eDiscovery > Content Search > Create a New Search > Click New Search. > Enter a name and description. 

Step 3. Setting Conditions 

• Create a Search > In Query > Condition builder > Add Conditions  
• Clear all the default condition  
• Add new conditions:  
  • Condition 1: Type – Contain any of – Email messages, Documents  
  • Condition 2: Date – Between – Dec 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024  

(Example date testing) 

Step 4: Search for sources 

• Add Source > Choose People Only > Select or search the account > Choose the Location to include options > Save and Close  

Step 5: Choose search results 

• Run query > Choose search result > Run Query  

Step 6: Export Files 

• Click to Export > Set up Export name > Click on Export  

• Then, you go to Export on the top to see Exports list  

• Click on your Export name and Download  
• Since you only want to retrieve emails on Outlook, choose PSTs.001 > Click Download

If everything is set, it would be greatly appreciated if you could mark the answer as Accepted. This helps others facing similar issues and keeps things organized.

If you need any further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Hello Alexis. If the email was permanently deleted from the Recoverable Items folder, then, unfortunately, it cannot be recovered through Outlook or Microsoft’s normal recovery methods. Once an item has been purged from that folder, it is deleted from the server and cannot be restored, even by Microsoft support, unless your organization has advanced retention, or backup policies.

Here's the reference: Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Best regards,

Hi Alexis,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A. I understand how important that accidentally deleted email must be. Even if you deleted the email from the Junk folder, Outlook may retain it for a limited time (usually up to 30 days):

• Open a browser and go to https://outlook.live.com
• Sign in to your account
• In the left pane, right-click the Deleted Items folder
• Select “Recover deleted items”
• Look for the email and select Restore

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks!

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Best regards,

Sin Dau | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist