Trash folders missing from outlook on a new computer setup

Question

I'm setting up a new computer and the Trash Folders are missing on outlook

Answer 1

If the Trash folders (often referred to as the Deleted Items folder) are missing in Outlook on your new computer setup, you can try the following steps to restore them:

1. Check Folder List: Ensure that you are viewing the Folder List in Outlook. You can press Ctrl + 6 to toggle the Folder List view.
2. Use MFCMAPI Tool: If the folder is still missing, you can use the MFCMAPI tool to restore it:
   • Download and install the latest version of MFCMAPI.
   • Open MFCMAPI and log on to your Outlook profile.
   • Navigate to the mailbox and check the properties of the folders to see if the Deleted Items folder is hidden.
   • If it is hidden, you can uncheck the PR_ATTR_HIDDEN property to make it visible again.
3. Reset Folder Names: You can also run Outlook.exe /ResetFolderNames from the Run dialog to reset the folder names to their default settings.
4. Create a New Folder: If the Deleted Items folder is still not visible, you can create a new folder named "Deleted Items" and use it as your Trash folder until the original one is restored.

After performing these steps, restart Outlook to see if the Trash folders have reappeared.

---

References:

• Default folder is missing in Outlook and Outlook on the web
• Issues with default folders in Outlook

Answer 2

Dear Kerry Calvert,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand it's confusing when expected folders like "Deleted Items" are not visible after setting up Outlook on a new computer. 

I see the AI assistant has provided some suggestions. Please disregard the step involving the "MFCMAPI" tool, as it is an advanced developer utility not intended for general troubleshooting and could cause unintended issues. 

Let's try a sequence of safer, more appropriate steps for your Classic Outlook for Windows setup. 

Step 1: Switch to the "Folder List" View 

The simplest way to see all folders is to switch the navigation pane to show the full folder list. 

1. In the bottom-left corner of the Outlook window, look at the navigation bar (with icons for Mail, Calendar, etc.). 
2. Click on the "..." (More) button at the bottom of this bar. 
3. From the menu, select "Folders" or "Folder List". This will show a traditional, expandable list of all your mail folders. Check if the "Deleted Items" folder appears here. 

Step 2: Wait for Synchronization to Complete 

Since this is a new computer setup, it's possible the folder list is still synchronizing from the server, especially if you have a large mailbox. 

• Look at the status bar at the bottom of the Outlook window. It should indicate if it is still syncing (e.g., "All folders are up to date" or a percentage complete). 
• Allow Outlook to remain open and connected for some time to ensure a full sync. 

Step 3: Create a New Outlook Profile  

This creates a fresh connection to your email account and often resolves folder display problems on a new machine. 

1. Close Outlook. 
2. Open the Windows Control Panel (view by large icons) and select Mail (Microsoft Outlook). 
3. Click "Show Profiles...". 
4. Click "Add..." to create a new profile (give it a name like "Outlook New"). 
5. Follow the prompts to re-add your email account(s). 
6. Set this new profile as the default to use when starting Outlook. 
7. Start Outlook with the new profile and check for the folders. 

To help me narrow down the cause, could you please provide the following details? 

• What type of email account are you setting up? (e.g., Outlook.com/Hotmail, a personal Microsoft 365 account, or a POP/IMAP account from another provider like Gmail?) 
• After switching to the "Folder List" view in Step 1, do you see any folders listed under your account, or is the list completely empty? 

This information will be very helpful in determining the next best steps. I look forward to your update. 

---

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

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.