Saved email missing

Question

Where does outlook saved emails?

Not in concept!

Still an issue

Answer 1

Hi Dirk Sterck,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

In Classic Outlook for Windows, emails are stored in a data file. The exact location depends on your account type:

• For Microsoft account / Outlook.com / IMAP / Exchange: mail is stored on the server, with a local cached file (.OST) usually here: C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\

Note: An .ost is tied to the specific Outlook profile/mailbox, so you generally can’t copy it to another PC and open it like a .pst. If you lose access to the account/server, the .ost typically won’t be usable as a standalone file.

• For POP accounts (older ISP email): stored locally in a .PST file, usually here: C:\Users\<YourUser>\Documents\Outlook Files\

To find the exact file path Outlook is using:

1. Open Outlook (Classic)
2. File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files tab > Select the file > Open File Location

If you saved an email as a file: using File > Save As (or dragging an email to a Windows folder) saves it as .msg/.eml wherever you chose (often Downloads/Documents).

For reference: Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)

Please let me know if this proves useful to you or if you would like further assistance.

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

In Microsoft Outlook, sent emails are typically saved in the Sent Items folder. However, if you are not seeing your sent emails there, it could be due to the Save copies of messages in Sent Items folder option being disabled. You can enable this option in Outlook by following these steps:

1. Go to File, then select Options.
2. In the Outlook Options dialog, select Mail.
3. Under the Save messages section, make sure to enable the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option.
4. Click OK to save your changes.

If your emails are still missing, ensure that you are checking the correct folder and that no filters are applied that might hide your sent messages.