I've lost all of my Outlook folders.

Question

I had to open Outlook 365 in safe mode, and, in doing so, lost all of my folders. Now, when I create a folder, it says "This computer only." How do I get my folders back? I assume that they're still in the cloud.

Answer 1

If you've lost your Outlook folders after opening Outlook 365 in safe mode, it's possible that your folders are still available in your cloud account. Here are some steps you can take to try to recover your folders:

1. Check your account settings: Ensure that you are logged into the correct account. Sometimes, opening Outlook in safe mode might switch to a local profile instead of your cloud account.
2. Look for the folders in the cloud: If your folders were stored in your cloud account (like Exchange or Outlook.com), they should still be there. You can check by logging into your account via the web interface.
3. Rebuild your profile: If the folders are not visible, consider creating a new Outlook profile. This can sometimes resolve issues where folders are not displaying correctly.
4. Use the search function: Try searching for specific emails or folders using the search bar in Outlook. This might help you locate them if they are still present but not visible in the folder list.
5. Restore from backup: If you have a backup of your Outlook data file (.pst), you can restore your folders from there.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• Default folder is missing in Outlook and Outlook on the web

Answer 2

How do I change accounts, and how do I know which one is the account with the old folders in it?