Outlook app is showing messages that I have deleted off my outlook desktop.

Question

My Outlook app is still showing messages as new, even though I have deleted them hours ago on the outlook desktop. I deleted the app off my phone and re-installed and still having the same issue.

Answer 1

Hi @Phil Kudler,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand how inconvenient it can be to see emails still appearing as new on the Outlook mobile app, even though you deleted them earlier on your desktop.

In most cases, this behavior is related to a sync issue on the mobile app or how the account is configured on the desktop. For example, if the account is set up as POP, deletions may occur only locally and won’t sync back to the server. To help narrow this down and resolve the issue, I recommend trying the steps below in order:

1/ First, confirm what the server shows:

Please sign in to your mailbox using Outlook on the web (via a browser) and check whether the same emails still appear in the Inbox, Other, or Deleted Items folders. This step helps determine whether the deletions were applied on the server or only on the desktop.

• If the emails are still visible on Outlook on the web, then the mobile app is correctly reflecting what’s stored on the server.
• If the emails no longer appear on the web, then the mobile app is likely showing an outdated view and needs to be re-synced.

2/ Force a fresh sync in Outlook for iOS:

Even if reinstalling the app didn’t help, Outlook for iOS includes an option to refresh items and settings directly from the server:

Open Outlook mobile > Settings > Accounts > select the affected account > scroll down > Reset Account, then reopen Outlook.

3/ If the issue persists, remove and re-add the account:

If resetting the account doesn’t resolve the issue, please remove the account from Outlook mobile and then add it back. This re-establishes the sync connection with the server.

4/ Check the account type on your desktop:

If your desktop Outlook is configured as a POP account, deletions may only apply to that device and won’t sync to other devices. However, if the account is set up as IMAP or Exchange, changes should normally sync across all devices.

5/ If you have multiple accounts on your phone:

If more than one account is added to Outlook mobile, please make sure you’re viewing the specific mailbox rather than the “All Accounts” view. Otherwise, messages from another mailbox may make it appear as though deleted items are still present.

If the issue continues after trying these steps, your IT administrator may also be able to check whether any mailbox or retention policies are affecting synchronization on mobile devices.

I hope this information helps clarify what’s happening. Please try the steps above and let me know how it goes. If the issue persists, I’ll be happy to continue working with you to resolve it.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Answer 2

The Outlook mobile app is not syncing the deletions from the desktop, so the messages remain on the phone as new. Use these steps to fix the sync partnership so changes (like deletions) propagate correctly.

1. Remove the mobile device partnership from Outlook on the web/Outlook.com
   • Sign in to Outlook on the web or Outlook.com in a browser.
   • Go to Settings > General > Mobile devices.
   • In the device list, select the phone that is having the issue.
   • Select the option to delete/remove the device partnership.
   • At the top of the window, select Save.
2. Power‑cycle the phone and resync
   • Turn the phone completely off.
   • Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
   • Open the Outlook mobile app and allow it to resync the mailbox. New sync should now respect deletions made on the desktop.

If the issue persists after this, repeat the steps to ensure the correct device was removed, then verify that the account on the phone is the same mailbox being used on the desktop.

If none of these steps resolve the problem, contact support for Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 using the in-product Help options for further investigation.

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References:

• Fix email sync issues by removing a device from your Outlook mailbox
• Troubleshoot Outlook mobile issues