Download problems

Question

Everything in my junk mail before the 20th February says not downloaded from server but up until the weekend I could see the messages

Answer 1

Hi Janet Watson,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

The "not downloaded from server" message in the Outlook iOS app means the email header is there, but the app can't retrieve the message body. This usually happens because:

• The message was removed from the server (some folders may auto-delete older items after a certain period), or
• Outlook mobile app's sync needs to be refreshed.

Step 1: Check if the message still exists on the server

Sign in to Outlook.com on the web (using Safari/Chrome) > open Junk folder > check if messages before Feb 20 are still there.

• If missing on the web = no longer on the server
• Check Deleted Items > use Recover items deleted from this folder at the top to restore within the 30-day recovery window (if present)

If the message is present on the web, it's an Outlook iOS sync/cache issue.

Step 2: Refresh Outlook iOS

Try these in order:

1. Reset Account (clears sync and re-syncs): In Outlook app: tap your profile picture (top left) > Settings (gear icon) > tap your account > scroll down and tap Reset Account

If that doesn't fix it, remove and re-add your account in Outlook iOS (clears local cache and forces a fresh sync; your mail is safe on the server).

Quick questions to help narrow this down immediately:

• Is this a personal Microsoft account (@outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com)?
• Does this affect only Junk, or other folders too?
• Can you open these old messages on Outlook.com on the web?

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

Older junk mail that shows “not downloaded from server” has likely been removed from the server and can no longer be retrieved by the Outlook apps.

For Outlook and Outlook.com accounts, junk email is automatically deleted after a retention period. Once the server has purged those junk items, the mobile or Windows Mail/Calendar apps can still show the message headers, but when trying to open them they display “not downloaded from server” because the full content no longer exists online to sync.

To check whether any copy still exists:

1. Sign in directly to Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
2. Open the Junk Email folder and scroll back to messages before 20 February.
3. If they are not present there, they have been deleted from the server and cannot be downloaded again.

To reduce the chance of this happening in future, move any important messages out of Junk into Inbox or another folder as soon as they are identified as legitimate mail.

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References:

• Where are my email messages or calendar events in Mail and Calendar for Windows 10?