how to search for a folder

Question

how do i search for a folder - for reference i believe i have deleted it but i couldnt see it in there so now i wonder ifg it has been moved

Answer 1

Hi @Charli  

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

In Classic Outlook for Windows, there is no built-in feature to directly search for a folder by name. However, you can locate a missing folder by searching for emails that were stored inside it. Once you find one of those emails, Outlook will display the current folder location, which can help determine whether the folder was moved.

To help narrow down the issue, please provide more details:  

-Are you signing in with a personal Microsoft account (for example, @outlook.com or @hotmail.com) or with a work/school account?  

-What type of account is configured in Outlook (POP, IMAP, or Exchange)?  

-Based on your description, could you confirm whether the deleted folders are missing from the Deleted Items folder after expanding it by clicking the arrow next to it as shown in the example image below?

 

Please know that while our initial response might not resolve the issue right away, your input is incredibly valuable. With a bit more detail, we’ll work together to find the best solution for you. 

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Answer 2

To search for a folder in classic Outlook for Windows and check whether it was moved or deleted, use Outlook’s search tools and the Deleted Items/Recoverable Items folders.

1. Use Advanced Find to search all folders
   1. Select the Inbox (or any mail folder).
   2. Click into the Instant Search box so the Search tab appears on the ribbon.
   3. On the Search tab, select Search Tools > Advanced Find.
   4. In Look for, choose Any type of Outlook item.
   5. Select Browse….
   6. Select the top/root of the mailbox (usually the email address), and make sure Search subfolders is enabled so Outlook searches the entire mailbox.
   7. In the Advanced Find window, use the Advanced tab to add a condition such as:
      • Field: Frequently-used fields > In Folder or Subject (if you know something about items in that folder)
      • Or search for a unique word that should be inside items that were in that folder.
   8. Select Find Now.
   9. If items from that folder appear, right-click an item, choose Move > Other Folder, and move it to a known folder. This confirms the folder’s contents still exist and lets them be reorganized.
2. Check Deleted Items for a deleted folder
   1. In the folder list, open Deleted Items.
   2. Expand Deleted Items (click the triangle/arrow) and look for the missing folder name.
   3. If the folder is there, drag it back to the desired place in the folder list.
   Note: A folder can only be recovered this way if it is still in Deleted Items. Once it is permanently deleted, the folder itself cannot be restored, but individual messages may still be recoverable.
3. Recover messages if the folder was permanently deleted If the folder is not in Deleted Items, try recovering its messages:
   1. Select the Deleted Items folder.
   2. On the Home tab, select Recover Deleted Items From Server.
   3. In the Recover Deleted Items window, select the messages to restore (for example, based on subject or date that you know belonged to that folder).
   4. Select Restore Selected Items, then OK.
   5. The items will be restored to Deleted Items; from there, move them into a new folder.
   Note: If Recover Deleted Items From Server is not available, the account type may not support server-side recovery.

If none of these steps locate the folder or its contents, contact the email or IT administrator to check if any additional recovery options are available on the server side.

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References:

• Items placed in root folder seem to be lost in Outlook
• Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook