Cannot delete or moe emails using Outlook mail (classic Outlook for Windows)

Question

I cannot delete or move emails from OUTLOOK. THis just started 2 days ago

---

Moderator note: thread updated with version info (classic Outlook for Windows)

Answer 1

Follow these steps in order, testing after each step:

1. Ensure Outlook is fully updated
   • In classic Outlook: select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
   • Restart Outlook and test deleting/moving messages again.
2. Restart the computer
   • Some Office or Windows updates only complete after a restart.
   • After restart, open Outlook and try to delete or move items again.
3. If using an IMAP account and seeing errors like “Cannot move the items” or “The operation cannot be performed because the message has been changed” when moving mail:
   • Switch to a different folder, then back to the original folder, and try the move/delete again.
   • If that fails, close Outlook completely, reopen it, and repeat the move/delete.
4. If still unable to move items between folders
   • Create a new Outlook profile and test there (keep the current profile so it can be switched back if needed). Steps are in Create an Outlook profile in the referenced article.
5. Temporary workarounds if the problem continues
   • If using Outlook with Microsoft 365/Exchange: use Outlook on the Web (OWA) to move or delete items.
   • If using a 3rd-party mail provider (IMAP/POP3): sign in to the provider’s webmail and move/delete items there.

If none of the above resolves the issue and in-app support is available, use Help > Contact Support in Outlook, or if part of an organization, ask the Microsoft 365 tenant administrator to open a support ticket from the M365 Admin Portal.

---

References:

• Outlook error "Cannot move the items" when moving items to other folders
• You receive an error when moving emails to another IMAP folder

Answer 2

I did the AI reommendations and that solved the problem

Answer 3

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your question. I know how disruptive this can be, especially when your inbox suddenly stops responding the way you expect.

This type of issue usually occurs when Outlook encounters a sync problem, a recent update hasn’t fully applied, or cached data becomes corrupted. According to Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance, the first steps are to update Outlook, restart the app, and restart your computer to complete any pending Office or Windows updates. If the account is IMAP‑based and you see errors such as “Cannot move the items,” switching to another folder and back or restarting Outlook can clear the temporary folder state. If the problem continues, creating a new Outlook profile often resolves data‑file issues that prevent moving or deleting messages. As temporary workarounds, you can use Outlook on the Web or your email provider’s webmail to delete or move messages until the desktop app syncs correctly again.

Are you using an Outlook.com/Microsoft 365 account, or is your account from another provider like Gmail, Yahoo, or your ISP? This helps determine whether the issue is IMAP‑related.

Please let me know what type of account you’re using or if you’ve already tried restarting and updating Outlook. I’ll be happy to guide you through the next steps.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best Regards,

Noel