Ad emails going directly to archive

Question

Hi

Everyday without fail (sometimes more than once a day) I am recieving advert emails sent directly into my Archive and when I delete them, they do not appear in my bin for deletion but simply vanish.

Is there any way of stopping anything being sent directly to my archive without my selecting it?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi Neil, 

I hope you are doing well ! I just want to check if you have had a chance to test the steps earlier? Please let me know if they helped resolve the issue or if you are still experiencing any difficulties. I am here to assist you further.

Best Regards

Answer 2

Dear Neil, 

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand you are having problem with advert emails landing directly in your Archive folder, and when you delete them, they do not appear in Deleted Items. I am happy to assist you. 

Please confirm 2 details: (1) is this a personal Outlook.com account (ending [@outlook.com/@hotmail.com/@live.com/@msn.com]) or a work/school mailbox you access on the web, and (2) does this happen after you view mail on a phone (Outlook iOS/Android) or only in the browser.  

Meanwhile, please:  

• Verify the messages aren’t being archived by a mobile swipe action 
  • If you use the Outlook mobile app, review the app’s Swipe Options and change/disable any swipe set to “Archive”, because swipe actions can move messages to Archive without you intentionally filing them.  
• Confirm you’re not permanently deleting (which bypasses Deleted Items) 
  • In Outlook, a normal Delete moves mail to Deleted Items, but Shift+Delete permanently deletes and won’t leave a copy in Deleted Items. If you are using a keyboard, avoid Shift+Delete and use normal Delete instead.  
• If deleted items are not in Deleted Items 
  •  Outlook on the web can recover items even after Deleted Items is emptied: Open Deleted Items, then use “Recover items deleted from this folder” to restore messages from the Recoverable Items area.  
• Stop the adverts by blocking the sender or domain 
  • Use Outlook’s blocked senders/domains so messages from that address/domain are automatically moved to Junk Email. See: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/block-or-unblock-senders-in-outlook-9bf812d4-6995-4d19-901a-76d6e26939b0

Please tell me how it goes. If the problem persists, please don’t hesitate to reply to this thread and I will be happy to help. Have a lovely day!  

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Answer 3

In Outlook on the web/Outlook.com, messages only go directly to Archive if something is moving them there: Archive/Sweep actions, inbox rules, or AutoArchive/retention policies. To stop ad emails going straight to Archive and “vanishing” when deleted, check and adjust these areas:

1. Check Sweep rules
   Sweep can automatically move or delete messages from specific senders once per day. If a Sweep rule is configured to move certain senders to Archive or delete them, it will bypass the Inbox.
   • Open Outlook on the web.
   • Select one of the ad messages in Archive.
   • On the command bar, select Sweep.
   • Review any existing Sweep rule for that sender and choose an option that does not move messages to Archive or auto-delete them (for example, stop sweeping or keep messages in Inbox).
     Note: Sweep rules run once per day.
2. Check Inbox rules
   Inbox rules can automatically move or delete messages as soon as they arrive.
   • Go to Outlook on the web settings and open Rules (Inbox rules).
   • Look for any rule that moves messages to Archive or deletes them based on sender, subject, or keywords related to these ads.
   • Disable or delete those rules, or change the action to keep messages in Inbox instead.
3. Check Archive usage
   Archive is just another folder; deleting from Archive should normally move items to Deleted Items, not make them disappear permanently, unless a policy or rule is deleting them.
   • In Outlook on the web, under Folders, select Archive and confirm the messages are there.
   • When you delete from Archive, check the Deleted Items folder. If items are not appearing there, a rule or policy may be permanently deleting them.
4. Check AutoArchive/retention policies (if using Outlook for Windows with the same account)
   If the same mailbox is used in Outlook for Windows, AutoArchive or retention policies may be moving or deleting items based on age or other criteria.
   • In Outlook for Windows, review AutoArchive settings and retention policies. AutoArchive can:
     • Move items from active folders to an archive file (.pst), or
     • Permanently delete items that have passed their aging periods.
   • Ensure AutoArchive is not configured to move or delete messages in a way that bypasses Deleted Items.

Once Sweep rules, inbox rules, and any AutoArchive/retention settings are corrected, new ad emails should no longer go directly to Archive, and deleting archived messages should move them to Deleted Items (unless a policy is configured to permanently delete them).

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References:

• Organize your inbox with Archive, Sweep, and other tools in Outlook on the web
• AutoArchive settings explained
• Archive in Outlook for Windows