I cannot find my sent and draft messages

Question

#microsoftemail

I can no longer and all of sudden see my 'sent' or 'draft' message folder, help!

Answer 1

Hi,

I see No button was pressed below my post. In order to help you, could you please answer the questions?

Answer 2

Hi Angel,

Who is the Email provider of the account? Do you have a Outlook email address?

What about any other Browser or a private Window?

I’m eager to hear back and work together to find a solution.

Answer 3

In Outlook and Outlook.com, Sent and Drafts are just folders in the mailbox. If they suddenly seem to be missing, they are usually either collapsed/hidden in the folder list or not being shown due to settings.

Try these checks depending on how mail is being accessed:

1. Expand the folder list

• In Outlook desktop, each account has its own folder tree. In the left folder pane, click the arrow (>) next to the email account name to expand all folders and look for Sent Items and Drafts.
• In Outlook for iOS/Android, tap the account (three-lines) icon at the top left, then tap the drop-down arrow next to the account to expand all folders and look for Sent, Drafts, Trash, etc.

2. Verify Sent Items are being saved If using Outlook desktop and Sent Items is missing or empty:
3. Go to File > Options > Mail.
4. Scroll to Save messages.
5. Make sure Save copies of messages in Sent Items folder is checked.
6. Check for older or deleted items If the folders exist but expected messages are missing:

• Sent items may be too old to be synced locally. In Outlook desktop:
  1. Select File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
  2. Select the account > Change.
  3. Move the Mail to keep offline slider to a longer interval.
• Check Deleted Items or Trash in case the folders or messages were deleted.

4. Check Drafts in Outlook Web App If using Outlook Web App and draft messages are missing:

• Drafts are stored in the Drafts folder until sent or deleted.
• If replying/forwarding, also check the original message’s folder; drafts related to a conversation can appear there with the word Draft next to the sender name.

If none of the above reveals the folders, also check any additional folder groups (such as Archive or other account folders) in the left pane; users sometimes find “missing” folders nested under another folder (for example, under Sent or Archive) after a swipe or drag action.

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References:

• View sent email
• How do I view my sent, trash, archive and other folders?
• Create and respond to messages in Outlook Web App
• Outlook folders - Microsoft Q&A