Problem emptying Deleted emails box

Question

After Permanently deleting my emails they are still in my deleted box.

Answer 1

I used the suggestion about deletion, not receiving any full mailbox messages from colleagues, but the numbers in the mail box are still listed. I am part of**[Moderator note: personal info removed]**, was hoping it was just something that I could handle on my own. Will have to reach out to IT to find out how they can work with your on the issue. Also having an issue with emails sent to me know showing up on my account until hours later.....

Answer 2

Hi @Wesley, Billie M

May I ask if you are using Exchange, IMAP or POP account? Where did you delete the email? (in Classic/New Outlook for Windows or New/Legacy Outlook for Mac)

If you are using Exchange account, can you please log in via https://outlook.cloud.microsoft/mail/ and check if you can still see the deleted emails?

If yes, try deleting them directly on Outlook web.

If no, that means the deleted emails are not on server and only stored on your local machine.

If you are using Classic Outlook, try these steps:

• Remove and re-add account.
• Right click the Deleted Items folder > Properties > choose Clear Offline items.
  
• Rebuild .ost file: Close Outlook > Press Windows + R > Type in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook\ > Look for your email address and delete it > Restart Outlook.

If you are using another provider (POP/IMAP), check in your webmail server.

Please provide more information so I can give you a clearer instruction. More details such as your account type and which Outlook client are you using.

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Answer 3

Use the Delete/Deleted Items folder tools to fully clear the mailbox; otherwise items remain and appear not to be “permanently” deleted.

Steps depend on where email is being used:

1. Outlook desktop (Microsoft 365 / Outlook 2016+)
   1. In the folder list, right‑click the Deleted Items (or Trash) folder.
   2. Select Empty Folder.
   3. If automatic emptying is turned on and is causing confusion, go to File > Options > Advanced and either:
      • Turn on Empty the Deleted Items folder upon exiting so it always clears when Outlook closes, or
      • Turn it off if items are being kept unexpectedly.
2. Outlook.com (web)
   1. Open the Deleted Items folder.
   2. At the top of the message list, select Empty folder.
   3. If items still appear, select Recover items deleted from this folder at the top and then select Empty folder there as well. This purges the recoverable items store so they no longer show up as recoverable.
3. Outlook on the web / Outlook Web App (light version)
   1. Select the Deleted Items folder.
   2. To permanently delete everything, right‑click and choose Empty folder.
   3. Optionally, turn on Empty the Deleted Items folder when I sign out under Options > Messaging so the folder is cleared automatically when signing out.

Notes:

• If a very large number of messages were deleted, it can take some time for the server to finish removing them; keep the browser or Outlook open while deletion completes.
• For Outlook.com, items in Deleted Items can remain recoverable for up to 30 days even after being removed from the folder; using Recover items deleted from this folder > Empty folder removes them permanently.

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References:

• Empty the Deleted Items folder in Outlook
• Delete email in Outlook.com
• Read and send email in the light version of Outlook
• Options > Messaging
• Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook
• Cannot empty the Deleted Items folder in Outlook.com
• Empty the Deleted Items folder in Outlook for Mac