how to find old Hotmail messages that I didn't delete

Question

I opened my Hotmail in 1997. I have always kept the oldest emails because they are from family members that are now deceased. I just went to view them again and the oldest email in my inbox is from 2001. How do I find the missing emails?

Thank you

Answer 1

Hi amneal

I understand how important those old Hotmail messages are, especially when they are from family members who have passed away. Please confirm:

• Are you checking directly at Outlook.com in a browser, or only in classic Outlook for Windows?
• Do you have any old computers, backups, or Outlook .pst / archive files from when those older emails were visible?
• Was the Hotmail account continuously accessed over the years, or was there ever a long period when you did not sign in?

Meanwhile, try the checks below from a computer:

1) Check the mailbox directly on Outlook.com first

Sign in to Outlook.com in a browser and search there.

In the search box, try:

• Sender names
• Old subject words
• Family names
• Any unique words you remember from those emails

Also make sure the search is not limited only to the Inbox.

2) Check all folders, not only Inbox

In Outlook.com, check these folders:

• Archive
• Deleted Items
• Junk Email
• Sent Items
• Any custom folders you may have created years ago

Also clear any view filter by selecting Filter > All.

3) Check the recoverable deleted items area

In Outlook.com, go to Deleted Items, then select Recover items deleted from this folder. If any of the missing emails appear there, select them and choose Restore.

See: Recover and restore deleted items in Outlook | Microsoft Support

Please note:

• Messages removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days.
• If emails from before 2001 do not appear in Deleted Items or Recover items deleted from this folder, they may no longer be recoverable.

4) Check whether classic Outlook archived the old mail into a local PST file

Because you are using classic Outlook for Windows, check whether the older messages were moved to a local archive file in the past.

In classic Outlook:

• Go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
• Look for older .pst files.
• Check Documents > Outlook Files, especially for a file named archive.pst.

If you still have an old computer, external drive, backup, or copied Outlook files from years ago, search it for .pst files and open them in Outlook. Do not import them first; opening the data file is safer because it lets you check the contents without merging or duplicating mail.

5) Check account activity history if there were long periods without signing in

If an Outlook.com mailbox is not signed in to at least once in a one-year period, Microsoft may close the Outlook.com mailbox and delete the email. Please also note that a Microsoft account must be signed in to at least once in a two-year period to keep the account active. More details are available here: Microsoft account activity policy | Microsoft Support

If there was ever a long period when the Hotmail mailbox was not accessed, older mailbox content may no longer be available.

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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