My entire inbox was emptied on the outlook web browser

Question

My entire inbox was emptied on the outlook web browser

AAle 0

My entire hotmail.com inbox was emptied unprompted and I cannot locate any of the emails in any other folder, junk or deleted items. They have just completely vanished. Is there any backup taken from these folders that I can retrieve? I had so many important emails and documents in my inbox which I have had for almost 20 years!

AAle 0 Reputation points

2026-09-02T08:38:13.77+00:00

None of the options provided by the AI answer helped

2 answers

Your answer

AAle 0 Reputation points

2026-09-02T08:38:13.77+00:00

None of the options provided by the AI answer helped

Answer 1

Hornblower409 16,350

@AAle said

None of the options provided by the AI answer helped

You will need to bring in Microsoft Support.

Logon to https://outlook.live.com/
From the main menu: Help -> ? Help
{This should open the Help side panel}
Search Help -> {Your problem} and press Enter
Still need help? [Yes]
If you get "We're here to help": Tell us your problem -> {Your problem, again} [Get Help]
[Sign In] {Use any Outlook/Microsoft account}
Choose a support option -> Chat with a support agent in your web browser

AAle 0 Reputation points

2026-09-22T15:09:53.1+00:00
Thank you, but even here I experience not being able to sign in.
following these steps:
Still need help? [Yes]

If you get "We're here to help": Tell us your problem -> {Your problem, again} [Get Help]

[Sign In] {Use any Outlook/Microsoft account}

I press, the "sign in" button. a new window pops up for me to choose account to sign in from. I choose the account, then the window shuts, but the main window still displays the "sign in" button. I have tried with other web browsers as well (chrome and edge), but encounter the same issue.
Hornblower409 16,350 Reputation points

2026-09-22T16:17:57.9733333+00:00
@AAle said

I press, the "sign in" button. a new window pops up for me to choose account ... but the main window still displays the "sign in" button ... other web browsers as well

This is going to be a problem. I need to get your to the outlook.com Support queue and the only way I know of to do that is via Outlook Web in-app help (the route I gave you).

You can try the "General" route (below) , but I'm afraid that as soon as you tell them the problem is with Outlook Web (outlook.com) they will tell you that you are in the wrong place.

Try this - Don't start with "Problem with Outlook Web email", but instead for your Problem use "Can not use Outlook Web In-App Help"?

Open a browser to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/home/contact

Tell us your problem: {Whatever}

[Get Help] {Scroll down to the bottom of the page} [Sign in to Contact Support]

Sign in with any Microsoft account

Products and services: "Microsoft 365 and Office"

Category: "Outlook"

[Confirm]

Choose a support option -> "Chat with a support agent in your web browser"

Let me know if you get hung at the Sign-In using this route as well.

Answer 2

For Outlook.com/Hotmail on the web, there is no user-accessible “backup” restore point for the Inbox beyond the standard recovery locations.

Try this in order on a computer:

Check Deleted Items
- Open Deleted Items.
- If the messages are there, select them and choose Restore or Move them back to Inbox.
Check Recoverable Items
- In Deleted Items, select Recover items deleted from this folder.
- If the missing messages appear there, select them and choose Restore.
- Messages removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days.
- If restored, messages go back to their original folder when possible; otherwise, messages go to Inbox.
Check Junk Email
- Open Junk Email.
- If messages are there, select them and choose Report > Not junk, or move them back to Inbox.
- Junk email is retained for 30 days before automatic deletion.
Check Archive
- Open Archive.
- If the messages are there, select them and choose Move to > Inbox.
Check the message filter
- Above the message list, select Filter and set it to All.
Check inbox rules
- Go to Rules settings and review any rule that may be moving or deleting mail.
- Edit or delete any incorrect rule.
- Rules can only be viewed and edited on a computer.
Check whether Outlook is emptying Deleted Items on sign-out
- Go to Settings > Message handling.
- Under When signing out, clear Empty my deleted items folder.

If the messages are not in Deleted Items, Recoverable Items, Junk Email, or Archive, then the available self-service recovery options have been exhausted. In that case, use Outlook.com support from Help in Outlook.com or the Microsoft support contact flow.