Can’t locate draft folder

Khalia Nixon 0 Reputation points
2026-11-03T17:43:21.31+00:00

Hello,

I’m currently using the outlook email app. I have or had a draft folder. Unfortunately it disappeared from the screen. How can I find it?

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Email
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  1. Francisco Montilla 31,725 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-03T18:37:36.7+00:00

    Hello,

    I need a bit more info about your setup.

    What device are you using the Outlook app on right now? Like are you on an iPhone, Android, or a Windows PC or Mac? If you are on a Windows computer it would also help to know if you are using the New Outlook or the classic desktop version. Do you also have more than one email account linked in the app?

    Let me know those details so I can give you the right steps to track it down.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-03T17:43:56.4933333+00:00

    Open Outlook’s account folder list and expand any collapsed folder rows; Drafts is a default folder and should appear there.

    Outlook mobile app

    1. Open Outlook.
    2. Tap your profile picture/account icon or the Menu icon in the upper-left.
    3. Select the relevant email account rather than All Accounts.
    4. Scroll through that account’s folders and tap Drafts.
    5. If a folder row has a > on its right, tap it to expand the folder. Outlook Mobile allows folders to be collapsed, and IMAP folders can sometimes be nested under Inbox. ^1^

    On iPhone, pressing and holding the account icon can display its folder list. On Android, tapping Menu displays folders and settings. ^2^

    Outlook.com in a browser

    1. Sign in to Outlook.com with the same account used in the app.
    2. Select the three-line menu in the upper-left to expand the folder pane.
    3. Expand Folders or select More if shown.
    4. Open Drafts.

    Drafts is a default Outlook.com folder where unfinished messages are saved automatically. ^3^

    If Drafts appears in the browser but not in the mobile app, the mailbox still contains the folder and the issue is limited to the app’s navigation or synchronization. Close and reopen the app, then check the correct account’s expanded folder list again.

    If the entire folder pane is missing in Outlook.com

    1. Sign out.
    2. Clear the browser cache.
    3. Close all browser windows.
    4. Open Outlook.com and sign in again.
    5. On a small screen, maximize the window and select the three-line menu to reveal the folders. ^3^

    If this is a Gmail account in Outlook

    Check whether Gmail exposes Drafts through IMAP:

    1. Open Gmail in a browser.
    2. Go to Settings → See all settings → Labels.
    3. Find Drafts under system labels.
    4. Enable Show in IMAP. ^4^

    References

    1. Where did my folders go? | Microsoft Support
    2. Outlook for iOS and Android Quick Start | Microsoft Support
    3. Working with message folders in Outlook.com | Microsoft Support
    4. How to show or hide folders for IMAP in Google Settings | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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