Dragged a subfolder within Inbox and now I cannot find it

Question

I dragged a subfolder (let's call it A) within Inbox to another subfolder (B) still within Inbox. But now I cannot find the subfolder A. It is neither in Inbox nor inside B (in B it shows "Nothing in folder"). I cannot find it in any of the other subfolders beside or close to B. Where can I find subfolder A?

Answer 1

Hello Franco Angelito Barcelo,

Good day! Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Community.

We appreciate your patience as we work together to resolve this issue.

I understand that you're having trouble locating a subfolder (A) that was moved within your Inbox to another subfolder (B), and now it's neither in Inbox nor inside B. Let me assist you with this issue. This issue can occur due to various reasons, such as accidental movement, display errors, or potential synchronization issues. To better understand and investigate your issue, may I get some more detailed information from your side:

1. Will you please share me your Outlook version details? Please follow this article What version of Outlook do I have? - Microsoft Support and follow the steps to check.
2. Are you using Microsoft365 business account(******@xxx.onmicrosoft.com/******@yourdomain.com) or personal account (which is ended with outlook.com/hotmail.com/live.com/msn.com) or some other 3rd party POP/IMAP account?
3. If you log into outlook on the web, can you see this folder? https://outlook.office.com/

Please let’s work through some steps to troubleshoot this issue together. I appreciate your patience as we explore potential solutions.

Restart Outlook:

• Close and reopen Outlook. This can refresh the application and may help in displaying all folders correctly.
• Hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the Outlook icon to start it in Safe Mode.

Search for the Subfolder:
Search thoroughly in both the desktop and web versions of Outlook using keywords, subject lines, sender/recipient name, etc.

• Click on the search bar in Outlook.
• Enter the name of subfolder A.
• Review the search results to locate the folder.

Check for Hidden Folders:

• Right-click on the Inbox folder in the folder pane. If you are using the classic version,
• Choose "Properties" or "Data File Properties."
• Look for indications of the folder’s presence or check the folder size.

Simultaneously, press the “Ctrl + Shift + F” buttons to open the "Advanced Find" window. Type any word or phrase you're looking for.

Verify Folder Pane Settings

• Ensure the folder pane is fully expanded. You can do this by clicking on the arrow next to “Inbox” or “Mail” in the folder pane to expand all folders.
• Right-click on “Inbox” and select “Folder Properties” (if available). Ensure that all folders are set to be visible.

Recover Deleted Items:
In Outlook, go to the "Deleted Items" folder and check if subfolder A is there. Right-click on "Deleted Items" and select "Recover Deleted Items" to see if the folder can be restored from ther

• Navigate to the "Folder" tab in Outlook.
• Select "Recover Deleted Items."
• Review the list and select subfolder A if available for recovery.

Recover from Archive

• In the folder pane, look for “Archive” or “Archive Folders."
• Check the contents of the archived folders to see if the subfolder was archived by mistake.

Additionally, you can refer to this link ig you are using the outlook classic version:

How to find a missing folder which was moved by accident in Outlook? (extendoffice.com)

Note: This link is from a third-party website that provides some additional tips. Please note that this link is not affiliated with Microsoft, so proceed with caution when following any advice

Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need further assistance.

Please understand that our initial response may not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

Appreciate your kind understanding. Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Community Moderator