Outlook: Recovering Deleted Items from the Deleted Items Folder

Note: You cannot perform the following recovery operation in Outlook 2011 or Entourage for Mac OS X. However, in Outlook for Windows, the recovery feature is available regardless of the client used to delete the items, including IMAP configurations.

When you delete items (i.e., messages, folders, tasks, appointments, or contacts) using Outlook at Indiana University, they move to the Deleted Items folder. You may retrieve them by opening the Deleted Items folder, locating the items, and then moving them to another folder. When items are deleted or emptied from the Deleted Items folder, they are in retention and recoverable for 15 days before they are permanently deleted. To recover items during the 15-day period:

1. In Outlook 2010, click the Deleted Items folder, and then from the Folder tab, select Recover Deleted Items. In previous versions, open the Deleted Items folder, and then from the Tools menu, select Recover Deleted Items... .
   
   
2. A separate window will open, containing the items that you have deleted within the last 15 days. Highlight the items you want to recover, and click Recover Selected Items (the icon looks like an envelope).
   
   
3. This will place the items into your Deleted Items folder. From there you can move or drag them back to your Inbox, or to any folder you wish.
   
   Note: All items in the recovery window appear with an envelope icon, regardless of object type. If the item recovered is a non-mail item (such as a contact, appointment, or task), Outlook will recover it properly with the appropriate icon when it appears back in your Deleted Items folder.
   
   

Note: If you delete something from the 15-day retention area, or the time limit has expired on an item, it is not recoverable, but will still be maintained in central email archive if it is within the specified retention perion