How to recover Outlook email folders if they disappeared

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Sometimes things might go missing, or in this case that folder that contain your most important emails, and everything seems lost. Causes can vary from recent changes to your device, such as updates, or a connection error, or even corrupted system files. 

In this guide, you'll learn how to recover Outlook email folders if they disappeared.

2. How to Recover

1. Restart OutlookSometimes, restarting the application can do the trick. It might sound simple, turning it off and on, but if it works.

1. Disconnect from your mailbox (you should only do this once)
   
   
2. Reconnect to your mailbox (again, do this once)
   
   
3. Create a new folder(with a different name) in the same folder or sub-folder as the missing folder
   
   
4. Both folders should appear now.

2. Repair Outlook

If at first you don’t succeed, we have other options. This solution also works well in the event that Windows can’t find Outlook.exe.

1. Go to the Start button, then select Apps and Features in the menu
   
   
2. Select Microsoft Outlook then select Modify
   
   
3. The system will guide you to the necessary steps you need to follow in order to fix your Outlook.
   
   

It offers two options: clicking on Online Repair then Repair will get everything fixed, while the second option of Quick Repair will scan your application files and replace the corrupted ones. Check if this solution worked.

3. Disable add-ins

If you’ve gotten to this point, the first two solutions didn’t work, but worry not, we’ve got more fixes ahead. This third method involves disabling the add-ins.

1. Launch the run box by pressing Windows + R key
   
   
2. Type the following command in the run box and press Ok: “Outlook.exe /safe”
   
   
3. Outlook is now in Safe mode, the next step involes disabling the add-ins, now you have to click “Go to File” select Option then Add Ins
   
   
4. In the Manage section select COM add-ins, select the Go Button, and lastly clear the add-ins checkbox to disable it
   
   
5. You’re good to go now.