how do i recover all the emails saved in folders in outlook

Hi Kathryn van Dyk,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Q&A forum.

If you have just checked your Classic Outlook (Outlook Web or Outlook Desktop Classic) and noticed that your saved emails in folders are missing, here are steps you can take to try to recover them:

Step 1: Check for Filters or View Settings

• Go to the affected folder.
• On the View tab > click View Settings > Filter > make sure no filters are applied.
• Click Sort and ensure its sorting by Date (Newest on top).
• Check if the Reading Pane or Compact View hides some folders.

Step 2: Check Deleted Items or Archive

• Open your Deleted Items folder and search for the missing messages or folders.
• If you use AutoArchive, check:

1. Go to File > Options > Advanced > AutoArchive Settings.
2. Note the location of your archive file (.pst), then open it:
3. File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File > select the archive file.
4. Look for your folders there.

Step 3: Search Across All Mailboxes

• Try searching for a known email subject or sender.
• If they appear in search results but not in folders, note the folder path shown.

Step 4: Check Your Data Files (.pst / .ost)

• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files tab.
• Check that your main data file (.pst or .ost) is still connected.
  • If not, click Add… and browse to reattach it (typically under Documents\Outlook Files).
• If you had a backup .pst, you could open it via:
  • File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.

Step 5: Restore from a Backup or Previous Version (if local PST)

If your emails were in a local PST file:

• Locate your PST file:
  • C:\Users<YourName>\Documents\Outlook Files\
• Right-click the file > Properties > Previous Versions > restore from an earlier date.
  • Reopen it in Outlook using File > Open > Outlook Data File.

Step 6: If None of the Above Works

• Visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/home/contact
• Look for and select "Chat with a support agent in your web browser" or a similar callback option.
• Clearly explain your situation

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

Please feel free to let me know if you have any further updates, thanks.