Exchange: Deleted Items Folder and Recover Deleted Items
Deleted messages are stored in the Deleted Items folder. The Deleted Items folder is located in the left side navigation menu in Outlook and Outlook Web App (OWA). To avoid going over your email quota, you must periodically empty the Deleted Items folder, since email in that folder is still being stored on the server. In Outlook 2010, a deleted folder and its contents are moved to the Deleted Items folder. In OWA, a deleted folder is permanently deleted, but messages within the folder move to Deleted Items.
Empty the Deleted Items Folder
Outlook Web App
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Right-click the Deleted Items folder.
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Click Empty Deleted Items. Click OK.
Outlook 2010
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Right-click the Deleted Items folder.
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Click Empty Folder. Click Yes.
Outlook 2011
- Using a two-button mouse, right-click on the Deleted Items folder, then click Empty Folder.
or - Click on the Deleted Items Folder, click the Organize tab. Click the Delete All icon.
Automatically Empty the Deleted Items Folder
Outlook Web App
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Click Options, See All Options.
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Click Settings, and the Mail tab.
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Under Message Options, click "Empty the Deleted Items folder when I sign out."
Outlook 2010
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Click the File tab and Options. Click Advanced.
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Under "Outlook start and exit," click "Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook."
Outlook 2011
Go to the Outlook Web App at http://exchange.uark.edu to recover or purge deleted items.
Recover Deleted Items
Exchange messages are recoverable for thirty days with the Recover Deleted Items option. After thirty days, messages are no longer recoverable and cannot be restored, even by system administrators. Messages in Recover Deleted Items do not count against your quota, whereas messages in the Deleted Items folder do.
Outlook Web App
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Right-click the Deleted Items folder and click Recover Deleted Items.
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Search for a deleted message and/or click the message(s) you want to recover. Click Recover Selected Items.
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Select the folder to save the recovered message(s) and click Recover.
Outlook 2010
Click the Folder tab and Recover Deleted Items. Items are recovered to the Deleted Items folder by default.
Outlook 2011
Go to the Outlook Web App at http://exchange.uark.edu to recover or purge deleted items.
Purge Recovered Deleted Items
Once a message is purged from Recover Deleted Items, it cannot be recovered, even by system administrators.
Outlook Web App
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Right-click the Deleted Items folder and click Recover Deleted Items.
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Search for and/or click the deleted message(s) to purge.
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Click Purge Selected Items. Click OK.
Outlook 2010
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Click the Folder tab and Recover Deleted Items.
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Click the message(s) to purge and click Purge Selected Items. Click OK.
Outlook 2011
Go to the Outlook Web App at http://exchange.uark.edu to recover or purge deleted items.
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