Where Is Outbox In Outlook – Locating Outbox Email Folder

Your outbox in Outlook holds undelivered messages and appears in the folder pane on the left. If you’ve ever wondered where is outbox in outlook, you are not alone. Many users struggle to locate this folder because it hides when empty. This guide walks you through every version of Outlook, step by step.

The outbox is a temporary holding area. Emails sit there until they successfully send. If your message gets stuck, the outbox is the first place to check. Let’s find it together.

Where Is Outbox In Outlook For Desktop

In the classic Outlook desktop app, the folder pane shows all your mail folders. The outbox sits under your inbox, usually near the top. But it only appears when it contains a message.

Steps To Find Outbox In Outlook 2016, 2019, And Microsoft 365

1. Open Outlook on your computer.
2. Look at the left sidebar called the folder pane.
3. Scroll down past your inbox, sent items, and drafts.
4. You should see a folder named “Outbox” – it is often bolded when it has mail.
5. If you do not see it, click the small arrow next to “Inbox” to expand the folder list.

Still missing? The outbox might be collapsed. Click the triangle or chevron icon next to “Inbox” to show all subfolders. That usually reveals it.

Outlook 2010 And 2013 Outbox Location

Older versions like 2010 and 2013 place the outbox in the same spot. It is always in the folder pane. The only difference is the visual style. Look for a small envelope icon next to the word “Outbox.”

• Open Outlook.
• Check the navigation pane on the left.
• Expand your mailbox if needed.
• Find “Outbox” listed under your account name.

If you use multiple accounts, each one has its own outbox. Make sure you are looking at the correct email address.

Where Is Outbox In Outlook Web App (OWA)

Outlook on the web works differently. The outbox is not a permanent folder. Instead, it appears only during the sending process. Here is how to find it.

Locating Outbox In Outlook.com Or Office 365 Web

1. Log into Outlook on the web.
2. Look at the left folder list under your inbox.
3. You will see “Drafts,” “Sent Items,” and “Deleted Items.”
4. The outbox folder only shows up when you have a message sending.
5. Send a test email and watch for a brief “Sending” status.

If your email gets stuck, the outbox may appear briefly. Check the bottom of the folder list. Some users report seeing it after clicking “Send” and then refreshing the page.

Why Outbox Is Hidden In Outlook Web

Microsoft designed the web version to send emails instantly. The outbox is temporary. If you do not see it, your message probably sent successfully. For stuck messages, try these steps:

• Click “Sent Items” to verify delivery.
• Check “Drafts” for unsaved messages.
• Refresh your browser and look again.

Sometimes the outbox appears as a small pop-up at the bottom of the screen. It says “Sending” with a progress bar. That is your outbox in action.

Where Is Outbox In Outlook For Mac

Mac users have a slightly different layout. The outbox is still there, just arranged differently. Here is the exact location.

Finding Outbox In Outlook For Mac 2019 And 2021

1. Open Outlook on your Mac.
2. Look at the left sidebar. It shows your folders.
3. Under your main mailbox, you will see “Inbox,” “Sent,” and “Drafts.”
4. The outbox folder appears below “Drafts” when it has mail.
5. If empty, it might be hidden. Click the gear icon and select “Folders” to show all.

Mac users often miss the outbox because it blends in. Look for a folder with a small outgoing arrow icon. That is your outbox.

Outlook For Mac 2011 Outbox Location

Older Mac versions like 2011 place the outbox in the same sidebar. However, the folder pane might be on the right side by default. Check both sides if you cannot find it.

• Go to the “View” menu.
• Select “Folder List” to see all folders.
• Scroll down to find “Outbox.”

If you still cannot see it, your outbox may be empty. Send a test email to make it appear.

Where Is Outbox In Outlook Mobile App

The Outlook mobile app for iOS and Android hides the outbox. It is not a visible folder. Instead, messages send immediately. But you can still check sending status.

Checking Outbox On IPhone Or Android

1. Open the Outlook app on your phone.
2. Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top left.
3. Scroll down to “Folders.”
4. Look for “Outbox” – it only appears when sending fails.
5. If you see it, tap to view stuck messages.

Most mobile users never see the outbox. Emails send instantly. If your message stays in “Sending,” check your internet connection. The outbox will appear automatically.

What To Do When Outbox Is Missing On Mobile

If you cannot find the outbox, try these fixes:

• Close and reopen the app.
• Toggle airplane mode on and off.
• Check “Sent Items” for confirmation.
• Update the app to the latest version.

The outbox on mobile is temporary. Do not worry if you never see it. Your messages are likely sending fine.

Why Is My Outbox Not Showing In Outlook

Many users panic when the outbox disappears. It is usually normal. Here are common reasons and solutions.

Outbox Only Shows When Not Empty

By default, Outlook hides empty folders. The outbox disappears when it has no messages. This is by design. To see it anyway:

• In desktop Outlook, click “View” > “Folder Pane” > “All Folders.”
• In Outlook web, it is not possible to show an empty outbox.
• On Mac, go to “Outlook” > “Preferences” > “General” and check “Show all folders.”

Once you send a message, the outbox reappears. It is a simple visibility toggle.

Outbox Is Collapsed In Folder List

Sometimes the outbox is there but hidden inside a collapsed group. Click the small triangle next to your mailbox name. This expands all folders, including the outbox.

1. Look for a small arrow next to “Inbox” or your email address.
2. Click it to expand the folder tree.
3. Scroll down to see “Outbox.”

This is the most common fix. Users often overlook the collapse feature.

Multiple Accounts Confuse The Outbox

If you have several email accounts in Outlook, each has its own outbox. You might be looking at the wrong account. Switch between accounts in the folder pane.

• Click on your primary account name.
• Look for “Outbox” under that account.
• Repeat for each account until you find it.

Stuck messages usually belong to the account you sent from. Check the correct one.

How To Clear Stuck Messages From Outbox

Finding the outbox is only half the battle. Sometimes messages get stuck. Here is how to fix that.

Manually Delete Or Move Stuck Emails

1. Open your outbox folder.
2. Select the stuck message.
3. Press Delete on your keyboard.
4. Or drag it to “Drafts” to edit and resend.

Deleting removes the email permanently. Moving to drafts lets you fix errors before sending again.

Force Send Or Resend From Outbox

If the message is not sending, try these steps:

• Click “Send/Receive” in the ribbon.
• Select “Send All” to push stuck messages.
• Restart Outlook and try again.
• Check your internet connection.

Sometimes Outlook needs a nudge. The send/receive button forces the outbox to process.

Disable And Re-enable Email Account

For persistent issues, disable your account temporarily:

1. Go to “File” > “Account Settings.”
2. Select your email account.
3. Click “Repair” or “Remove” (re-add later).
4. Restart Outlook and re-enter credentials.

This clears any stuck outbox items. Be careful not to lose important emails.

Common Outbox Problems And Solutions

Users face several issues with the outbox. Here are the most frequent ones.

Outbox Shows “Sending” But Never Finishes

This usually means a large attachment or server issue. Try these fixes:

• Reduce attachment size.
• Send without attachments first.
• Check your outbound server settings.
• Contact your IT admin if at work.

Large files often get stuck. Compress or share via cloud link instead.

Outbox Duplicates Messages

Sometimes Outlook creates multiple copies. This happens due to sync errors. Delete all duplicates and resend the original.

1. Open outbox.
2. Select duplicate messages.
3. Press Delete.
4. Send the original again.

If duplicates keep appearing, check for add-ins that interfere.

Outbox Missing Entirely After Update

Outlook updates sometimes reset folder visibility. Go to “View” settings and enable all folders. Also check if your account needs re-authentication.

• Go to “File” > “Options” > “Mail.”
• Under “Send messages,” ensure settings are correct.
• Restart Outlook after update.

Updates rarely delete the outbox. They just hide it. Follow the steps above to bring it back.

How To Make Outbox Always Visible

If you prefer to see the outbox even when empty, here is how.

For Outlook Desktop (Windows)

1. Click “View” in the ribbon.
2. Select “Folder Pane” > “All Folders.”
3. This shows every folder, including empty ones.
4. The outbox will now always appear.

This setting persists across restarts. You will never lose sight of the outbox again.

For Outlook For Mac

1. Go to “Outlook” > “Preferences.”
2. Click “General.”
3. Check “Show all folders in folder list.”
4. Close preferences. The outbox stays visible.

Mac users benefit from this setting. It prevents future confusion.

For Outlook Web And Mobile

Unfortunately, the web and mobile versions do not support always-visible outbox. They only show it when messages are pending. Accept this limitation or use the desktop app.

Microsoft designed it this way for simplicity. Most users do not need to see an empty outbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is The Outbox In Outlook 365?

In Outlook 365 desktop, the outbox is in the folder pane on the left. It appears under your inbox when it contains messages. In the web version, it only shows during sending.

Why Can’t I See My Outbox In Outlook?

Your outbox is hidden because it is empty. Send a test email to make it appear. Alternatively, enable “All Folders” view in desktop Outlook.

How Do I Open The Outbox In Outlook?

Click on the folder pane on the left side of the screen. Look for “Outbox” under your email account. If missing, expand the folder list by clicking the arrow next to your inbox.

Does Outlook Have An Outbox Folder?

Yes, Outlook has an outbox folder. It stores emails that have not yet been sent. It is a standard folder in all versions of Outlook.

What Is The Difference Between Outbox And Sent Items?

The outbox holds messages waiting to send. Sent items stores messages that have been sent successfully. Once an email leaves the outbox, it moves to sent items.

Your outbox in Outlook holds undelivered messages and appears in the folder pane on the left. Now you know exactly where to find it, no matter which version you use. Bookmark this guide for quick reference next time your email gets stuck.