Deleted drafts in Outlook are not recoverable unless you have a backup of your mailbox. If you are wondering how to find deleted drafts in outlook, the short answer is that Outlook does not have a recycle bin for drafts. Once you delete a draft, it is gone from the Drafts folder instantly. However, there are several workarounds and preventive steps you can take to recover or avoid losing your unsent emails.
This guide covers every possible method to locate or restore deleted drafts. We will look at backup files, server copies, and third-party tools. We will also show you how to prevent this problem in the future.
How To Find Deleted Drafts In Outlook
Before we get into the steps, understand that Outlook treats drafts differently than sent or received emails. When you delete a draft, it does not go to the Deleted Items folder. It is permanently removed from the Drafts folder. This is a common design choice to keep the Drafts folder clean.
But there are still ways to recover them. The most reliable method involves checking your mailbox backup or using the “Recoverable Items” folder in Exchange or Office 365 accounts. Let’s break down each method.
Check The Recoverable Items Folder
For users with Exchange, Office 365, or Outlook.com accounts, deleted drafts might be in the Recoverable Items folder. This folder holds items that are soft-deleted. Here is how to access it:
- Open Outlook and go to the Folder tab.
- Click on “Recover Deleted Items” (this option is grayed out for POP/IMAP accounts).
- A new window opens showing all recoverable items.
- Look for your draft. It might be listed as a message without a subject or with a draft icon.
- Select the draft and click “Recover Selected Items”.
- The draft will move back to your Drafts folder or Deleted Items.
This method works only if the draft was deleted recently. The retention period depends on your server settings, usually 14 to 30 days.
Search For The Draft In Your Mailbox
Sometimes the draft is not actually deleted. It might be saved in a different folder or stuck in the Outbox. Try this search:
- Click on the search bar at the top of Outlook.
- Type part of the subject line or a unique word from the draft.
- Change the search scope to “All Mailboxes” or “Current Mailbox”.
- Look for any item with a draft icon (a yellow envelope with a pencil).
If you find it, drag it back to the Drafts folder. If not, proceed to the next method.
Use The “Recover Deleted Items” Feature In Outlook Web
If the desktop app does not show the Recoverable Items folder, try Outlook Web (OWA). The web version sometimes has a better recovery interface.
- Log in to Outlook Web at outlook.office.com.
- Go to the Deleted Items folder.
- Click on “Recover deleted items” at the top of the folder.
- Search for your draft.
- Select it and click “Recover”.
Note: This works for Exchange and Office 365 accounts. For Outlook.com (Hotmail), the process is similar but the retention period may be shorter.
Restore From A Backup File (.Pst Or .Ost)
If you regularly back up your Outlook data file, you can restore the draft from the backup. This is the most reliable method for POP3 and IMAP accounts.
First, locate your backup .pst file. If you have a recent backup, follow these steps:
- Close Outlook.
- Go to Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
- Create a new profile (e.g., “Backup Profile”).
- Open Outlook with the new profile.
- Go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
- Browse to your backup .pst file and open it.
- Navigate to the Drafts folder in the backup file.
- Copy the draft to your current Drafts folder.
If you do not have a backup, check if your .ost file (Offline Outlook Data File) still contains the draft. This file syncs with the server, so it may have a copy. However, .ost files are not directly readable. You would need a third-party tool to convert .ost to .pst.
Check The “Drafts” Folder In Other Devices
If you use Outlook on multiple devices (phone, tablet, another computer), the draft might still be saved on one of them. Check the Drafts folder on your mobile Outlook app or another PC. If the draft was not synced yet, it might only exist on that device.
For example, if you started a draft on your phone and it did not sync before deletion, it might still be in the phone’s local Drafts folder. Open the Outlook app on your phone, go to Drafts, and look for it.
Use A Third-Party Recovery Tool
When all else fails, third-party tools can scan your Outlook data file for deleted items. These tools are not free, but they can recover drafts that are not visible in the Recoverable Items folder.
Popular options include:
- Stellar Repair for Outlook
- Kernel for Outlook Recovery
- DataNumen Outlook Repair
These tools can scan your .pst or .ost file and recover deleted drafts. They are useful for severe data loss situations.
Why Drafts Disappear In Outlook
Understanding why drafts get deleted helps you prevent it. Here are common reasons:
- Accidental deletion: You right-click and delete the draft by mistake.
- Auto-save failure: Outlook fails to save the draft due to a crash or network issue.
- Sync errors: The draft is deleted during a sync conflict between devices.
- Mailbox cleanup: Some email providers automatically delete old drafts after a certain period.
- Corrupted profile: A damaged Outlook profile can cause drafts to vanish.
Knowing the cause helps you choose the right recovery method. For example, if it is a sync issue, checking other devices is the best bet.
Prevent Draft Loss In The Future
Here are practical steps to avoid losing drafts again:
- Enable AutoSave: Go to File > Options > Mail. Under “Save messages”, set “AutoSave items every” to 1 minute.
- Use a dedicated Drafts folder: Create a subfolder under Drafts and save important drafts there manually.
- Backup your Outlook data file regularly: Export your mailbox to a .pst file weekly.
- Use a cloud-based email account: Exchange or Office 365 accounts have better recovery options than POP3.
- Do not delete drafts immediately: If you are unsure, move the draft to a different folder instead of deleting it.
These habits will save you time and frustration in the long run.
What To Do If You Cannot Find The Draft
If none of the above methods work, you may have to accept the loss. However, you can still try these last-resort options:
- Check your Sent Items folder: If you accidentally sent the draft instead of saving it, it might be in Sent Items.
- Look in the Outbox: If the draft was scheduled to send later, it might be stuck in Outbox.
- Contact your IT admin: For corporate accounts, the admin can check server-side backups or litigation hold settings.
- Use Windows File Recovery: If you have a local .ost file, you can try to recover it from the hard drive using file recovery software.
These options are not guaranteed but worth a try.
Recovering Drafts From Outlook.com (Hotmail)
For Outlook.com users, the process is slightly different. Here is how to find deleted drafts in Outlook.com:
- Go to outlook.com and sign in.
- Click on the “Deleted Items” folder.
- Click on “Recover deleted items” at the top.
- Search for your draft.
- Select it and click “Recover”.
Note: Outlook.com only keeps deleted items for 30 days. After that, they are permanently gone.
Recovering Drafts From IMAP Accounts
IMAP accounts sync with the server, so deleted drafts might still be on the server. Check your email provider’s webmail interface. Log in to your webmail (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) and look in the Drafts folder. If the draft is there, copy it back to Outlook.
For Gmail, drafts are stored in the “Drafts” label. If you delete a draft in Outlook, it might still be in Gmail’s Drafts label. Check there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted draft in Outlook without a backup?
Yes, if you have an Exchange or Office 365 account, you can use the Recoverable Items folder. For POP3 accounts, recovery is very unlikely without a backup.
Where do deleted drafts go in Outlook?
Deleted drafts do not go to the Deleted Items folder. They are permanently removed from the Drafts folder. They may be recoverable from the Recoverable Items folder if your account supports it.
How long does Outlook keep deleted drafts?
For Exchange and Office 365 accounts, deleted items (including drafts) are kept in the Recoverable Items folder for 14 to 30 days by default. After that, they are permanently deleted.
Is there a way to automatically save drafts in Outlook?
Yes, Outlook has an AutoSave feature. Go to File > Options > Mail and set “AutoSave items every” to 1 minute. This saves drafts automatically.
Can I recover a draft from an Outlook crash?
Sometimes. If Outlook crashes, it may recover unsaved drafts when you restart it. Look for a “Drafts” folder with recovered items. If not, check the Recoverable Items folder.
Final Thoughts
Losing a draft in Outlook is frustrating, but it is not always the end. The key is to act quickly. The sooner you try to recover it, the higher the chance of success. Always check the Recoverable Items folder first, then move to backups and third-party tools.
Remember, prevention is better than recovery. Set up AutoSave, back up your data file, and use a cloud-based email account. These steps will minimize the risk of losing drafts in the future.
If you still cannot find your draft, consider rewriting it. It is not ideal, but it is often faster than spending hours on recovery. Use the experience to set up better habits going forward.
We hope this guide helped you understand how to find deleted drafts in outlook. Bookmark this page for future reference. Good luck with your recovery.