How to Recover Lost Email in Outlook

Recover email in Outlook with backup files

You just lost some important email. Maybe you lost an entire folder. If you've made a recent backup file of your email, this is no problem. Just recover your lost email from your most recent backup. If you've been using AutoArchive in Outlook, you probably have a recent backup file handy and ready to import. If you've saved your backup on an external hard drive or CD, insert it in your computer before you begin.

Instructions

1. Locate your most recent email backup file on your external disk. Make a copy of the file on your desktop to make importing easier.

2. Find the most recent AutoArchive file on your hard drive if you don't have an external backup. Go to "Start" and click "Search." In the search box type "*.pst" without quotation marks. This brings up all your Outlook files; look for the most recent backup and make note of where it resides.

3. Go to Outlook and open "File" then "Import." Some versions of Outlook have the option "Import and Export."

4. Select the file type ".pst" from the list that appears when the import wizard starts.

5. Browse to your latest backup file and choose it. You can import the entire file, or click on it to open the contents and pick only the items you want to recover. Check the box regarding whether or not to import duplicates.

6. Click "Finish" after you've chosen your items to import. This closes out the import wizard and your email will be recovered and copied back into Outlook.

References

• Microsoft: How to Manage .pst Files in Outlook 2007, in Outlook 2003, and in Outlook 2002
• MIcrosoft: How to Manage Personal Folders Files in Outlook