Find Missing Folder in Outlook – Top Notch Methods

Users Query – Hello a few days back I have deleted some of my files folder from Outlook. But last night I notice that one of my folders is missing which is very important for me. I have tried all methods that I know but nothing happens. Now if anyone knows the method to find missing folder in Outlook, then please suggest it to me.

Well when you discover that one or more folders are missing in Outlook, it might be happening due to an error or something more. Now, if you are one of those who facing this issue and want to fix this, then, here in this write-up we are going to discuss the methods on how to find the missing folders and their items from Outlook.

Now, before going to going to discuss the method let’s first know what are the reasons for the missing folder in Outlook

Note: All instructions in this write-up below are applicable on all version of Outlook like 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and below.

Reason Behind Missing Folder in Outlook

Find Missing folder in outlook can be caused by a variety of reasons. And here in this section we are going to discuss some of them.

• There is a chance that the folder you looking for is hidden.
• May the folder and the item of the folder is accidentally deleted or destroyed.
• Internet connection issue or server issue can also be the reason for this missing folder in Outlook
• There is a chance that the Outlook PST file has been corrupted.

Methods to Find Missing Folder in Outlook

Finding missing folder in outlook can be a challenging task. The folder you are looking for may have already been removed, or it may be lying hidden and you’re not aware of it. Keep all of this in mind, and keep reading the blog to learn about the solutions for finding the lost Outlook 2016 & 2019 folders.

#1. Find Folder Using Advance Search

Many options are available in Outlook 2016 and 2019, and one of them is Advanced Folder Search, which may be used to find missing Folder in outlook. It allows the user to search for not just lost or missing Outlook folders, but also Outlook mailbox contents.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.

2. Then, on the menu bar, go to the Search tab.

3. Select Advanced Find from the Search Tools drop-down menu.

4. When the Advanced Find window appears on the screen, click it.

5. To begin the search, type the name of the lost or missing folder and click the Browse option. The path/location of a lost or missing folder can be found here.

#2. Look for the Trash Folder

We all know that all the deleted files, attachments, messages, and folders are stored in the trash box.

Check the Trash Box (folder) for the lost Outlook folder; if your luck is in, you could find missing folder in outlook, since you may have removed it accidentally or unwittingly.

1. Open Outlook application on your system

2. On the left side of the screen, select the Bin folder.

3. All deleted/removed objects, including folders, will be available to restore once it is opened.

#3. Repair Corrupted Outlook File

Missing of Outlook folders, files, or items is also happens due to PST corruption and to find missing folders in Outlook is very important to repair the corruption of the PST. Now the good thing is that Outlook already provided a utility that repairs the corruption of the Outlook PST and restores the lost data.

This is known as Outlook Inbox Repair Tool and here in this section, we are going to learn about what is Inbox Repair Tool (i.e., ScanPST.exe) and how to use it to fix the minor corruption from the Outlook file. So if you are looking for a free solution to fix how to find missing folder in outlook, then follow the below steps.

Note: ScanPST.exe file is a part of outlook installation process and is located at MS outlook directory. To Use the ScanPST file you have to find the location of the executable file.

Location of ScanPST

Now, once you’ve arrived at the specified place, locate the ScanPST.exe executable file and proceed as follows:

1. To start, you must first close Outlook and all of its associated programs and folders.

2. After you’ve found the location, double-click the .exe to launch it.

3. When the application is launched, click the Browse button to add a PST file.

4. Now, click the Start button to start the procedure.

5. If the scan detects the issue, click the Repair option to begin the repair procedure.

#4. Reset by Using Navigation Pane method To Find missing Folder in Outlook

1. Open MS Outlook and go to the “View” tab.
2.  Click on the “Navigation Pane” button and then select “Reset Navigation Pane”.
3. In the confirmation dialog box, click the “Yes” button to reset Navigation Pane.
4. This will reset your navigation Pane to its default style.

#5. Recover Deleted Items Method

1.  In MS Outlook, go to the “Folder” pane and expand “Deleted Items” folder.
2. Right click on the deleted folder which you want to recover and then select “Move to Folder”.
3. In the “Move Items” dialog box, select the appropriate folder where you want to recover the deleted folder.
4. Click on the “Move” button to recover or find lost folder in outlook.

#6. Using Outlook Web App (OWA) Method

1. Open a web browser and log in to your Outlook Web App account.
2. In the left-hand navigation pane, look for missing folder in outlook.
3. If the folder is visible in OWA app but not in the Outlook desktop app, then right-click on the folder and select “Add to Favorites”.
4. The folder should now appear in the desired section of your navigation Pane in your Outlook desktop app.

Limitations for Using Manual method

Using manual methods to find missing folder in Outlook can be ineffective, especially when you have a large number of folders to recover. Listed below are some limitations of using manual methods:

1. It can be time-consuming, especially when you have a large number of missing folders in outlook.
2. There is always a chance of human error, such as moving items, overlooking folders and selecting wrong folders.
3. It may not be effective in complex scenarios such as handling corrupted or damaged files.
4. Using Manual methods requires you to perform each step individually when handling multiple folders, which can be time-consuming.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q) Why can’t I find missing folder in Outlook?

Your “missing” folders could just be set as hidden folders. If you see a right-facing arrow next to a folder, click to expand it and reveal any nested folders. Update Outlook. If a bug is to blame for the missing folders, an update might be available to fix this issue.

Q) How to find hidden folders?

Open File Explorer from the taskbar. Select View > Options > Change folder and search options. Select View tab and, in Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives and click OK.

Q) How do I unhide subfolders in Outlook?

Firstly, open the outlook application. Then access the problematic folder. On the taskbar, click “View”, then select “Change View”. In the new window Tab, select the “Reset View” button and then click on OK.