Outlook Mail Folders Missing Issue
If you are in a position where you have to deal with missing folders in Outlook mail, you do not have to worry too much because this blog will help you with the problem. Such awkward situations can be annoying for public folders (which contain public emails) and mail folders that have been organized. Following these issues is a short how-to guide to fix and troubleshoot Outlook folders that are lost.
- Situation Where Folders Are Missing Due to Collapse
At times, the folders that are missing may not be visible simply because they are collapsed and thus out of sight. Subfolders in Outlook are enabled but may not be visible as they may be contained within the parent folder, which is deemed collapsed. To confirm this, let us look into our Outlook app. This time, make use of the arrow/plus icon that is located next to the parent folder. Expand this folder to search for hidden subfolders.
- Latest Update of the Outlook App
One of the reasons the folders may not appear is the use of an outdated version. This begs the question: how do you make sure your Outlook version is updated? Go to the App Store or Google Play Store, look for “Outlook,” and confirm whether it needs an update. If there is an update, download and install it. If the app has been updated, first restart the device before checking for the folders again.
- Check the Available Folder Visibility Settings
There are instances when one or more of your folders are not shown because the visibility settings have been changed. Open the web version of your Outlook account and log in. Locating the folder settings makes it possible to set all folders to be viewed. In case you notice that a folder is hidden, you can go into the settings and alter the marked option to visible. When you are through with this, restart the app on your phone to check whether the folders have been restored or not.
- Investigate Any Syncing Format Problems
Outlook folders may be missing because of the improper synchronizing of your account with the app. To do this, try to connect your account to the web via a reliable internet source. For example, you may switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi if you are currently using cell data. Another option is to access the settings of the application, select your account, then click the “Sync Now” button to manually synchronize the account. Whenever syncing is done, please verify whether the remaining folders are still there.
- Remove and Add the Email Account Again
If this issue persists, the next possible step is to completely remove and then add back the Outlook email account. Go to ‘Settings’ and click on the Outlook app account that you are having trouble with. Select the option which reads ‘Remove Account’ and accept the prompt. After removal, select ‘Add Account’ and fill in your email and password. This will refresh your account data and can correct the folders that appear to be missing.
- Try Out the Browser Version of Outlook
If none of the above suggestions have worked for you, then try to open your desired Outlook account with a browser such as Google Chrome. In this manner, you will check whether the missing folders actually exist or not. If the folders can be seen online but not in the application, then it is a possibility that the issue is with the app itself, and this will need more technical support or a complete reinstall of the app.
Conclusion
The causes for the problem of Outlook mail folders missing will differ from one user to another, but it is safe to state that the problem can usually be resolved in the simplest of ways, such as updating the app to a later version, checking if folders are collapsed, or adjusting visibility options. If you feel that none of the above suggestions worked and the problem persists, you should contact Microsoft Outlook Customer Support for help. One should always make use of their email folders, and the steps in this article will assist users in problem-solving and management of email folders.
