Outlook is one of the widely used office software to organize work and other schedules. However, many times users lose their data such as a missing file or folder in Outlook and they can’t figure out how to find the lost folder in Outlook. Generally, the missing folder issue is caused when the folder gets hidden due to various reasons. Sometimes the issue can also be caused by a bad network connection. Because the issue can cause important files to go missing, people are always looking for effective methods for how to recover lost folders in Outlook, and how to find missing folder in Outlook. In this guide, we will discuss reasons for missing folders in Outlook and methods to find and recover them. So, if you are looking for how to find a folder in Outlook that disappeared, this is the right guide for you.
How to Find Lost Folder in Outlook
There can be various reasons for lost folders in Outlook, some of the possible reasons are mentioned here.
- Sometimes, issues like a bad network connection or router connection can cause a missing folder issue in Outlook.
- Often users mistakenly delete or move the folder to the Trash Folder without realizing it.
- If the Outlook PST file is corrupt, it may cause various errors including the missing file in Outlook error.
- Various issues and improper settings can hide a folder in Outlook.
In the following guide, we will discuss methods to figure out how to find lost folder in Outlook.
Method 1: Troubleshoot Internet Connection
One of the most common reasons for a missing folder in Outlook is poor network connection. If your network is weak or unstable your Outlook may not open properly and you may not find a folder in Outlook. Therefore, the first step that you should consider is to fix the network issues that may be causing the problem with locating a particular folder in Outlook. The following two methods that can be used to fix common network errors. One of the first things that you can do to figure out how to recover lost folders in Outlook issue is to check if your WiFi router is connected properly. Very commonly network connection errors are caused by improper router connections with your device. Therefore, always make sure that you have connected your router properly to the main power socket and with your device. If you still don’t know how to find a folder in Outlook that disappeared, you can check with your network provider, if you are receiving proper network service or not. You can check out the How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems on Windows 10 guide to find out general reasons for network connection errors and methods to fix them on your computer.
Method 2: Find Lost Folder by Folder Size Option
You can try to find a lost folder by searching for the particular folder in the Folder Size dialog box. Follow these simple steps to find a lost folder in Outlook.
1. Hit the Windows key, type Outlook, and click on Open.
2. On the Outlook window, navigate to the Navigation pane and click on Data file properties… option.
3. In the Outlook Today dialog box, navigate to the General tab and click on the Folder Size… button.
4. Now, go back to Outlook’s main page and locate the missing folder from the above folder path.
5. Manually drag the folder to its original location.
Also Read: Fix Outlook Error 0x8004102a in Windows 10
Method 3: Find Lost Folder by Search and Browse
If the previous method does not work, you can try to locate the missing folder by the search and browse method, if you remember the title of any emails in the missing folder, you can search for the title in the search box and then browse the location of the folder in Outlook to figure out how to find lost folder in Outlook. Follow these simple steps to figure out how to find a folder in Outlook that disappeared.
1. Open Outlook from the Start Menu and click on Search.
2. Change the search scope to All Outlook Items.
3. Enter the email title in the search box.
4. Locate the email in the searched-out mail list and double-click on it.
5. Now, press the Ctrl + Shift + F keys together to open the Advanced Find dialog box and locate the folder in the Inbox and then click on Browse.
6. Note the location path for the folder and click OK.
7. Go back to the Outlook main window and locate the folder from the above path and drag it to the original location.
Method 4: Find Lost Folder by VBA Code
Another effective method to find a missing folder in Outlook is via VBA code. If you remember the name of the missing folder, you can try to look for it by typing a VBA code.
1. Press the Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
Note: You can download the Microsoft Visual Basic for applications update if not installed in your PC.
2. In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window click on the Insert and then on Module and type the following code.
Private g_Folder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
Private g_Find As String
Public Sub FindFolder()
Dim xFldName As String
Dim xFolders As Outlook.Folders
Dim xYesNo As Integer
On Error Resume Next
Set g_Folder = Nothing
g_Find = ""
xFldName = InputBox("Folder name:", "Kutools for Outlook")
If Trim(xFldName) = "" Then Exit Sub
g_Find = xFldName
g_Find = UCase(g_Find)
Set xFolders = Application.Session.Folders
LoopFolders xFolders
If Not g_Folder Is Nothing Then
xYesNo = MsgBox("Activate folder: " & vbCrLf & g_Folder.FolderPath, vbQuestion Or vbYesNo, "Kutools for Outlook")
If xYesNo = vbYes Then
Set Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder = g_Folder
End If
Else
MsgBox "Not found", vbInformation, "Kutools for Outlook"
End If
End Sub
Private Sub LoopFolders(Folders As Outlook.Folders)
Dim xFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
Dim xFound As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
xFound = False
For Each xFolder In Folders
If UCase(xFolder.Name) = g_Find Then xFound = True
If xFound Then
Set g_Folder = xFolder
Exit For
Else
LoopFolders xFolder.Folders
If Not g_Folder Is Nothing Then Exit For
End If
Next
End Sub
3. Finally, press the F5 key to Run the key.
4. To find the location of a missing folder you can install an Outlook add-on, here we are using Kutool for Outlook add-on.
5. In the Kutool for Outlook enter the name of the missing folder and click the OK button.
6. Finally, click the Yes button.
7. The missing folder will open automatically, you can drag it back to the original location.
If you still can’t figure out how to recover lost folders in Outlook, try the next method.
Also Read: Fix Outlook App Won’t Open in Windows 10
Method 5: Find Lost Folder from the Trash Folder
Sometimes, when you mistakenly send emails to the trash folder, you may find trouble locating them later. Therefore, if you can’t find a folder in your Outlook and figure out how to find lost folder in Outlook, you should consider checking your Trash Folder.
1. Open Outlook from the Start menu.
2. From the left panel, select the Deleted items folder.
3. Locate your missing folder, you will see an option to restore the folder once you open it.
Method 6: Repair Corrupt Outlook File
The missing folder in Outlook issue may cause by corrupt Outlook PST files. Outlook has given a repair utility to fix the issues like this. However, to access this repair utility you will need to know the exact location of the executable file for Outlook. The following are general locations for various Outlook versions on Windows computers.
- Location of Executable File For Outlook 2007
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
- Location of Executable File For Outlook 2010
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
- Location of Executable File For Outlook 2013
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15
- Location of Executable File For Outlook 2016 & 2019
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
You can follow these simple steps to use the PST repair utility for Outlook to figure out how to recover lost folders in Outlook issues.
1. First of all close the Outlook program and all the other associated processes.
2. Navigate to the location of the executable file and locate the .exe file and double-click on it.
3. Once the application has launched successfully click the Browse button to add the PST file.
4. Now, click on the Start button to start the scan.
5. If the scan locates any issue, click on the Repair button to fix it.
Also Read: How to Turn Outlook Email Read Receipt On Off
Method 7: Use Third-party Tool
If none of the previously mentioned methods don’t work and you still can’t locate the missing folder in Outlook, you can consider opting for a third-party data recovery tool. Various online and offline tools are available that can help you recover your lost data and locate the missing folder on Outlook. You can also use various Outlook add-ons for the same.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why can’t I find a folder in Outlook?
Ans. There can be various reasons for a missing folder in Outlook such as a bad network and improper Outlook settings.
Q2. How to restore a missing folder in Outlook?
Ans. If you have mistakenly deleted a folder in Outlook, you can recover it from the Deleted Items Folder.
Q3. How to fix Outlook errors?
Ans. You can run a PST file scan from the executable file location. This scan will look for any corrupted files in Outlook and fix them.
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We hope this guide was helpful and you were able to figure out how to find lost folder in Outlook. Let us know which method worked for you. If you have any suggestions or queries for us, please let us know in the comment section.
