Losing important drafts in your email can be a frustrating experience, especially if you are using Outlook as your primary email client. Whether it was accidentally deleted or lost due to a technical issue, recovering deleted drafts in Outlook is possible. In this article, we will discuss how to recover deleted drafts in Outlook and ensure that you never lose important emails again.
Check the Deleted Items Folder
The first place to check for your deleted drafts is the Deleted Items folder. When you delete an email, it is automatically moved to this folder. If you have recently deleted your draft, it should still be in this folder. Simply open the Deleted Items folder and search for the draft by its subject or sender. If you find it, you can easily restore it to your inbox by right-clicking on it and selecting “Move > Inbox.”
Use the Recover Deleted Items Tool
If you cannot find your deleted draft in the Deleted Items folder, don’t panic. Outlook has a built-in tool called “Recover Deleted Items” that allows you to retrieve emails that have been permanently deleted from the Deleted Items folder. To access this tool, go to the “Folder” tab in the Outlook menu and click on “Recover Deleted Items.” A new window will open, showing all the emails that have been permanently deleted from your account. Search for your draft and select “Recover Selected Items” to restore it to your inbox.
Check Your Server Settings
If you are using a POP3 email account, your drafts may not be saved on the server. This means that if you delete a draft from your inbox, it cannot be recovered. To avoid this issue, you can change your server settings to save drafts on the server. To do this, go to “File > Account Settings > Account Settings” and select your email account. Click on “Change” and then “More Settings.” Go to the “Advanced” tab and check the box next to “Leave a copy of messages on the server.” This will ensure that your drafts are saved on the server and can be recovered if needed.
Recover Deleted Drafts in Gmail
If you are using Gmail as your primary email account, you can also recover deleted drafts in Outlook. To do this, you will need to enable IMAP access in your Gmail account settings. Once this is done, you can add your Gmail account to Outlook and access your drafts from there. If you have deleted a draft from your Gmail account, you can still recover it by going to the “All Mail” folder in Gmail and searching for the draft by its subject or sender.
Conclusion
Losing important drafts in Outlook can be a stressful experience, but with these tips, you can easily recover them and avoid future mishaps. Remember to always check the Deleted Items folder first and use the Recover Deleted Items tool if needed. Additionally, make sure to adjust your server settings to save drafts on the server to prevent permanent deletion. And if you are using Gmail, you can still recover deleted drafts by enabling IMAP access. By following these steps, you can ensure that your important emails are never lost again.
Have you ever lost a draft in Outlook? How did you recover it? Let us know in the comments.
