Microsoft 365 - Automatic Emptying of Deleted Items Folder

This document serves to provide users instructions on how they can turn on or off automatic emptying of the deleted items folder. When this feature is on, once the user logs out of the Outlook on the web or quites the Outlook desktop client, the trash/deleted items folder will be emptied. If this has been done by mistake, it may be possible to recover these deleted items using the instructions provided in this document: Microsoft 365 - Recover deleted items.

Select your client below for instructions:


Outlook on the web

  1. Log into Outlook on the web.
  2. Choose Settings (gear icon) at the top right.
  3. If prompted, click View all Outlook settings.
  4. Select Mail then Message handling
    Options - Settings selection

  5. Within Message handling page, check (or un-check) the Empty the Deleted Items folder when I sign out check box. It will be the first option as seen above.
  6. Click Save on the top right corner.

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Outlook for Windows

  1. Run Outlook.
  2. Go to File | Options.
  3. Select Advanced from left hand menu options.
  4. Within 'Outlook start and exit' section, place a checkmark in Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook check box.
  5. Click OK.

Note: From now on, whenever you quit out of Outlook, you will be prompted to empty the deleted items folder data.

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Outlook for Mac

Important: Outlook for Mac does not have an option to automatically empty the Trash/Deleted mail folder when exiting Outlook. You need to perform this action manually.

  1. Run Outlook.
  2. Hold down CONTROL key, and then in the folder list, click the Trash or the Deleted Items folder.
  3. Click Empty Folder.

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Keywordsmicrosoft ms office365 o365 m365 microsoft 365 Outlook OWA outlook on the web 2016 2019 proplus subscription windows mac turn on off trash empty deleted items folder clean up remove   Doc ID67923
OwnerO365 S.GroupMicrosoft 365
Created2016-10-20 14:33:37Updated2023-07-10 15:02:37
SitesDoIT Help Desk, Microsoft 365
Feedback  5   18