Inbox emails disappeared

Question

Inbox emails disappeared

kerry romeo 20

All my emails in my inbox just disappeared. I had years worth, but no messages or warnings that it was too big to store any longer. How can I recover the messages?

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Answer 1

Chloe-V 12,700 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @kerry romeo

I’m sorry to hear that years of emails have suddenly disappeared from your Inbox.

Please sign in to Outlook on the web and check the Archive, Deleted Items, Junk Email, and Other folders. Also, make sure the message filter is set to All.

If the emails are not in Deleted Items, open that folder and select Recover items deleted from this folder, then select the messages and choose Restore.

If the messages are still missing, please let us know whether you are using a personal Outlook.com account or a Microsoft 365 work/school account, and whether the emails are also missing in Outlook on the web.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes". If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Chloe-V 12,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-23T07:52:50.12+00:00

Hi @kerry romeo

Is there any update from you?

If yes, please feel free to let us know.
kerry romeo 20 Reputation points

2026-08-23T10:23:04.8233333+00:00

Thank you. The messages appear to be going straight to archive. I didn’t mention that earlier in the day this began, two people notified me that they received spam from me. I also had a warning to install an app to fight viruses- which I did not do. Lastly, my phone has been slow. Any support would be welcomed. Thanks.
kerry romeo 20 Reputation points

2026-08-23T10:25:37.35+00:00

Also, this is a personal hotmail account and the issue is taking place on both phone and web from my laptop.
Chloe-V 12,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-23T23:28:43.0733333+00:00
Hi @kerry romeo

Thank you for the additional information. Since messages are being moved to Archive and contacts received spam from your account, the account may have been compromised.

Please:

Do not install the app shown in the warning.

Run a full antivirus scan on your phone and laptop.

Change your Microsoft account password.

Review Outlook.com > Settings > Mail > Rules and Forwarding, then remove anything unfamiliar.

Review your recent sign-in activity and enable two-step verification.

You can follow Microsoft’s official guidance here: Recover a hacked or compromised Microsoft account
Chloe-V 12,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-24T23:15:53.4466667+00:00

Hi @kerry romeo

Is there any update from you?

If yes, please feel free to let us know.