recurring Junk emails

Question

recurring Junk emails

Richard Yates 0

i cannot delete junk emails, they keep coming back after i have deleted them

Richard Yates 0 Reputation points

2026-09-04T08:58:14.6233333+00:00

None of this is working. I have deleted Junk emails, deleted then in the DELETED file and the deleted them again in the RECOVER section. Around 10 minutes later the JUNK file begins to fill again with the same emails. The quantity number fluctuates between 152 - 153 maximum. Then it will begin to drop eventually to zero however, the previously deleted junk mails are still in the recover section of the DELETED file despite attempts to permanently remove them. This then becomes a circle of deletions: delete from Junk, delete from DELETED file, delete from RECOVER section of DELETE file, they re-appear either in JUNK or DELETED files. The email block begins around 06/08/26 to date. This time it has loaded 143 mails. What is the problem?

2 answers

Your answer

Richard Yates 0 Reputation points

2026-09-04T08:58:14.6233333+00:00

None of this is working. I have deleted Junk emails, deleted then in the DELETED file and the deleted them again in the RECOVER section. Around 10 minutes later the JUNK file begins to fill again with the same emails. The quantity number fluctuates between 152 - 153 maximum. Then it will begin to drop eventually to zero however, the previously deleted junk mails are still in the recover section of the DELETED file despite attempts to permanently remove them. This then becomes a circle of deletions: delete from Junk, delete from DELETED file, delete from RECOVER section of DELETE file, they re-appear either in JUNK or DELETED files. The email block begins around 06/08/26 to date. This time it has loaded 143 mails. What is the problem?

Answer 1

SD - IA 178.2K Independent Advisor

Hi Richard,

I will help you with this issue.

May I know the email provider of the Email?
Have you cross-checked to see if there are any rules?
Open New Outlook.
Click the ⚙️ Settings icon in the top-right.
Go to Mail → Rules.
You'll see your existing inbox rules.
Delete all of them.

I look forward to hearing from you to get the results of the troubleshooting.

0 comments

Answer 2

For new Outlook for Windows, this usually means the messages still exist on the server in Junk Email, Deleted Items, or the recoverable items area, so they sync back after deletion.

Try this in order:

Check whether the messages also appear in Outlook on the web
- If they appear there too, the issue is server-side sync, not just the desktop app view.
Empty the Junk Email folder
- In new Outlook, open Junk Email.
- Select the messages and move or delete them.
- If the messages are legitimate, use Report > Not junk or move them to Inbox.
Check Deleted Items and remove the same messages there
- Open Deleted Items.
- If the messages are there, delete them again.
- Note: items in Deleted Items are automatically deleted after 30 days, and items removed from Deleted Items are recoverable for 30 days.
Permanently purge recoverable deleted items
- In Deleted Items, use Recover items recently removed from this folder if shown.
- Permanently remove the messages from that recoverable list so they cannot sync back.
- Warning: purging is permanent and cannot be undone.
Check Junk Email settings
- Go to Settings > Mail > Junk email.
- Under Blocked senders and domains, remove any sender or domain that was blocked by mistake.
- Under Safe senders and domains, add trusted senders or domains.
Check for a rule moving mail back into Junk or Deleted Items
- Review any inbox rules and remove rules that act on that sender or subject.
If mail is being misclassified as junk
- Open the message in Junk Email and select It’s not junk.
- Add the sender to Safe senders and domains.

Important retention behavior:

Junk email is retained for 30 days before automatic deletion.
In Outlook.com and Outlook on the web, messages in Deleted Items are deleted after 30 days.
If old deleted junk mail reappears, it is often because recoverable copies were not purged.