This article describes how to access archived e-mail messages in Outlook using a method that corresponds to how you originally stored the e-mail messages.
The instructions in this article apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook 2010.
If you have a Microsoft 365, Exchange, Exchange Online, or Outlook.com account, your archive folder already exists, even if you've never used it before. This folder is located in your Outlook folder list.
Open Outlook.
Select the View tab.
Select Folder Panes in the Layout section, then select Normal from the drop-down list.
The Archive folder should now appear in the folder list. Open the folder to find the archived message you need.
If you are using Outlook 365, Outlook 2019, or Outlook 2016 and you don't see the Archives folder, perform an update on Outlook.
Select the File tab in Outlook.
Select your Office account in the left pane.
Select Update options > Update now .
Microsoft will check for and install any available updates. After the update is complete, the Archive folder should appear in the Outlook folder list.
If you have an Outlook Online email account, you can use the archive folder online.
Go to Outlook and log in to your Outlook email account.
If the folder is not visible, select the arrow next to Folder to expand the Outlook folder list.
Select Archives under Folders in the left pane. Your archived emails will appear.
If you use a POP or IMAP account or use AutoArchive with an Exchange Server email account, your archived items may be stored in Outlook data files, also known as personal folder files (.pst). When you open a personal folder file in Outlook, you can search for a specific word or phrase.
Open Outlook and select the File tab.
Select Open and Export in the left pane.
Select "Open Outlook data file" . The Open Outlook Data File dialog box opens.
Select the Outlook data file to open, and then select OK .
By default, Outlook data files are stored in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 in drive :Users username DocumentsOutlook Filesarchive.pst (the drive and username will be specific to your system).
Select the arrow next to the Outlook data file in the navigation pane to expand the top level and view the subfolders within the file. Select a subfolder to view the contents.
Use Outlook's built-in search tools to search archive folders for specific emails, contacts, or topics.
To manually archive emails in Outlook, go to File > Messages > Tools > Clean Old Items . Select Archive this folder and all subfolders , and then navigate to the folder containing the content you want to archive. Configure your archive date and select OK .
To find and retrieve archived email in Gmail, select All Mail and then select any archived email you want to return to your Inbox. Select Move to Inbox from the toolbar.
To recall an email in Outlook, open the Sent folder and double-click the message you want to recall. Next, go to the Messages tab > Select the Actions drop-down arrow > Undo this message .
