Microsoft Outlook stores its mailbox contents in multiple folders. These are Inbox, Junk, Drafts, Sent, Deleted, and other folders created by the user. Now the question arises as to why the user created a separate folder. Well, sometimes a user may create a folder to manage emails sent by a particular user. In this case, the email received by the user from that specific individual’s email address is moved to a particular folder. These mail items are stored in an Outlook data file (.pst).
Reasons for Outlook Folders Disappeared Issue:
Some of the factors that may lead to this error are listed below:
- Accidental deletion of folder by the user.
- Folder accidently moved to a different location by the user.
- Folders collapsed due to change in folder view settings.
- Synchronization issues between the Exchange server and Outlook.
- A corrupt Outlook profile.
- There’s an unresolved bug in the software.
- Corruption in Outlook data files (.ost & .pst).
- Interference by third-party add-ins or plugins.
How to Resolve “Outlook Folders Disappeared” Issue?
After understanding the issue and its possible reasons, let’s move on to explore troubleshooting methods available to fix this issue. Some of the proven methods to resolve this issue are listed below:
Fix 1: Inspect View Settings:
Changes in folder view settings can lead to folder disappearance. The user may not be able to see folder content due to such a change. You can check as well as reset these settings by following these steps:
- Exit Outlook.
- Explore the Run dialogue box by pressing the Windows + R key.
- Type ‘outlook.exe /cleanviews’ in the box, and press OK or Enter.
- It will reset the views in Outlook.
You can also follow the below alternate method to change view settings:
- Explore the View tab in the top menu bar.
- Go to the Current View section, and click Reset View.
- Press ‘Yes’ when prompted.
Now investigate the folder pane. Follow the below steps if the folder pane is not visible:
- Go to the View tab.
- Press Folder Pane and choose Normal.
Fix 2: Repairing Corrupt Outlook Data File (.pst):
If all the above listed methods fail to resolve “Outlook folders disappeared” issue, then we can use Scanpst to fix the issue. Also known as the Inbox Repair tool, it first scans the PST file for inconsistencies. After diagnosing the error, the tool then repairs the corrupt file. The step-by-step guide is listed below:
STEP 1: LOCATING SCANPST: Trace this built-in utility in the following locations.
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16: Outlook 2016 and 2019 versions
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15: Outlook 2013 version
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14: Outlook 2010 version
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12: Outlook 2007 version
Note: You can also utilize the search bar option in your system for “Scanpst.exe,” if unable to locate the utility in above locations.
STEP 2: TAKE THE BACKUP: Before initiating the repair process, first take the backup of the targeted PST file. Go to the folder containing your PST file and make a copy of it. This makes sure that you have a copy available with you in case something goes wrong during the repair process.
STEP 3: RUN SCANPST: Follow the below steps to initiate the scan process:
- Explore and double-click the Scanpst.exe file to launch the utility.
- Select ‘Browse’ and choose the targeted PST file, which is located in the localappdata/Microsoft/Outlook folder.
- Start the file scan process.
STEP 4: REVIEW THE RESULTS: Once you are done with the scanning, the tool features errors and inconsistencies in the PST file. Click on the Repair button to start the repair process.
STEP 5: CHECK OUT FOR MISSING FOLDERS:
After the completion of the repair process, re-start Outlook and check if the missing folders have reappeared. Run the scan and repair process again in case you discover that folders are still missing.
Conclusion
The guide above covers everything you need to know to fix disappearing folders in Outlook. We discuss the issue and its causes, including solutions like resetting view settings and subscribing to or re-syncing folders. We also explain how to repair PST file using Scanpst. If Scanpst doesn’t work, we recommend using Stellar Repair for Outlook, a tool known for its quick repair capabilities. Stellar pst repair software can fix severely corrupt and large (up to 50 GB) PST files while maintaining complete data integrity. It can even repair encrypted or inaccessible PST files.
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