Undelete in Windows Live Hotmail

When you accidentally delete an important email, there's still the Deleted folder, right? What, though, when there is no trace of that message left in the trash?

Then there's the safety net. Windows Live Hotmail keeps messages for a few days even after they have been purged from the Deleted folder. You can restore these backup copies to the trash and undelete mail believed gone in a simple process.

Recover Deleted Hotmail Messages

When you delete an email message from your Outlook.com email, you can quickly recover it if it still in your Deleted Items folder.

1. Go to Outlook.com and log in to your Live, Hotmail, or other Microsoft email account.

2. Select the Deleted Items folder in the left pane.

3. Select the message you want to recover. To recover all messages, select the circle next to Deleted Items.

4. Select Restore at the top of the Deleted Items folder.

Recover Permanently Deleted Hotmail Messages

If you can't find the email you want to recover in the Deleted Items folder, the next place to look is the Recoverable Items folder. In some cases, you can recover items after you empty the Deleted Items folder.

1. Go to Outlook.com and log in to your Live, Hotmail, or other Microsoft email account.

2. Select the Deleted Items folder in the left pane.

3. Select Recover items deleted from this folder at the top of the message list. The Recoverable Items folder opens.

4. Select the items you want to recover and choose Restore.

The items you select to recover are restored to their original folders. If a folder no longer exists, messages are restored to your inbox.

Prevent Outlook.com From Deleting Messages Automatically

You can stop Outlook.com from emptying your Deleted Items folder every time you sign out if you wish.

1. Go to Outlook.com and log in to your Live, Hotmail, or other Microsoft email account.

2. Select Settings in the upper-right corner of the page and choose View all Outlook settings.

3. Select Message handling in the Mail category of the Settings window.

4. Beneath When signing out, clear the check box next to Empty my deleted items folder.

5. Select Save to apply the changes. Close the Settings window.