The fastest way to delete a folder in Outlook

Right-click the folder you want to delete in the left sidebar, then select Delete Folder from the menu. Outlook will move it to the Deleted Items folder. If you want to remove it permanently instead of moving it there first, hold Shift while right-clicking and select Delete Folder — this skips the Deleted Items folder entirely.

The exact steps depend slightly on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac, but the principle is the same: find the folder in your folder list, right-click it, and choose delete. You cannot delete the built-in folders like Inbox, Sent Items, or Drafts — Outlook will not let you remove those.

If you have subfolders inside the folder you are deleting, Outlook deletes them all at once. You do not need to empty them first.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any custom folder in your sidebar and select Delete Folder to move it to Deleted Items, or hold Shift while right-clicking to delete it permanently.
  • Outlook's built-in folders — Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts, Junk Email, and Archive — cannot be deleted, only custom folders you created.
  • Deleting a folder also deletes all subfolders and messages inside it, so make sure you do not need anything in there first.
  • Folders in Deleted Items stay there until you empty that folder or until Outlook's retention policy removes them automatically, which varies by your email provider.

Deleting a folder in Outlook for Windows

Open Outlook and look at the left sidebar where your folders are listed. Find the folder you want to delete, right-click it, and a small menu will appear. Click Delete Folder. The folder moves to Deleted Items.

If you want to skip Deleted Items and remove the folder right away, hold Shift on your keyboard, right-click the folder again, and select Delete Folder. This permanently removes it without the recovery step. You will not see a confirmation dialog — it happens immediately.

If you cannot find the folder in your sidebar, it might be collapsed under a parent folder. Click the small arrow or plus sign next to the parent folder to expand it and see what is inside.

Deleting a folder in Outlook on the web

Log into Outlook.com or your organization's Outlook web version. In the left sidebar, find the folder you want to delete. Right-click it and select Delete from the menu. The folder moves to the Deleted Items folder.

Unlike the desktop version, Outlook on the web does not offer a permanent delete option from the right-click menu. If you want to remove it completely, you will need to go to Deleted Items, find the folder there, right-click it again, and select Delete a second time.

Some organizations restrict which folders you can delete if they are shared or managed by your company. If the delete option is grayed out or missing, your administrator may have locked that folder.

Deleting a folder in Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook and locate the folder in the left sidebar. Right-click the folder and select Delete Folder from the menu. It moves to the Deleted Items folder.

To delete it permanently without moving it to Deleted Items first, right-click the folder, hold the Option key, and select Delete Folder. The menu option changes when you hold Option, giving you the permanent delete choice.

If you use iCloud or another account type in Outlook for Mac, the folder might sync back if you do not also delete it from the web version or from your phone. Deleting from one device does not always remove it from others immediately.

What happens to messages when you delete a folder

Every message inside the folder you delete moves to Deleted Items along with the folder itself. If the folder had subfolders, those move too, along with all their messages. You cannot delete just the folder and keep the messages — they travel together.

If you want to save the messages before deleting the folder, move them to a different folder first. Select all the messages in the folder (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), then drag them to another folder or use the Move option from the right-click menu.

Once a folder is in Deleted Items, you can still recover it and the messages inside it — as long as you have not emptied Deleted Items yet. Right-click the folder in Deleted Items and select Move, then choose where you want it to go.

Recovering a deleted folder

If you deleted a folder by accident, open your Deleted Items folder. Look for the folder you deleted, right-click it, and select Move. Choose the location where you want to put it back. This works as long as you have not permanently deleted it or emptied Deleted Items.

If you permanently deleted the folder (using Shift+Delete), recovery depends on your email provider. Microsoft 365 accounts and Outlook.com keep deleted items for 93 days by default, but your organization might have a different retention period. Contact your email administrator if you need to recover something older than a few weeks.

If you use Outlook on the web, you can also check the Recover Deleted Items option in your settings. Click the gear icon, then View all Outlook settings, then Mail > Recover Deleted Items. This shows items deleted beyond the normal Deleted Items folder.

Why you might not be able to delete a folder

Outlook does not let you delete its built-in folders: Inbox, Sent Items, Drafts, Junk Email, Outbox, and Archive (if you use one). These are system folders that Outlook needs to function. If you want to hide them from your view, you can right-click and select Hide instead, but you cannot remove them.

If a folder belongs to a shared mailbox or is managed by your organization, your administrator might have locked it so you cannot delete it. The delete option will be grayed out or missing from the menu. Ask your IT department if you need that folder removed.

On some accounts, especially older ones or those with specific retention policies, Outlook may not let you delete folders that contain archived or protected messages. Check with your email provider or administrator if you see an error message when you try to delete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a folder that has subfolders inside it?

Yes. When you delete a folder, all subfolders and all messages inside them delete at the same time. You do not need to empty the folder first or delete subfolders one by one. Outlook removes the entire folder structure in one action.

What is the difference between deleting and hiding a folder?

Deleting moves the folder to Deleted Items (or permanently removes it if you use Shift+Delete). Hiding just removes it from your sidebar view — the folder and its messages stay in your account. Right-click a folder and select Hide if you want to keep it but do not want to see it every day.

How long do deleted folders stay in Deleted Items?

This depends on your email provider. Outlook.com and Microsoft 365 typically keep deleted items for 93 days before removing them automatically. Some organizations set shorter or longer periods. Check your provider's retention policy or ask your administrator for the exact timeframe.

Can I delete a shared folder that someone else owns?

No. You can only delete folders you created or own. If a folder is shared with you by someone else, you cannot delete it — you can only remove it from your view by hiding it. The owner of the folder can delete it from their own account.

What if I delete a folder by mistake and then empty Deleted Items?

Once you empty Deleted Items, the folder is gone from the normal recovery location. However, your email provider may still have a backup. Contact your email administrator or check your provider's recovery options — many keep backups for 30 to 90 days after permanent deletion.