Missing Folders in Outlook: How to Restore Them

First, check: are you in New Outlook or Classic Outlook?

This one check decides everything else. New Outlook for Windows does not show local folders at all. Anything kept On My Computer or inside a .pst file will not appear there yet, because New Outlook has no support for local PST data. If the folders you lost were local, the folders are fine. You are just in the wrong app.

• Classic Outlook has a File tab in the top-left. Local folders and PST files work here.
• New Outlook shows a New Outlook toggle in the top-right and has no File menu.

If your folders are local, turn the top-right toggle off to go back to classic Outlook, then use the fixes below. If all your mail lives on a server such as Microsoft 365, Exchange or IMAP, either app will show it once the account finishes syncing.

Why Outlook folders disappear

A short list of causes covers almost every case. Once you spot yours, the right fix is obvious.

• An update moved you to New Outlook and your local or PST folders stopped showing (see above).
• The folder pane is collapsed or minimized, so the list is hidden rather than gone.
• The navigation pane or the view is corrupted, which breaks the layout Outlook saved.
• Cached Exchange Mode is limiting how much mail downloads, so older folders look empty or absent.
• A filtered view is quietly hiding items and folders.
• The OST needs rebuilding or the PST is damaged or not loaded.

Fix 1: Reset the navigation pane with outlook.exe /resetnavpane

This is the quickest fix and it clears most corrupted-pane cases. The switch rebuilds only the folder-pane layout. It does not delete your emails, PST or OST data, though it does clear Favorites and any custom shortcuts you added to the pane. It works in classic Outlook for Windows (2016, 2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365).

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
3. Type this exactly, with the space: outlook.exe /resetnavpane
4. Press Enter. Outlook reopens and rebuilds the folder pane.

These settings live on the local machine, so run the switch on every computer where the pane is broken.

Fix 2: Reset the view

A broken or filtered view can hide folders without deleting a thing. Reset it and they come back.

1. Go to the View tab, click Current View then Reset View.
   

   

2. Click Yes to confirm, then open View → Folder Pane → Normal.
3. For a deeper reset, close Outlook, press Windows key + R and run outlook.exe /cleanviews to clear every custom view.

Fix 3: Check the “mail to keep offline” slider (Cached Exchange Mode)

If the folders show but older mail looks missing, the account is only keeping a short window of mail offline.

1. Open File → Account Settings → Account Settings.
2. Double-click your account and find Download email for the past.
3. Drag the slider to All or a longer period, click Next then Done and restart Outlook.

Fix 4: Unhide the folder pane

Sometimes the pane is only minimized.

• Open View → Folder Pane → Normal if it is set to Minimized or Off.
• Expand your mailbox or account name with the small chevron (›) beside it to show the folders nested underneath.

Fix 5: Reconnect or rebuild the OST

For a Microsoft 365, Exchange or IMAP account the .ost is only a cached copy of mail that lives on the server, so it is safe to rebuild.

• Close Outlook and open C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\.
• Rename the .ost file, for example by adding .old, then reopen Outlook. It builds a fresh cache from the server and the folders come back.
• Full walkthrough: rebuild a corrupted OST file.

Only do this for server accounts. An OST that cannot reach its server is not the place to start.

Fix 6: Repair the PST

If the missing folders lived in a local .pst, the file may be damaged. Outlook ships with the Inbox Repair Tool (SCANPST.EXE) for exactly this.

1. Close Outlook, open SCANPST.EXE, browse to your PST then click Start to scan.
2. If the scan finds errors, click Repair.
   

   

ScanPST is slow and gives up on larger files, so for a stubborn PST use a cleaner route: repair a PST file without ScanPST.

Did the folders ever get saved? Recover them from a backup

If a folder was truly deleted or the PST is damaged beyond repair, a backup copy is the only sure way back. It is also the fix that stops the whole problem from returning.

Frequently asked questions

Does resetting the navigation pane delete my emails?

No. The outlook.exe /resetnavpane switch only rebuilds the folder-pane layout. Your emails, PST and OST files stay untouched. The only thing you lose is Favorites and any custom shortcuts in the pane.

My folders vanished after a Windows or Office update. Why?

The update most likely switched you to New Outlook, which does not display local or PST folders yet. Turn the top-right toggle off to return to classic Outlook and the folders reappear.

Where are my “On My Computer” folders in New Outlook?

New Outlook for Windows cannot open local PST data at this time, so those folders will not show. Use classic Outlook to reach them.

Can I recover a permanently deleted folder?

If it is still in Deleted Items, move it back where it belongs. If it was purged, an Exchange or Microsoft 365 admin may be able to restore it from the server within the retention window. A local PST has no such safety net, which is why a backup matters.

Will I lose my Favorites after running /resetnavpane?

Yes. The reset clears Favorites and custom pane settings but leaves every real folder in place. You can pin your Favorites again afterwards.

Do I have to run the reset on every computer?

Yes. Navigation-pane settings are saved on each machine on their own, so repeat the fix on every computer where the pane is broken.