If your Outlook mailbox is full, the quickest way to free up some space is to delete old messages. All you need to do is select the emails you want to remove and then hit the Delete button. But sometimes, nothing happens when you hit Delete. Or worse, deleted emails keep coming back when you restart Outlook. If you’re looking for a solution to fix this problem, follow the troubleshooting steps below.
Fix: Can’t Delete Messages from Outlook Inbox
Empty the Deleted Items Folder and Log out
When you delete an email, Outlook automatically sends it to the Deleted folder. While this folder has a smaller quota than your inbox, it can store hundreds of deleted emails. So, go to the Deleted Items folder, and empty it. Make sure to permanently remove all the emails stored there.
Then restart Outlook and check if you can delete inbox messages. If the issue persists, log out of your Outlook account and restart your device. Launch Outlook again, log back in, and check the results.
Hard Delete Stubborn Messages
Alternatively, you can press and hold the Shift key while hitting the Delete button next to the message you want to remove. Outlook may sometimes prompt you to confirm your choice. Your messages won’t land in the Deleted Items folder; they will be permanently deleted.
Update and Repair Office
If you’re also using Office, make sure to update and repair your Office files. Outlook is part of the Office Suite, so any issues affecting Office may plague the email client.
- Launch any Office app you want, click on File, go to Options, and select Update Options.
- Hit the Update Now button to check for updates.
- Then, go to Control Panel, select Programs, and click on Programs and features.
- Select Office and click the Change button.
- Run the Quick repair tool. If the issue persists, run the Online repair tool as well.
- Restart Outlook and check if you can delete unnecessary messages.
Use Outlook’s Cleanup Tools
If you still can’t delete old emails from your Outlook mailbox, use the Cleanup tools.
- Launch Outlook and go to Info.
- Select the Mailbox Cleanup tool and filter the emails you want to remove.
- Then select Empty Deleted Items Folder.
- Restart Outlook and check if the problematic emails are gone now.
Run the Inbox Repair Tool
You can scan and repair your Outlook inbox with the help of the Inbox Repair tool.
- Navigate to Program Files, select Microsoft Office, and go to Root.
- Then select your Office version and double-click on the Scanpst.exe file.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to run the repair tool.
Launch Outlook in Safe Mode
You can also restart the email client in Safe Mode and delete the problematic message from there. Press the Windows and R keys, and type outlook.exe /safe in the new Run window. Hit Enter, and check if you can successfully remove those stubborn emails that refuse to go away.
Check Your Trash Folder Settings
If this issue affects the mails you received from user groups, make sure the Trash option is enabled. Additionally, remove the deleted items from Outlook’s servers.
- Launch Outlook and click on Send & Receive.
- Select Send & Receive groups, and then Define Send & Receive groups.
- Click Edit, select your account, and go to Account Properties.
- Check the delete options available for the Deleted items folder.
- Make sure to select the Trash folder.
- Go to Advanced and enable the option that says Remove from server when deleted from ‘Deleted items.’
Conclusion
Not being able to delete old emails and declutter your Outlook inbox can be really annoying. Try emptying the Deleted Items folder and then log out. Alternatively, press the Shift key while clicking the Delete button to hard delete your emails. If the issue persists, update and repair Office, run Outlook’s Cleanup Tools, and the Inbox Repair Tool. Try launching Outlook in Safe Mode as well, and check if that helps.
Did this guide help you troubleshoot the problem? Which solution worked for you? Share your feedback in the comments below.
David Hadden says
WTF ????? When I used “Online repair”, it uninstalled Office “COMPLETELY”. Thanks for the wonderfully helpful >>> REPAIR TOOL <<< and now for all the time I must waste, setting it all up again. Jesus Christ, check this crap out before posting !?!?!?
Connie Phillips says
no..I can’t delete a message that I sent..I don’t have a credit card..please help me
Raj says
In my case, this issue is happening due to continuous deletion of mail at my end which resulted in reaching quota of recover deleted items each in Primary Mailbox as well as Online archive. Ask your email Administrator to set your online archive folder to extend automatically. It may take upto 24 hours to effect. In such duration you may not be able copy/move/delete any mails to any folder. The extended portion of the online archive folder can be accessed through Latest IE version 11 or Edge or Chrome.
Move the mails to Online Archive (Through Outlook Desktop Client) / Personal Archive folder (Through Web browser) to empty space in your mailbox. Depending on the retention policy set by your email Administrator, do not delete or move any mail to local PST folder, to avoid such issues in future. Also, mails older than n number of days may get automatically moved to respective folders in Online Archive, where it will remain until deleted.
If required local backup, you may copy mails to local PST instead of moving it.
maggie says
it doesn’t help me.
In my mailbox i select my name the right window shows messages but messages are also showing up in inbox.
When I try to delete the emails next to my name it tells me I don’t have permission and I don’t know what to do to fix this problem.