Email drafts not showing in outlook

The frustration of not being able to find an email draft in Outlook! Don't worry, I'm here to help you troubleshoot the issue. Here are some possible solutions to get your email drafts visible again:

  1. Check the Drafts folder: Make sure you're looking in the correct folder. In Outlook, go to the "Drafts" folder in the "Navigation Pane" (left side of the screen). If you don't see the Drafts folder, try clicking on "Folder" > "New Folder" and create a new folder called "Drafts".
  2. Search for drafts: Use the Outlook search function to find your drafts. Press Ctrl + E to open the search bar, type "is:draft" (without quotes), and press Enter. This will show you all drafts in your mailbox.
  3. Check the "Show" settings: Ensure that the "Show" settings are set to display drafts. Go to "View" > "View Settings" > "Other Settings" and make sure the "Show drafts" checkbox is selected.
  4. Clear the Drafts folder cache: Sometimes, Outlook's cache can cause issues. Try clearing the Drafts folder cache by going to "File" > "Options" > "Advanced" > "Export/Import" and clicking on "Empty 'Drafts' folder cache".
  5. Check for add-ins: Add-ins can sometimes interfere with Outlook's functionality. Try disabling any recently installed add-ins or third-party plugins to see if they're causing the issue.
  6. Restart Outlook: A simple restart of Outlook might resolve the issue. Close and reopen the application to see if your drafts reappear.
  7. Check for corrupted files: If none of the above steps work, it's possible that a corrupted file is causing the issue. Try creating a new Outlook profile or resetting your Outlook settings to their default values.
  8. Check for Outlook updates: Ensure you're running the latest version of Outlook. Updates often resolve known issues and bugs.
  9. Check for Windows updates: Make sure your Windows operating system is up-to-date, as updates can also resolve issues with Outlook.
  10. Contact Microsoft Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may want to contact Microsoft Support for further assistance. They can help you troubleshoot the problem or provide additional guidance.

I hope one of these solutions helps you recover your email drafts in Outlook!