How long are deleted mail in outlook stored

In Outlook, deleted emails are typically stored in the "Deleted Items" folder for a certain period of time before they are permanently deleted. The length of time that deleted emails are stored in the "Deleted Items" folder can vary depending on the settings and configuration of your Outlook account.

Here are some general guidelines:

1. Default behavior: In most cases, deleted emails are stored in the "Deleted Items" folder for 14 days before they are permanently deleted. This is the default behavior for most Outlook accounts.
2. Customizable: You can change the retention period for deleted emails in the "Deleted Items" folder by modifying the "Purge Old Items" setting in Outlook. To do this, follow these steps:
   • Open Outlook and go to the "File" menu.
   • Click on "Options" and then select "Advanced".
   • Scroll down to the "Deleted Items" section and click on the "Purge Old Items" button.
   • In the "Purge Old Items" dialog box, you can set the retention period for deleted emails (in days).
3. Server-side retention: If you're using an Exchange Server or Office 365 account, the retention period for deleted emails may be longer or shorter depending on your organization's policies. In some cases, deleted emails may be stored on the server for up to 30 days or more before they are permanently deleted.
4. Local storage: If you're using a POP3 or IMAP account, deleted emails are typically stored on your local computer until you manually empty the "Deleted Items" folder or set up a specific retention period.

It's worth noting that even if deleted emails are stored in the "Deleted Items" folder for a certain period of time, they may still be recoverable using specialized software or techniques. Therefore, it's always a good idea to regularly empty the "Deleted Items" folder to ensure that sensitive or confidential information is properly deleted.