How to Recover Deleted Outlook Calendar Meetings and Items
Question details
The user accidentally deleted Outlook calendar items, such as meetings and events, and needs to understand how to recover them from either the Deleted Items folder or after they have been permanently removed.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Accidental deletion of important calendar events or scheduled meetings.
- Observed behavior
- Calendar items are missing from the schedule and must be restored to the user's active calendar view.
Before beginning the recovery process, verify if your Outlook account is connected to a Microsoft Exchange server, as recovering permanently deleted items typically requires an Exchange account.
Recover Calendar Items from the Deleted Items Folder
This is the quickest method to restore a recently deleted meeting or appointment if the folder has not been emptied.
When you delete an item in Outlook, it is initially moved to the Deleted Items folder. As long as this folder hasn't been emptied automatically or manually, you can quickly move the items back to your active calendar.
Launch Microsoft Outlook and press Ctrl+6 on your keyboard to switch to the full folder view navigation.
In the folder pane on the left side of the window, find and click on the 'Deleted Items' folder.
Find the accidentally deleted meeting or calendar item, select it, and simply move it back into your 'Calendar' folder by dragging it or right-clicking and selecting 'Move' > 'Calendar'.
Recover Permanently Deleted Calendar Items
Use this method if you have already emptied the Deleted Items folder and are using a Microsoft Exchange account.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I find my deleted calendar item in the Deleted Items folder?
If the calendar meeting isn't in the Deleted Items folder, you might have previously emptied the folder, or the item was permanently deleted using the Shift+Delete shortcut. You will need to use the 'Recover Deleted Items' tool if supported by your account.
Can I recover calendar items from Outlook on the web?
Yes. Log into Outlook on the web and navigate to your Deleted Items folder. If the meeting is missing, look for a link at the top of the folder that says 'Recover items deleted from this folder' and click it to restore the items.
What if I am not using a Microsoft Exchange account?
If you are using a standard POP or IMAP email account (like a personal Gmail or Yahoo account configured in Outlook), items permanently removed from the Deleted Items folder usually cannot be recovered using Outlook's built-in tools.
Can an administrator recover my deleted calendar events?
If you use Outlook in a corporate environment, your IT administrator can often run a content search or use eDiscovery tools in the Exchange Admin Center to locate and recover calendar items that you can no longer see.




