Outlook

How to Recover Deleted Outlook Notes? Windows Guide 2026

Do you want to recover deleted Outlook notes on your Windows computer? This guide covers the complete guide that includes nine different and practical approaches for every version of Outlook and account type, from finding in the Deleted Items folder to PST backup and using dedicated recovery software. You will also learn the pros and cons of the methods so that you can choose the most effective method for yourself.

Table of Content

1. Introduction
2. Why Microsoft Outlook Notes Disappear?
3. Recover Deleted Outlook Notes on Windows – 9 Ultimate Method
4. Why Should You Use Dedicated Software?
5. Tips to Avoid Losing the Outlook Notes Again
6. Conclusion
7. FAQs

Also Read: How to Recover Lost Outlook PST Files?

Introduction

Outlook notes can be deleted by accident, and we know it’s a stressful situation. Most of the time you can recover deleted Outlook notes, but that depends how you lost them, how much time has passed since it went missing and which Outlook version and account type you are a user of. By the end of this article, you will be able to recover disappeared Outlook notes.;

Why Microsoft Outlook Notes Disappear?

One of these common reasons is usually behind disappearing your Outlook notes.

• Shift + Delete: It bypasses the Deleted Items folder, causing notes to be removed at once.
• Emptied Deleted Items: You manually cleared the Deleted Items folder or Outlook has done that while closing.
• Corrupted PST File: The file that contains your notes may be damaged due to a crash, sudden shutdown or an oversized data file.
• New Outlook Version: The new Outlook version has only partial Notes support, so if you have recently switched to this version of Outlook you must know this. This is another reason you cannot see your notes.
• New Profile of PC: You may have reinstalled Outlook with a new profile or moved to a new PC without your old PST file.

Recover Deleted Outlook Notes on Windows – 9 Ultimate Methods

If your Outlook notes disappeared, you can easily recover deleted Outlook notes on Windows. The best approach for you depends on your Outlook version and account type.

Method 1: Recover Disappeared Outlook Notes from Deleted Items Folder (Outlook 2013 to 2024 and Microsoft 365)

If your Outlook notes disappeared, you can start here to get back Outlook notes.

• Open the Deleted Items folder in Outlook and search for “messageclass:IPM.StickyNote”.
• Right-click on the note and then choose Move > Other Folder > Notes > OK, or drag it into Notes.
• If Notes are not showing, press Ctrl+5 or click…(More)> Notes.

Method 2: Advanced Find

You can recover deleted Outlook notes using Advanced Find that a regular search misses.

• Press Ctrl+Shift+5 and set Look for Notes.
• Click Browse, tick Deleted Items and then click Find Now.
• Drag and drop the files back into Notes.

Method 3: Recover Deleted Items from Server

You can use this method to recover accidentally deleted Outlook notes if the Deleted Items folder is empty.

• Select Deleted Items, open the Folder tab (or Home), and click Recover Items from the server.
• Choose the notes and click Restore Selected Items > OK, then you can easily move them to Notes.
• If this is greyed out, it is because your email account type (POP3) doesn’t support this feature.

Method 4: Microsoft Outlook 2010 and 2007

If you are using Outlook 2010 and want to recover deleted Outlook notes, you can use this method.

• The first step is to select the Deleted Items folder; after that, click Folder > Recover Deleted Items.
• For Outlook 2007 users, use Tools > Recover Deleted Items and then Recover Selected Items.

Method 5: New Outlook and Outlook on The Web

The new Outlook for Windows doesn’t fully support Notes yet, this is the reason your notes may seem to disappear.

• Open Deleted Items and use the Recover link at the top, or you can switch to classic Outlook and use Method No. 1 to 3.
• For Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 web users, open the Deleted Items folder and click Recover Items recently removed from this folder after that Restore.

Method 6: Account Type.

• Microsoft 365/Exchange Online: Deleted items can be recovered for 14 days by default (up to 30).
• To recover deleted Outlook notes after that, you will have to ask your admin to run “Recover-RecoverableItems -Identity [email protected] –
• FilterItemType IPM.StickyNote“ or search for eDiscovery in Microsoft Purview.
• Exchange on-premises: Retention depends on your admin’s settings.
• Outlook.com: You can use the web steps in Method 5.
• IMAP/Gmail: Check webmail Trash, move your notes to the Notes folder and then refresh Outlook.
• POP3: In this type no server copy exists; you must use a backup.

Method 7: PST File Backup

• Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export and Import from another program or file > Outlook Data File (.pst) to restore missing Outlook notes.
• Outlook 2010 Users: File>Open>Import.
• Outlook 2007 Users: File > Import and Export.
• Browse to the backup, choose how to handle duplicates, select Notes and after that click on Finish.
• Find Backups in File History. Go to PST Properties > Previous Versions or OneDrive/Dropbox Version History.

Method 8: Repair a Damaged PST to Recover Disappeared Outlook Notes.

If your Outlook notes got deleted accidentally after a crash, you must close Outlook and run SCANPST.EXE (for example, “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\”)

• Go to your PST file (File > Account Settings > Data Files) and keep the backup option ticked.
• Click Start > Repair and then check Notes and Lost and Found.

Method 9: Use FreeViewer’s PST Recovery Software to Recover Your Outlook Notes – Best and Quickest Solution

Built-in or manual methods may not work appropriately for everyone. In that case, a dedicated tool is the best way to get back your Outlook notes. This tool completely scans your PST file and also you can preview every note before saving. The first step is, download and install this software on your Windows computer. When installation is done, follow these steps to recover deleted Outlook notes.

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Step 1: Launch the tool. Right-click on it and choose Run as Administrator.

Step 2: Add your PST file. Click on Add File and select your PST and then choose Quick Scan mode for minor issues or Advanced for a damaged PST file.

Step 3: Preview Your Notes. Open the Notes folder in the left window when the scanning procedure is finished. Now you can sort the notes on the basis of subject, created time or category.

Step 4: Check the Deleted Notes. Deleted items appear in red. Now you can select the notes or folders you want to restore.

Step 5: Export Selected Files. Click on the Export option. Now you have several file formats (such as PST, MSG, PDF and HTML etc) to save your deleted files. You can choose your desired one.

You can restore missing Outlook notes and recover important Outlook notes using this method without relying on retention windows or old backups.

Why Built-in Methods Are Not Appropriate Choice for Everyone.

• Built-in options work only when files got deleted recently.
• Server recovery does not work for POP3 and non-Exchange accounts.
• The backup PST file doesn’t contain notes created after the backup date.
• SCANPST may repair file structure but it does not fully recover deleted Outlook notes.

Why Should You Use Dedicated Software?

The software method is the best way to recover your important Outlook notes. You do not need to try each manual method. This doesn’t depend on timing or backups.

• It scans your PST file entirely and no Windows conditions apply.
• This tool does not have any size limit for repairing damaged PST files.
• There is a preview feature that lets you preview recovered deleted items before exporting.
• It can export a damaged PST file into various file formats such as MSG, PDF, EML and HTML etc.

Tips to Avoid Losing the Outlook Notes Again

• Make sure to avoid Shift+Delete because it skips the Deleted Items folder.
• Disable auto-emptying under File> Options> Advanced> “Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook”.
• Always back up your PST file regularly.

Conclusion

You can recover deleted Outlook notes on Windows. But It will depend on your Outlook version and account type. We have shared built-in options, but they have a few limitations. In this case, a dedicated tool can help you quickly. It scans your PST file, repairs it and also lets you preview notes before you save them. These features make it the best way to recover missing Outlook notes. However, any method you find the best for yourself, take action fast, make sure to avoid saving new data to the affected file and back up your PST files regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I recover deleted notes in Microsoft Outlook if the Deleted Items folder is empty?
Ans: Yes. You can recover Deleted Items from the server within 14 days by default on Exchange Online. Also you can restore a PST backup or scan your PST file with the mentioned recovery software.

Q2. Why did my Outlook notes disappear after I switched to the new Outlook?
Ans: The New Outlook has only partial Notes support; this is why your notes may not show there. Their usual location is in classic Outlook or Outlook on the web.

Q3. Why is “Recover Deleted Items From Server” could not be completed?
Ans: This happened because your account type does not support it. This is common in POP3 accounts.

Q4. Can I recover my Outlook notes from a corrupted PST file?
Ans: Yes, through recovery software, you can repair PST files and recover notes in various file formats.