Recover Deleted Outlook MSG Files on Windows

Updated on Oct 21, 2026 | by Qiling

Quick Navigation:

Understand the Missing .msg File
Check Copies and Protect the Source
Recover with Qiling Deep Data Recovery
Verify the Recovered File
Frequently Asked Questions

A .msg file is a locally saved Outlook message. Deleting that file from Windows is different from deleting an email in the Outlook mailbox; the recovery path depends on which copy is missing.

Understand the Missing .msg File

Open Outlook and check the original mailbox, Deleted Items and any archive before scanning the PC. If the mailbox message still exists, save it again. If only a locally exported .msg file existed, search the export folder, Recycle Bin and File History.

There are three different situations: the file was deleted, its folder or storage location changed, or the file still exists but does not open. Find out which happened before running a scan. A disk scan can find some deleted local files; it cannot create content that was never saved or repair every damaged file.

Check Copies and Protect the Source

Confirm the message is absent from both the mailbox and local export folder.
Search alternate export folders and backup drives for .msg copies.
Do not confuse a .msg file with the Outlook PST/OST data store.

Avoid exporting more mail to the affected disk and recover candidate files to another physical drive.

If the disk disconnects repeatedly, clicks, or shows severe read errors, avoid repeated scans and seek a stable copy or professional help. Results also depend on whether the deleted blocks have been overwritten, especially on SSDs.

Recover with Qiling Deep Data Recovery

Qiling Deep Data Recovery can scan storage visible to Windows for deleted local files. Start only after checking existing copies. A result in the file list is a candidate, not proof that the file is complete.

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Step 1. Check the Best Available Copy

Open the likely backup or version-history location first. Copy any surviving .msg and related files to a safe destination. If no complete copy is available, close applications that write to the source and launch Qiling Deep Data Recovery.

Step 2. Choose the Scan Mode

Choose Fast Scan for a recently deleted export or Recycle Bin Scan after permanent deletion. If the first pass misses the file and the device remains stable, use the deeper scan option in the results rather than repeatedly writing to the source.

Choose Qiling recovery scan mode for .msg

Step 3. Select the Source Location

Select the volume that held the saved .msg file, not the mail server. Confirm the disk model, capacity and drive letter before starting the scan. Never select the recovery destination as the source by mistake.

Select original storage location for .msg recovery

Step 4. Review Matching Files

Compare file name, sender-related details, size and date without assuming any preview is complete. If the original folder is not shown, also search by file type and date. Do not discard earlier versions solely because one preview looks promising.

Review matching .msg recovery candidates

Step 5. Recover to Another Drive

Select the best candidates, click Recover, and save them to a different physical drive. Keep the recovered originals unchanged; test copies so a failed open or import cannot damage your only result.

Save recovered .msg files to another drive

Verify the Recovered File

Open a copy in Outlook. Confirm sender, recipients, body and attachments before importing or forwarding it.

If a recovered file is incomplete, compare older backups and alternate scan results. Do not rename an unrelated file to .msg and assume its contents have been restored. Once you have a verified copy, include both the native file and any required companion files in a separate backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I scan the PC if the message remains in Outlook?

No. Save a fresh .msg copy from the mailbox instead.

Does a MSG recovery restore my entire mailbox?

No. It targets one or more local message files.

What if an attachment is missing?

Test another recovered copy or restore the message from the mailbox backup.