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Is there a way to retrieve my email history after I've deleted them?

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Summary: There are things to enable ahead of time if you would like to save your email history, but if they are not enabled then your emails are gone for good.

Is there a way to retrieve my email history after I've deleted them?

Chances are by the time you have to ask, probably not. There are several settings in various email programs that can help, but you do have to set them up before you process your email in order to get their benefit.

Let's review a couple of the common ones. Perhaps they're already set, and you can retrieve what you're looking for.

First, many programs have recycle bins. Much like Windows, if you delete an email it gets placed in the recycle bin instead of "really" being deleted. The recycle bin gets emptied either when you explicitly do it, or if the option is set automatically when you exit your email program. Have a look in your recycle bin if you have one.

Some email programs can be configured to automatically save sent messages. Outlook, for example, has a separate "Sent Mail" folder that keeps a copy of every message you send - if you've turned it on. Many email programs have similar settings.

Email programs that support "rules" or actions that can be taken when email arrives can be configured to save a copy of incoming email as well.

Finally, another option particularly useful if you're traveling is the option to "leave messages on server". Normally when you download your email, it's removed from the server that was holding it. As it implies, you can instruct many email programs to leave the messages on the server, often specifying an optional length of time before they're automatically deleted. If the messages have been left on the server, you can typically use a different email program, or webmail access, to view the messages again.

The bad news is that most of these items are optional and most default to being turned off. So if you haven't turned them on, your delete may in fact have permanently deleted the message.

Article 369 | Posted July 10, 2004

Recent Comments
128 Comments

I am getting conflicting information from wowway re: retrieving sent e-mails that were sent through server, not outlook...some reps saying I can retrieve sent e-mails that were not put into a sent box (that box was not checked in my preferences) and others saying they can... Any thoughts?

Posted by: wendy at May 22, 2008 10:36 AM

Where can my msn messenger files of my active history be found at and can another person useing this computer see who I have talked and my conversations.Need to know I read the artical

Posted by: kim davis at May 30, 2008 3:58 PM

just now i somehow lost vip email i was sending can you help me. thanks.

Posted by: everet at May 31, 2008 6:53 AM

how come i get the mail details which i have deleted from trash?please help

Posted by: jitendra kumar at June 6, 2008 12:53 AM

Sympatico had issued me 2 accounts and deleted one of them.The one that they deleted had my main email address and now I cannot access it.Can they or can I retrieve it back intact?

Posted by: Dawn at June 7, 2008 8:13 PM

I have a 3g card.When i changed my pc i lost all the mail.Is it possible to retieve all the mail from the 3g card itself

Posted by: Charlette at June 24, 2008 3:38 AM

Hello there!Please tell me if I can cancel an offline message sent through messenger!I need your answer ASAP!Unfortunately,I don't have saved message!Regards!

Posted by: Robert at August 12, 2008 1:23 AM

I have accidently marked an email unsafe. is there anyway to recover it? it was an extremely important email that i do not have the address to the sender. please help.

Posted by: tracy at September 24, 2008 11:19 PM

how come i get the mail details which i have deleted from trash?please help

Posted by: Vinoth at October 3, 2008 11:58 PM

Dear I have sent offline message and the reciver denies that he did not receive the message. hence my request to you is there any way to recall my messages which i have sent through offline.

Thanks with best regards
Shoukat

Posted by: shoukat at October 4, 2008 4:29 AM

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