How to Empty Trash in Outlook
Are you struggling with an overflowing Outlook trash folder? Don’t worry; you’re not alone. The trash folder in Outlook is designed to temporarily store deleted emails, contacts, and other items. However, it can quickly become cluttered and take up valuable space in your mailbox. In this article, we will guide you through the process of emptying the trash in Outlook to free up space and keep your inbox organized.
Step 1: Open Outlook
The first step in emptying the trash in Outlook is to open the application. If you haven’t already, download and install Outlook from the official Microsoft website. Once installed, launch the program and log in to your email account.
Step 2: Navigate to the Trash Folder
After logging in, you will see a sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen. Look for the “Deleted Items” folder, which represents the trash. Click on it to open the trash folder and view the items you have deleted.
Step 3: Empty the Trash
With the trash folder open, you will see a list of deleted items. To empty the trash, click on the “Empty Deleted Items Folder” button, usually located at the top of the Outlook window. This button may have a trash can icon next to it.
Step 4: Confirm the Action
A confirmation dialog box will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to permanently delete the items in the trash folder. Click “Yes” to proceed.
Step 5: Check for Empty Trash
Once you have confirmed the action, Outlook will begin to empty the trash folder. After a few moments, the trash folder should be empty, and you will have successfully freed up space in your mailbox.
Additional Tips
– If you want to recover an item from the trash folder before emptying it, you can do so by right-clicking on the item and selecting “Restore.” This will move the item back to its original folder.
– You can also adjust the size of the trash folder by going to “File” > “Options” > “Mail” > “Mail Setup” > “Manage folders” > “Properties” > “Size.” Here, you can set a maximum size for the trash folder to prevent it from becoming too large.
– If you want to automatically empty the trash folder at regular intervals, you can enable the “Empty trash on exit” option in the same “Manage folders” settings.
By following these simple steps, you can easily empty the trash in Outlook and maintain an organized inbox. Remember to regularly check and empty your trash folder to keep your email account running smoothly.
