The Empty Folder command deletes only a subset of Exchange mailbox items in Outlook 2013

Summary

Consider the following scenario:

  • You are using Microsoft Outlook 2013.
  • You are connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox.
  • Your Exchange email account is configured to use Cached Exchange Mode.

In this scenario, when you use the Empty Folder command to delete the contents of the Deleted Items folder, only a subset of items is deleted. Similarly, when you use the Delete All command to delete the contents of other Outlook email folders, only a subset of items is deleted. Additionally, if you enable the Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook option, only a subset of items are deleted from any Deleted Items folders when you exit Outlook.

More information

This behavior occurs because of the new Cached Exchange Mode Sync Slider feature that is introduced in Outlook 2013. By default, Sync Slider is set to synchronize only the last 12 months of email messages and deleted items. In the default configuration, only the last 12 months of items are displayed in the email and Deleted Items folders. When you select the Delete All command, only the email messages that are displayed in the folder are deleted. If you browse to the Deleted Items folder and then select the Empty Folder command, only the email messages that are displayed in the folder are permanently deleted. The same is true if you enable the Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook option. When you exit Outlook, items more than 12 months old are not permanently deleted.

How to force Outlook to delete all items in a folder

To force Outlook to delete all items in a folder, make sure that Outlook displays all the items in the folder. To display and delete all items in a folder, follow these steps:

  1. Start Outlook, and then browse to the desired folder. For example, select the Deleted Items folder or another built-in email folder such as the Inbox folder or the Sent Items folder.

  2. At the bottom of the view and under the "There are more items in this folder on the server", select the Click here to view more on Microsoft Exchange hyperlink.

    Note

    You may have to scroll to the bottom of the folder view to see the message and link.

  3. To delete the items in the folder, select the Folder tab on the Ribbon, and then select Delete All. If you are working in the Deleted Items folder or the Junk E-Mail folder, the Empty Folder command is available.

    Note

    The Delete All command is available only in the default Outlook email folders. This command is disabled for custom folders that you create.

How to force Outlook to empty all the items in the Deleted Items folder on exit

If you enabled the Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook option, make sure that Outlook displays all the items before you exit Outlook. When you do this, all the items in the Deleted Items folder are permanently deleted when you exit Outlook. To have Outlook empty the Delete Items folder when you next exit, follow these steps:

  1. Start Outlook, and then browse to the Deleted Items folder.

  2. At the bottom of the view and under the "There are more items in this folder on the server", select the Click here to view more on Microsoft Exchange hyperlink.

    Note

    You may have to scroll to the bottom of the folder view to see the message and link.

  3. Exit Outlook.

    Note

    When you receive the following message, select Yes:
    Do you want to permanently delete everything in the "Deleted Items" folder for all accounts?

How to force the Empty Deleted Items Folder feature to delete all items in the Deleted Items folder

The Empty Deleted Items Folder tool is one of the Cleanup Tools that is available as part of the Mailbox Cleanup feature. If you want this tool to delete all the items in the Deleted Items folder, you must first make sure that Outlook displays all the items in the folder. To have Outlook permanently delete all the items in the Deleted Items folder when you run the tool, follow these steps:

  1. Start Outlook, and then browse to the Deleted Items folder.

  2. At the bottom of the view and under the "There are more items in this folder on the server", select the Click here to view more on Microsoft Exchange hyperlink.

    Note

    You may have to scroll to the bottom of the folder view to see the message and link.

  3. Select the File tab on the Ribbon.

  4. Select Cleanup Tools, and then select Empty Deleted Items Folder.

For more information about how to administer the Outlook 2013 Sync Slider feature, see Only a subset of your Exchange mailbox items are synchronized in Outlook.