Email sent using Outlook are not saved to the Sent Items folder

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Microsoft Outlook 2010, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, Outlook for Microsoft 365

Original KB number:   2958272

Symptoms

After you send an email using Microsoft Outlook 2007 or later versions, a copy of the email message is not saved to the Sent Items folder.

Cause

The Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option in Outlook is disabled.

Resolution

Enable the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option by following the steps below for your version of Outlook.

In Outlook 2010 or later versions:

  1. Select File, and then Options.

  2. In the Outlook Options dialog, select Mail.

  3. Under the Save messages section, enable the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option.

    Screenshot shows steps to enable the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option in Outlook 2010 or later versions.

  4. Select OK.

In Outlook 2007:

  1. Select Tools > Options.

  2. Under the Preferences tab, select E-mail Options...

  3. Enable the Save copies of messages in Sent Items folder option.

    Screenshot shows steps to enable the Save copies of messages in the Sent Items folder option in Outlook 2007.

  4. Select OK.

More information

The Save copies of messages in Sent Items folder option can be controlled using the Outlook Group Policy setting. You can find the policy setting below, depending on your version of Outlook.

  • Outlook 2007:

    Policy Path: User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Classic Administrative Templates (ADM)/Microsoft Office Outlook 2007/Tools | Options.../Preferences/E-mail Options

    Screenshot of policy option for Outlook 2007.

  • Outlook 2010:

    Policy Path: User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Classic Administrative Templates (ADM)/Microsoft Outlook 2010/Outlook Options/Preferences/E-mail Options

    Screenshot of policy option for Outlook 2010.

  • Outlook 2013:

    Policy Path: User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Microsoft Outlook 2013/Outlook Options/Preferences/E-mail Options

    Screenshot of policy option for Outlook 2013.

  • Outlook 2016:

    Policy Path: User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Microsoft Outlook 2016/Outlook Options/Preferences/E-mail Options

    In the dialog box for the policy setting, select Enabled to enable the policy and select the Save copies of messages in Save Items folder option (The screenshot for this step is listed below).

    Screenshot shows steps in the policy setting dialog box.

    The Registry keys associated with the Save copies of messages in Sent Items folder option are as follows:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\<x.0>\Outlook\Preferences
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\<x.0>\Outlook\Preferences

    Where <x.0> is your version of Outlook:

    Outlook 2016, Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Outlook 2019 = 16.0
    Outlook 2013 = 15.0
    Outlook 2010 = 14.0
    Outlook 2007 = 12.0

    DWORD Value Name: SaveSent
    Value Data:

    0 = Disabled; Sent emails will not be saved in the Sent Items folder.
    1 = Enabled; Sent emails will be saved in the Sent Items folder.