Outlook is a widely utilized email service equipped with numerous features to enhance user productivity. Outlook Favorites is a dedicated section found at the top of the folder pane, enabling users to easily access their most frequently used folders, files, websites, and other items with speed and convenience.

You can add a folder to Favorites by dragging it onto the Favorites section. Alternatively, right-click the folder and select the "Add to Favorites" or "Show in Favorites" option.

However, issues can arise while using the Favorites folder, such as Outlook Favorites missing. Are you aware of the reasons behind this occurrence and how to restore the Favorites folder?

Don't worry, you're exactly where you should be. This post will address the reasons behind this issue and guide you on how to resolve it.

Outlook favorites missing

Reasons Behind Missing Outlook Favorites

Before addressing missing Outlook Favorites, let's examine some of the most common reasons behind this issue.

One of the most common reasons for Outlook favorites going missing is due to an update or upgrade of your Outlook application. If you have recently updated or upgraded your Outlook app, your Favorites folder might have been reset or removed from the View options.

Another possible reason for Outlook Favorites being missing could be due to alterations in your email account settings. If you have recently modified any settings in your email account, it might have impacted your Outlook Favorites.

Lastly, if you're using multiple Outlook profiles, your Outlook Favorites might be saved in a different profile than the one you're currently using. To verify this, navigate to File > Info > Account Settings and make sure you're using the correct Outlook profile.

How to Recover Missing Outlook Favorites

Fortunately, you can follow a few straightforward steps to recover missing Outlook Favorites. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you restore the vanished Favorites folder: 1. **Check the Outlook Navigation Pane**: First, ensure that the Favorites aren't simply hidden. In Outlook, look at the Navigation Pane on the left side. If it's not visible, click on the "Show Navigation Pane" button or press Ctrl+Tab to display it. Scroll down to see if the Favorites folder is there but perhaps collapsed. 2. **Restore from the Outbox**: Sometimes, accidentally moved items can be found in the Outbox. Check if your Favorites are located there. 3. **Rebuild the Outlook Profile**: If the Favorites are still missing, you might need to rebuild your Outlook profile. To do this: - Close Outlook. - Open the "Control Panel" and search for "Mail." - Click "Show Profiles" under the Mail Setup dialog. - Add a new profile, give it a name, and follow the prompts to set it up. - Launch Outlook using the new profile. - If the Favorites are present, you can transfer any necessary data and then delete the old profile. 4. **Use AutoArchive Settings**: If you have AutoArchive enabled, check the archive file for your missing Favorites. - Go to "File" > "Info" > "Manage Archives." - Open the AutoArchive settings and locate the archived Favorites folder. - You may need to move the items back to your main Outlook profile. 5. **Scan for Corruption**: Use the built-in Outlook tool, Scanpst (for PST files) or Scanost (for OST files), to check for corruption. - Locate the appropriate scan tool for your file type and run it on your data file. - Follow the prompts to repair any issues found. 6. **Third-Party Recovery Tools**: If all else fails, consider using a third-party email recovery tool. These specialized programs can often find and restore lost or deleted items, including Favorites. 7. **Contact Microsoft Support**: If the issue persists, reach out to Microsoft Support for further assistance. Remember to regularly back up your important data to prevent future loss.

Step 1. Open the Outlook app and click the "View" tab in the top menu.

Step 2. Next, click the "Folder Pane" option located under the "View" tab and select "Favorites."

view tab

Step 3. You will now see the Favorites folder displayed in the left column. All the files you previously added will be visible.

favorites folder

Here's a one-minute video that outlines the specific steps to enable the Favorites folder view in the Outlook application. The video addresses the issue of unable to view your Favorites bar in Outlook and offers a solution to rectify this problem. It also discusses scenarios where you might encounter this issue. The solution begins at 0:33. Sit back, watch, and learn from it.

< a id="3" name="3">Regularly Backup Outlook Favorites to Prevent Data Loss

Outlook Favorites serve as a repository for emails and information that are of utmost importance and frequently accessed by us. Should any unforeseen issues arise causing data loss in Outlook, the consequences can be unpredictable. To safeguard the integrity of your data, it is advisable to regularly back up your Favorites folder. This ensures that even in the event of computer malfunction or unavailability of the Outlook application, you can still retrieve your backup data.

An Outlook backup tool can significantly simplify the backup process, saving both time and effort while ensuring the security of your data. Todo Backup Home is a dependable and professional Outlook backup software that offers scheduled backups and various backup options. In addition to backing up data to internal hard drives, it also enables you to automatically back up data to external hard drives, Cloud services, NAS devices, and a secure zone.

Here are some specific features that will help you better understand Todo Backup in American English: 1. **Comprehensive Backup Solutions**: Todo Backup provides extensive backup options for your system, files, apps, and disks, ensuring all your crucial data is secure. 2. **Scheduled Backups**: You can set up automatic backup tasks to run at specific intervals (daily, weekly, or monthly), keeping your data current. 3. **Incremental and Differential Backup**: The tool saves time and storage by doing incremental or differential backups, which only back up changes since the last full backup. 4. **System Clone and Migration**: Todo Backup lets you clone your entire system drive to another, allowing quick OS migration to new hardware or for disaster recovery. 5. **Disk and Partition Management**: It offers disk and partition management tools, like creating, resizing, and formatting partitions, optimizing storage use. 6. **Data Preview and Restoration**: Preview files before restoring to confirm their accuracy. The tool provides a smooth restoration process for fast data retrieval. 7. **File and Folder Filtering**: Customize backups by choosing which files or folders to include or exclude from the backup process. 8. **Encryption and Compression**: Backup files are encrypted for extra security, and data is compressed to save storage space. 9. **Cloud Backup Integration**: Integrate with popular cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive for offsite backup redundancy. 10. **User-friendly Interface**: The software has an intuitive interface, making it simple for users of any level to navigate and set up backup preferences. These features showcase Todo Backup's versatility and reliability in effectively protecting your valuable data.

    • Scheduled Backup: Set daily, weekly, monthly, or event-based backup points to automate data backup and save time.
    • Diverse Backup Types: Supports full backup, incremental backup, and differential backup; options for file, folder, system, disk, and partition backup are all available. Choose the backup type that suits your needs.
    • Outlook Backup: Back up Outlook emails with a single click, safeguarding your Outlook data from loss.
    • Swift Recovery: In case of original data loss or damage, swiftly restore using the available backups.
    • High Security: Todo Backup Home ensures your Outlook backups are protected with a password, guaranteeing the security of your backup images.
    • 250 GB of Free Cloud Storage: Todo Backup also offers 250 GB of complimentary Cloud storage, facilitating the convenient storage of Outlook backup images and other crucial data in the Cloud.

Translate into English

Start a live chat with a Tools Expert to customize an enterprise backup solution tailored to your needs. We're here to assist you with:

  • Begin a free trial
  • Get a quote
  • Schedule a free demo

Here's the step-by-step guide to backing up Outlook using the tool Todo Backup: 1. Download and Install Todo Backup: First, visit the official website of Todo Backup and download the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows or Mac). Install the software following the on-screen instructions. 2. Launch Todo Backup: Once the installation is complete, open the application on your computer. You'll be greeted with the main interface of Todo Backup. 3. Select Backup Type: In the main window, look for the option "Outlook Backup" or "Email Backup." Click on it to proceed to the next step. 4. Choose Backup Source: In the backup settings, select "Outlook" as the source you want to back up. Todo Backup will automatically detect the installed version of Outlook on your system. 5. Define Backup Destination: Next, choose where you want to save your Outlook backup. You can opt for your local hard drive, an external storage device, or even upload it to a cloud service like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. 6. Customize Backup Settings (Optional): If needed, you can customize the backup process by selecting specific Outlook data components to include in the backup, such as emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, etc. You can also schedule regular backups according to your preference. 7. Start the Backup Process: After configuring the backup settings, click on "Backup Now" or "Start" to initiate the backup process. Todo Backup will then create a copy of your Outlook data and save it to the designated location. 8. Verify Backup: Once the backup is complete, it's a good idea to verify its integrity by checking the backed-up files or restoring a small portion of the data to ensure everything is working correctly. 9. Regularly Update Your Backup: To keep your Outlook data up-to-date, remember to run the backup process periodically or according to the schedule you set in the previous step. By following these steps, you can effectively use Todo Backup to safeguard your Outlook data against any potential loss or damage.

Step 1. Launch the Todo Backup tool on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen. Then, hit the large question mark to select backup contents.

backup outlook mail step 1

Step 2. Click on "Apps Data" among the four backup options.

backup outlook mail step 2

Step 3. Next, you'll see a list of all the apps that can be backed up. Locate and check the "Microsoft Outlook" option. Select the mailbox addresses from which you want to back up emails, contacts, or calendars, and click "OK".

backup outlook mail step 3

Step 4. Next, you need to click on the designated area to choose where to save your Outlook backup.

backup outlook mail step 4

Step 5. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud, or NAS. Generally, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud to store the backup files.

backup outlook mail step 5

Step 6. If interested, you can customize settings such as setting an automatic backup schedule for daily, weekly, monthly, or on specific events, and creating differential and incremental backups by clicking on the Options button. Once ready, click "Backup Now". The Outlook backup process will commence. When complete, the finished backup task will be displayed on the left side in a card format.

backup outlook mail step 6

Conclusion

These articles cover the issue of "Outlook Favorites missing" and provide guidance on how to restore vanished Outlook Favorites.

Outlook Favorites are crucial to our daily work and personal life. Their absence can undoubtedly lead to significant inconvenience. Hence, it's essential to exercise caution while using Outlook and regularly backup Outlook favorites to prevent data loss. Todo Backup Home is an excellent tool that simplifies the process of backing up Outlook favorites while ensuring high security. It enables us to effortlessly create backups of our Outlook favorites and restore them as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Missing Outlook Favorites

1. Why do my Outlook favorites suddenly vanish?

There can be several reasons behind the disappearance of Outlook Favorites. The most common one is updating or upgrading your Outlook application, which can result in the Favorites feature being disabled or reset.

2. How do I restore my favorites in Outlook 365?

To restore Favorites in Outlook 365, proceed as follows: Open Outlook - click on View - navigate to Folder Pane - and locate Favorites. You will notice that Favorites has returned.

Where is the Favorites folder in Outlook?

You can locate the Favorites folder in Outlook by opening the Folder Pane and navigating to it in the sidebar. The Favorites feature allows you to add, remove, and organize files and folders from your Inbox and Sent Items. Keep in mind that when you remove items from the Favorites folder, they will still exist in their original location. However, if you delete the Favorites folder itself, the original folder will also be deleted.