Outlook 2007: Manage IMAP Inbox by Manually Purging Deleted Items
Contributed by Rob Rogers 
Tagged: Microsoft Outlook When you delete a message in your IMAP inbox, it isn’t removed. Instead, it is displayed using stikethrough text. IMAP folders require purging for the removal of deleted items. To manually purge your IMAP folder, follow these steps:
1. Select an IMAP folder such as your Inbox.
2. Click Edit and mouseover Purge.
3. Select to Purge from the selected folder, from the current account, or from all IMAP accounts.
4. When the confirmation box appears, click Yes.
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Accezz said on October 7, 2008
Tnx for the tip. Helped me out!
Will said on October 16, 2008
This is right but it is not working. Followed directions to the T. Any other suggestions? Something I am missing? Still reappearing and staying strike through-ed….
idris said on November 10, 2008
Where do the deleted items go to. I do not have a delete items folder in microsoft outlook 2007? should there be a deleted items folder, where I can see all my deleted items?
idris said on November 10, 2008
Works for me re-check your steps. Only problem I have is do not have a deleted items folder? I think there should be a deleted items folder where I can see what emails have been deleted .
Amy said on November 13, 2008
I never leave comments…But this tip kept me from tearing all my hair out. Thank you.
Ten said on May 15, 2009
thank you so much.
Emo Hair said on May 27, 2009
Outlook can be it is pleasant to someone,
but it more to be pleasant to me The Bat!
Anonymous said on July 14, 2009
what if purge isn’t working?
Ulrik said on August 19, 2009
What complete ยค%#! thought up this infuriating “feature”?
Steffen said on September 9, 2009
Good tip!!! Thanx
Andy said on September 14, 2009
It gets even easier in later versions of Outlook 2007 by going to the “Purge Options…” window off the same “Edit” -> “Purge >” menu. You can have the records marked for deletion automatically purged when switching folders by checking the “Purge items when switching folders while online”.
James said on October 1, 2009
If you want it to function more like a POP account, where messages are removed from the inbox right when you click on delete, go to View –> Current View and select “Hide messages marked for deletion.”
Anonymous said on January 3, 2010
I deleted a message from my inbox sent messages, that I want to retrieve How do I retrieve it?
clo said on June 2, 2010
I don’t have the purge option. I tried doing it from the folder, & the account options, & from the menu bar. No such thing.
Kmelka said on July 21, 2010
thank you so much!!!!!
Matt said on September 9, 2010
Hi,
Slightly offtopic, but if I delete mail with some other client (e.g. webmail), those deleted mails still appear in Outlook even after sync.
Anything to do about that?
Thanks, cheers,
Matt
Bbryson said on September 14, 2010
This is the best yet! But, James, where do the items go? I can’t find them in any trash or deleted folders, but at least I can’t see them!
Bbryson said on September 14, 2010
Oh gee, when I went out of Outlook and came back in all the ones I hid from view were back too!