My email is going to the deleted folder.

linda hackathorn 0 Reputation points
2026-11-09T19:18:41.17+00:00

I got hacked and my email started going to the trash folder. I have checked all the folders and rules. No rules exist,

Password changed. Still not fixed.

Any ideas

Outlook | MacOS | Legacy Outlook for Mac | For home
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  1. Chloe-V 15,330 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-10T01:05:04.2233333+00:00

    Hi @linda hackathorn

    I’m sorry you are experiencing this, especially after your account was compromised.

    Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas only.

    To identify whether the issue is caused by Legacy Outlook for Mac or the mailbox itself, please completely quit Outlook for Mac. Then, sign in to your account through Outlook.com in a browser and send yourself a test email.

    • If the test email remains in the Inbox, the issue is likely related to the Outlook for Mac profile or a local setting.
    • If the email still moves to Deleted Items while Outlook for Mac is closed, the issue is occurring at the mailbox level.

    Since the account was hacked, please also review the account’s security information and remove any unknown devices, aliases, sign-in methods, or app passwords. Changing the password may not automatically disconnect every session created before the password change.

    If the issue also occurs on Outlook.com and no suspicious settings are visible, please contact Outlook.com Support through Help > Help in Outlook.com so the mailbox can be reviewed.

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-09T19:18:56.72+00:00

    Since the password was already changed and visible rules were already checked, the next checks are the mailbox settings that attackers commonly leave behind:

    1. In Outlook on the web, check Mail > Rules again from a computer, not mobile. Some rules are easier to find there.
    2. Check Mail > Forwarding and remove anything not created intentionally.
    3. Check Mail > Junk email and remove any legitimate addresses or domains from Blocked senders.
    4. Check Mail > Sweep and delete any suspicious sweep rules.
    5. Open Deleted Items, select one of the affected messages, and check whether the conversation is being ignored. If Ignore is enabled, select Stop Ignoring Conversation so future messages stop going to Deleted Items.
    6. In Legacy Outlook for Mac, go to Tools > Rules and clear any rules shown there.
    7. If mail is still being moved after those checks, create a new Outlook profile/identity. This can help if the Mac client profile is corrupted.

    Because the account was hacked, also review account settings that can persist after a password change:

    • Check connected accounts, forwarding, and automatic replies.
    • Sign out of all sessions.
    • Enable two-step verification.
    • Review recent account activity and remove anything not recognized.

    If messages are still going straight to Deleted Items after all of the above, use Outlook.com support from Help in the menu bar and, if needed, the Still need help? option.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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