How to Effectively Restore Deleted Contacts in Outlook- A Step-by-Step Guide_1

How to recover a deleted contact in Outlook

Dealing with deleted contacts in Outlook can be a frustrating experience, especially when you realize that you’ve lost important information. However, there are several methods you can try to recover a deleted contact in Outlook. In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective ways to retrieve your deleted contacts and ensure that you don’t lose valuable information in the future.

1. Use the Deleted Items folder

The first and simplest method to recover a deleted contact in Outlook is to check the Deleted Items folder. When you delete a contact, it is moved to this folder, and you can easily restore it from there. To do this:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the Contacts folder.
2. Click on the Deleted Items folder on the left-hand navigation pane.
3. Locate the deleted contact and right-click on it.
4. Select “Restore” to recover the contact to its original location.

2. Utilize the Search feature

Outlook’s search feature can help you find deleted contacts if you remember some details about them. To use this method:

1. Open Outlook and go to the Contacts folder.
2. Click on the “Search” button in the upper-right corner.
3. Enter a keyword or a piece of information you remember about the deleted contact.
4. Outlook will display a list of contacts that match your search criteria, including the deleted one.
5. Right-click on the deleted contact and select “Restore” to recover it.

3. Restore from a backup

Outlook allows you to create backups of your contacts, which can be a lifesaver when you need to recover deleted contacts. To restore from a backup:

1. Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
2. Select “Open & Export” and then click on “Import/Export” to open the Import and Export Wizard.
3. Choose “Import from another program or file” and click “Next.
4. Select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” as the file type and click “Next.
5. Browse to the location of your backup file and select it.
6. Choose the contacts folder you want to import and click “Next.
7. Select the “Import to Personal Folder File (.pst)” option and click “Next.
8. Select the destination folder where you want to import the contacts and click “Finish.

4. Use the “Recover Personal Folders” feature

Outlook has a built-in feature called “Recover Personal Folders” that can help you recover deleted contacts. To use this feature:

1. Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
2. Select “Account Settings” and then click on “Data Files.
3. Click on the “Recover Personal Folders” button.
4. Follow the prompts to search for and recover your deleted contacts.

By following these methods, you should be able to recover a deleted contact in Outlook. Remember to regularly back up your contacts to prevent future data loss.