Missing Folders in Outlook

This is a very common issue in my current work. Out of the blue, a folder in user's Outlook vanishes, simply gone. There are two possibilities here: Start Outlook with resetfolders switch parameter or find the hidden folder and bring it back.

For the first option, you may check this post with info about all Outlook switches or just follow example below.

 outlook.exe /resetfolders

But this doesn't always work, so here's a more hardcore way to fix it. You'll need to use MFCMAPI tool, which I've already presented in a previous post, in order to find the folder.

Once you have MFCMAPI downloaded, you can just execute it - no install needed - Skip the first window by clicking OK, and in the main window click Session, Logon and Display Store Table.

Choose a profile previously created or create a new one.

Double-click the Mailbox in the list.

In the new window that will show up, you'll be able to browse the entire content of the mailbox. Be very careful!!! There's no "undo" for any mess you do here.

In the left pane, browse to the Top of Information Store, and then you'll probably find the folder under it - if you don't find the folder here (and you previously checked the Deleted Items folder and Recover Deleted Items), it's probably gone indeed - nothing you can do. If you find the folder, select it, and find the property in the right pane named PR_ATTR_HIDDEN, double-click it.

You'll very likely find this attribute set as True (Boolean checkbox will be checked as depicted below). In order to bring the folder back, you just need to make sure this checkbox is unchecked.

 That done, have the user to restart Outlook and voilà :)