We’ve all been there. That moment when you realize, oh no, you’ve deleted an important email. The next moment: How do I find a deleted email? Now what? Do you scream? Cry? Throw a blanket over your head and hope the world works itself out around you? Well, just hold on, now. There are a few things you can try first.
Here are five things you can do to recover a deleted email:
- Search Your Inbox
Are you sure you deleted it? Sometimes, in a panic, we miss things. Use the search function in your email to double check that it’s gone. Try the name of the sender, the title of the email, a key word you remember being in the email, anything you can to see if you can’t find the little bugger.
- Check The Trash
Ok, so you deleted it. Let’s start off nice and simple. Have you checked the trash? If you deleted it but haven’t emptied the trash, it should still be in there. Also, if you archived it on your phone, fear not! That doesn’t delete it! You should be able to search “all mail” and find the email in question.
- Try To Cheat The System
Still nothing? It’s definitely and completely deleted? I’m sorry to hear that. The good news is, if you just deleted the email, there may still be a record of it on one of your other devices, if they haven’t updated yet. So grab your device, but don’t open your email yet! Take the device offline first, and then open the email app on your phone or tablet. Once it’s online again and updates, it’ll be gone from there too, but you may be able to at least get any important information you need from the dastardly email first.
- Contact Your Email Service Provider
This one’s a long shot, but if you’re looking for a Hail Mary, sometimes the email provider’s servers will still have records of deleted emails. You may have to tell them your account was hacked (or a robber stole your phone and deleted just one very important email before deciding to give your phone back) or something similar. Good luck with that one – it’s no guarantee, but anything’s worth a shot.
- Contact The Sender Or Someone Else On The Email Chain
I know, I know, who wants to admit defeat? But in the end, we’re all just slaves to our robot overlords. The other humans will surely understand when you tell them technology has royally screwed you and you need the email re-sent.
Realizing you’ve deleted an important email is no fun, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Get that blanket off your head, face the problem and, worst comes to worst, try to find a human who can re-send the email. Breathe. You’re going to be alright!