Why are my Outlook sent emails "disappearing" from the Sent messages folder?

I'm using Outlook 2007 with IMAP. I've configured sent messages to be put in the server-based "Sent" folder of my IMAP account. When I send emails, the email will briefly appear in the Sent messages folder and then disappear. They might appear for just a few seconds up to an hour or so. By "disappear" I mean that the messages are no longer in the list, and doing a search across all folders (I created a Search Folder to search for all messages) the message does not come up at all. I had a number of rules but I disabled them all and the problem still occurs. In addition I disabled AutoArchiving and ensured that there were no filters on the Sent folder.

Matthew

Posted 2012-05-14T20:40:55.213

Reputation: 2 450

Have you checked archives? You might have Outlook set to Archive on some crazy fast schedule. – Unfundednut – 2012-05-14T20:47:52.907

@MrStatic - I did. My archive file wasn't open so I opened it and browsed it, as well as made a search folder in there with no results. – Matthew – 2012-05-14T20:52:17.087

Is there a web interface for your imap connection that you may be able to check? Is it possible that rule setup by the imap hosts have started causing this behavior? – None – 2012-05-14T21:17:01.450

@francisswest - There is. I checked that too - I searched all folders and I don't see the emails. What do you mean rule setup by the imap hosts? – Matthew – 2012-05-14T22:08:16.697

Outlook has a setting to "keep replies with original message" if your original message was in a sub-folder (not Inbox). Moreover, this might be your IMAP server playing tricks, and not an Outlook problem at all... – haimg – 2012-05-14T23:23:25.917

Is the sent folder mapped to the correct folder on the server? – Dave – 2014-04-10T10:19:07.230

Answers

FOUND: I experienced just within the last few days certain "sent" emails that were no where to be found ... at least, not in the conventional Outlook folders. I found them in my icloud sent folder. Don't know why they appeared there, and I don't use the name@icloud.com email function, but now I know where they are and will resolve the issue from there (probably deleting the iClould email account.

Jim E.

Posted 2012-05-14T20:40:55.213

Reputation: 11

I've not got enough magic internet points to add this as a comment but I had the same problem. even after checking all troubleshooting stuff mentioned here and elsewhere.

My solution was to delete the following:
OutlPrnt
Outcmd.dat
Outlook.srs
Outlook.xml
(my mail profile is called outlook)
and I left the Outlook.NK2 file in tact then rebooted and it worked.

Back up these files before deleting just in-case it breaks anything.

Hitchmo

Posted 2012-05-14T20:40:55.213

Reputation: 121