In Outlook 2000, 2002, or 2003, what should I do if I can't see all of my messages?

When viewing a folder in Outlook, you may notice that not all of your messages are being displayed. When this happens, it's possible that a filter is being applied to the folder.

First, verify that you are missing messages by using Outlook Web Access (OWA) to see how many messages are in the folder. For more information, see What is Outlook Web Access (OWA)?

If there are messages that don't appear in the folder while using OWA, you may want to see if the messages have been deleted. Check the Deleted Items folder first. If the Deleted Items folder has been emptied, you may try recovering the deleted items. For more information, see At IU, how can I recover deleted items in Outlook if I am an Exchange user?

If all messages are visible when you are using the OWA client, it's likely that a filter is being applied to the folder. You can check two places to see if there is a filter on the folder in which you're working. First, look in the upper right corner just under the button bar. The words "(Filter Applied)" will appear here. You can also check the bottom left corner of the window, where Outlook displays the number of items in the folder; if there is a filter, this number may not match the number of items displayed.

To turn the filter off:

1. Make sure you are in the folder with a filter.
   
   
2. In Outlook 2003, from the View menu, choose Arrange by, then Current View. In Outlook 2000 or 2002, from the View menu, choose Current View.
   
   
3. If anything besides Messages is checked, click Messages. (This is the default view for a message folder.) If Messages is checked, a custom filter is in place. To turn the filter off:
   
   
   1. In Outlook 2003, from the View menu, choose Arrange by, then Current View, then Customize Current View. In Outlook 2000 or 2002, from the View menu, choose Current View, then Customize Current View.
   2. If it says "Off" next to the Filter button, there is no filter, and there is some other reason that you can't see all your messages. If it says anything other than "Off", click the Filter button. Click Clear All and then click OK.
   3. It should now say "Off" beside the Filter button. Click OK and all your messages will be displayed.

For more information on filters in Outlook, press F1 for help, and then enter filters in the window that appears.

Comments/Questions/Corrections