User accidentally deleted a distribution list in Outlook

Recover a distribution list

If you accidentally delete a distribution list, go directly to your Deleted Items folder; the distribution list should still be there. Retention depends on how your Outlook e-mail account is set up. If you are using a home or personal account, the list will be permanently deleted once you empty the Deleted Items folder or when you close Outlook.

1. In the Navigation Pane, click Deleted Items.
2. Locate your distribution list, and drag it to the Contacts button at the bottom of the Navigation Pane.

 NOTES 

• This procedure adds the distribution list to your main (default) Contacts folder.
• Your distribution list might be listed according to the date that it was created; in that case, scroll through the deleted items.

Recover a distribution list once the Deleted Items folder has been emptied

Microsoft provides a way to recover items after you delete them permanently, even after you empty the Deleted Items folder.

 NOTE   Your Exchange administrator specifies the retention time for items that are deleted permanently on the server running Exchange. After this time elapses, you cannot recover the deleted items.

1. In the Deleted Items folder, click Recover Deleted Items on the Tools menu.
2. Locate the distribution list and then click Recover Selected Items.
    NOTE:   You cannot recover an item if it does not appear in the Recover Deleted Items dialog box.
3. In the main message list, drag the distribution list to the Contacts button at the bottom of the Navigation Pane.

NOTES 

• This procedure adds the distribution list to your main (default) Contacts folder.
• Your distribution list might be listed according to the date that it was created; in that case, scroll through the deleted items.