How to Delete Multiple Emails at Once in Outlook

The fastest way to delete multiple emails

You can delete multiple emails in Outlook by selecting them first, then pressing the Delete key or clicking the trash icon. The method depends on whether the emails are grouped together or scattered throughout your inbox, and whether you're using Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or Outlook on your phone.

Most people find it fastest to select a group of consecutive emails by clicking the first one, holding Shift, and clicking the last one. If the emails aren't next to each other, hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and click each one individually. Once they're selected, press Delete or click the trash icon in the toolbar.

Key Takeaways

Select multiple emails by clicking one, holding Shift, and clicking another to select everything between them, or hold Ctrl and click individual emails to select non-consecutive ones.
After selecting emails, press the Delete key or click the trash icon in the toolbar to move them to the Deleted Items folder.
Outlook on the web has a checkbox next to each email that lets you select multiple messages without using keyboard shortcuts.
Permanently removing emails from Deleted Items requires right-clicking the folder and choosing Empty Folder, or selecting emails in Deleted Items and pressing Delete again.
You can undo a deletion immediately by pressing Ctrl+Z, but recovery becomes harder once you empty the Deleted Items folder.

Selecting consecutive emails in Outlook desktop

If the emails you want to delete are next to each other in your inbox, use Shift+click to select them all at once. Click the first email in the group, then hold Shift and click the last email. Outlook highlights everything in between.

Once they're selected, press the Delete key on your keyboard. The emails move to your Deleted Items folder. If you change your mind immediately, press Ctrl+Z to undo the deletion and bring them back to your inbox.

Selecting non-consecutive emails in Outlook desktop

When the emails you want to delete are scattered throughout your inbox, hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and click each one individually. Each click adds that email to your selection without removing the others you've already chosen.

You can mix this method with Shift+click if you want. For example, hold Ctrl and click one email, then hold Ctrl+Shift and click another to select a range while keeping your first selection. Once all the emails you want are highlighted, press Delete or click the trash icon.

Deleting emails in Outlook on the web

Outlook on the web (Outlook.com or Outlook accessed through a browser) has checkboxes to the left of each email, which makes selecting multiple messages easier than using keyboard shortcuts. Click the checkbox next to each email you want to delete, or click the checkbox at the top of the list to select all visible emails on that page.

After selecting the emails, click the trash icon in the toolbar at the top. The emails move to your Deleted Items folder. Note that selecting all emails on the current page does not select emails on other pages — you'll need to go to each page and repeat the process if you want to delete across multiple pages.

Deleting emails on Outlook mobile

On the Outlook mobile app for iPhone or Android, open your inbox and look for the edit button, usually shown as three dots or a pencil icon in the top corner. Tap it to enter selection mode, then tap the circle next to each email you want to delete.

Once you've selected the emails, tap the trash icon at the bottom of the screen. The emails move to your Deleted Items folder. On mobile, you cannot use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl or Shift, so you must tap each email individually or use the select-all option if your app version offers it.

Permanently removing emails from Deleted Items

When you press Delete in Outlook, emails go to the Deleted Items folder but are not permanently removed from your account. To permanently delete them, you need to empty the Deleted Items folder or delete them a second time from within that folder.

In Outlook desktop, right-click the Deleted Items folder in the left sidebar and select "Empty Folder." A confirmation window appears — click Yes to permanently remove all emails in that folder. In Outlook on the web, click Deleted Items, select the emails you want to remove permanently, and press Delete again. In the mobile app, open Deleted Items, select the emails, and tap the trash icon.

Once you empty the Deleted Items folder, the emails cannot be recovered through Outlook's undo function. Some organizations keep backups of deleted emails on their servers, but this varies by company and email provider.

What to do if you accidentally delete the wrong emails

If you delete emails by mistake, press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo the deletion. This works as long as you haven't closed Outlook or performed other actions since the deletion. The emails return to your inbox or the folder they were in before.

If you've already emptied the Deleted Items folder or closed Outlook, recovery is much harder. Contact your email provider or your organization's IT support to ask about backup options. Some providers can restore deleted emails within a certain window, but this is not may provide and may take several days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I select all emails in my inbox at once?

Yes. In Outlook desktop, press Ctrl+A to select all emails currently visible on your screen. In Outlook on the web, click the checkbox at the top of the email list. On mobile, look for a select-all option in the edit menu. Note that Ctrl+A selects only the emails on your current page or view, not across all folders.

What's the difference between Delete and Empty Folder?

Delete moves emails to the Deleted Items folder, where you can still recover them. Empty Folder permanently removes all emails from that folder at once. Use Empty Folder when you're sure you don't need anything in Deleted Items anymore.

Do deleted emails take up storage space?

Yes, emails in your Deleted Items folder still count toward your storage limit. Permanently removing them frees up space. If you're running low on storage, emptying Deleted Items is often the fastest way to recover space without losing anything you actually need.

Can I delete emails by sender or subject without selecting them manually?

Outlook has a search function that lets you find emails by sender, subject, or date. Search for the emails you want to delete, then select and delete them all at once. This is faster than clicking each one individually when you're removing large groups of similar emails.

Will deleting emails from Deleted Items remove them from my phone too?

If your phone is synced to your Outlook account, deletions on one device eventually sync to the others. However, the timing varies depending on your sync settings. To be safe, delete emails from the same device where you want them removed, or check your phone's sync settings to understand how changes are shared across your devices.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.