If the user has at least author rights to the shared mailbox's Deleted Items folder, the deleted items can go into the shared mailbox's deleted items folder. You (or the administrator) need to add this key to the registry.
Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021 and Outlook 365 subscription
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General DWORD: DelegateWastebasketStyle Value: 4 (use shared mailbox's Deleted items) 8 (use the default deleted items folder)
Outlook 2013
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Options\General DWORD: DelegateWastebasketStyle Value: 4 (use shared mailbox's Deleted items) 8 (use the default deleted items folder)
Outlook 2010
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Options\General DWORD: DelegateWastebasketStyle Value: 4 (use shared mailbox's Deleted items) 8 (use the default deleted items folder)
Outlook 2007
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Options\General DWORD: DelegateWastebasketStyle Value: 4 (use shared mailbox's Deleted items) 8 (use the default deleted items folder)
The administrator can use Group Policy to set this value as well. It's in the Group Policy editor under Outlook Options > Delegates. In this case, the DelegateWastebasketStyle DWORD is added to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\xx.0\outlook\options\general
Do It For Me
If you don't want to edit the registry yourself, we have ready-to-use registry files you can download and run. The value is set to 4 in these reg files.
Outlook 2016 and Outlook 2019 Outlook 2013
Outlook 2010 Outlook 2007
How to Edit the Registry
Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit and press Enter.
- Browse the registry and locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General (Where xx is your version of Outlook.)
- Right click on Options key and select New, DWORD Value.
- Type (or paste) DelegateWastebasketStyle for the DWORD
- Double click on DelegateWastebasketStyle to open the Edit dialog then type 4 for the Value data and close the dialog.
Don't forget to close and restart Outlook!
More Information
See Sending Email from a Secondary Exchange Mailbox to control where sent messages are saved.
David says
2026 and not only have Microsoft failed to fix this (after taking more than 20 years to address this behaviour for Sent Items) but the situation is only getting worse. This fix will now only work for one, soon to be end-of-life, version of Outllok for Windows. All other versions of Outlook for desktop, web and mobile will not work!
Diane Poremsky says
Is your account on Microsoft 365? The option to save sent items is now controlled by the server and is the recommended way to do it.
The reg key is definitely only for classic Outlook but the server setting works for all clients.
Rolph says
I've spent quite a bit of time trying to get this to work in Outlook 365(2019) and nothing worked till I download the "Do It For Me" reg key. One thing to note is the path in step one is not accurate, but reg file is. That path that worked for me is: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General
Diane Poremsky says
Thanks for letting me know. (I fixed it.)
Chris says
For outlook 2016 to 2019
FYI, if you're following the instructions under "how to edit the registry" instead of right-clicking the "options" key, expand options and right-click the "general" key and add the 32-bit DWORD value as instructed. This has worked for me.
Pat says
Has anything changed in 2023 for this? How is this applied to devices that have Exchange mailboxes but aren't part of the domain?
Niaz says
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General
DWORD: DelegateWastebasketStyle
Value: 4 (use shared mailbox's Deleted items)
8 (use the default deleted items folder)
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This Reg Key solution is not working, we are using Office 365?? Is there anything else we can do? I realy want to know if there are other solutions?
Corey Preman says
We have Outlook 2013 and have noticed there is no General folder under 15.0\Outlook. There is a Preferences folder and going by previous version experience I did the DWORD string there, and yes it worked. A few questions though.
1. This needs to be done for Sent, drafts, and deleted individually correct?
2. Is this a bug or on purpose?
3. Do I need to make these changes every time I set up a shared mailbox for someone ?
Please reply...ty
Diane Poremsky says
No, you only need to set it once and it applies to all folders in the mailboxes. If the General key does not exist, you need to create it, and yes, general is the correct key. https://support.microsoft.com/kb/202517 also puts it under General.
Are you sure the key worked?