I get a lot of questions asking how to delete the default folders, such as Junk Email, RSS, Conversation History, Archive, and Suggested Contacts. Microsoft Outlook creates these folders in the default data files. While I don't recommend deleting the default folders, anyone who really wants to delete default folders can delete them using MFCMAPI or OutlookSpy.

You can rename the defaults folders using the method at Rename default folders.

Deleting folders using these tools is usually not permanent: at some point in the future, Outlook may decide to recreate the folder. It may be weeks, it may be months, but it often comes back. Exactly how long it stays gone depends on the folder, Outlook recreates some folders fairly quickly.

PowerShell script to hide folders is here. A macro to hide folders is at the end of this article. Add it to the QAT to easily re-hide folders when Outlook unhides them. To hide a number of folders at once, in all data files, see Hide Extra Folders in Outlook.com

In most cases, it's better to hide the folder. Outlook seems less inclined to remove the Hidden tag from the folder (although lately it is removing the hidden tag from calendar folders within a couple of hours.). However, hiding a folder does not stop Outlook from using it. If you hide Junk email, RSS, or Suggested Contacts folders, you need to disable the features that use those folders.

Before using MFCMAPI or OutlookSpy, you should make a copy of your data file! While these steps are safe to use, it is very easy to have an "Oops, did I do that?" moment and lose your data.

Which folders are candidates for deletion or hiding? Junk Mail (only if its disabled first), RSS and Suggested Contacts (after disabling it in File, Options, Contacts).

Using scanpst or the /resetfolder switch may recreate the folders.

To use either method, get MFCMAPI. You'll need the 32-bit version if you use Outlook 2007, or Outlook 2010 and up in 32 bit. The 64-bit version is for use with Outlook 64-bit (NOT 64-bit Windows).

These instructions remove or hide default folders in a PST file. The process is similar with Exchange mailboxes, however, the missing folders are more likely to be recreated and removing them is not recommended.

Tools | More Information

Delete the Folder

1. After downloading MFCMAPI, unzip it then double click to run.
2. Click Session > Logon and choose your profile (if you have more than one)
3. Double click on your data file. If you have more than one data file, the top one should be your default. (It will have True in the Default Store column.)
4. Expand Root Container (or Root - Mailbox if using Exchange)
5. Expand Top of Outlook Store. Exchange users will choose IPM_SUBTREE
6. Select the folder you wish to delete.
7. Right click and choose Delete Folder.
   
8. Click OK. (Don't tick Hard Deletion, it doesn't work on most folders.)
9. Close the dialogs and return to Outlook.

Hide the Folder

The macro at the end of this article automates these steps to hide the selected folder. If you accidentally hide the wrong folder, you'll need to use MFCMAPI to unhide it. Find the Hidden property and remove the tick from the Boolean field.

1. After downloading MFCMAPI, unzip it then double click to run.
2. Click Session > Logon and choose your profile (if you have more than one)
3. Double click on your data file. If you have more than one data file, the top one should be your default. (It will have True in the Default Store column.)
4. Expand Root Container (or Root - Mailbox)
5. Expand Top of Outlook Store (or IPM_SUBTREE)
   
6. Select Quick Step Settings folder
7. Select "PR_ATTR_HIDDEN, PidTagAttributeHidden, ptagAttrHidden" entry (near the top)
8. Right click and choose Copy Property
9. Select the folder you wish to hide.
10. Right click and choose Paste...
    
11. Click OK twice to add the property to the folder.
    
12. Close the dialogs and return to Outlook.

This screenshot shows the PR_ATTR_HIDDEN, PidTagAttributeHidden, ptagAttrHidden property added to the folder's property as well as the folder list without the Suggested Contacts folder (deleted) and Junk mail folder (hidden).

Use OutlookSpy

You can hide folders using OutlookSpy in 5 clicks:

1. Select the Clutter folder
2. Click IMAPIFolder button on the OutlookSpy ribbon
3. Click “Add Property” button
4. Type PR_ATTR_HIDDEN in the tag edit box and true in the value edit box
5. Click OK

Restore a hidden folder

If you hid a folder and now need to unhide, you'll need to use MFCMAPI or OutlookSpy to remove the hidden folder. (If you are using Exchange cached mode and the folder appears in OWA, you can delete the ost file to restore the folder.)

1. Open MFCMAPI.
2. Go to Session, Logon.
3. Double-click on the email account then Tools, Options and select “Use the MDB_ONLINE flag when calling OpenMsgStore”.
4. Close then reopen the dialog box and Expand ‘Root Container’
5. Expand “Top of Information Store”.
6. Click on folder you need to unhide then Double-click “PR_ATTR_Hidden…” attribute.
7. Check “Boolean” then OK
8. If using Exchange or Office 365, verify that OWA did not display the folder.
9. Then uncheck ‘Boolean’ and click OK to hide again. Check OWA.
10. Start Outlook.

Manually Add the Property Tag using MFCMAPI

While it's easier for many people to copy and paste the property tag or use the macro, you can add the Hidden property tag to any folder using MFCMAPI.

1. Get the property tag (0x10F4000B)
2. Open MFCMAPI to the folder you want to hide
3. Right-click an choose Edit Given Property
4. Type or Paste the property into the Property name field and click Ok.
5. Click Boolean then click OK to finish.

Use PowerShell to Hide or Unhide a Folder

This PowerShell sample will hide or show a folder.

$Outlook = New-Object -comobject Outlook.Application
$ns = $Outlook.GetNameSpace("MAPI")

$PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"

#hide the selected folder
#$Folder =($Outlook.ActiveExplorer()).CurrentFolder

#hide or unhide a default folder (Journal in this case)
$Folder = $ns.GetDefaultFolder(11)

# hide or unhide a folder at the same level as the inbox
#$Folder = $ns.GetDefaultFolder(6).Parent.Folders.Item(".Test")

# hide or unhide a subfolder of inbox
#$Folder = $ns.GetDefaultFolder(6).Folders.Item(".Test")

write-host $($Folder.Name)
$oPA = $Folder.PropertyAccessor
$value = $oPA.GetProperty($PropName)
write-host $Indent$($Folder.Name)" ("$($Folder.Items.Count)")" $value

# true = hidden, false = visible
# check to see if hidden and change to visible
If ($value -eq $true)
   {
   write-host "changing prop"
    $oPA.SetProperty($PropName, $false)
    }

$value = $oPA.GetProperty($PropName)
write-host $Indent$($Folder.Name)" ("$($Folder.Items.Count)")" $value

Hide Calendar and Contacts folders in Shared Mailboxes

This version of the script hides the Calendar or Contacts folders in Exchange shared Mailboxes. To get a list of mailboxes it will apply to before running the script, remove or comment out this line.
$oPA.SetProperty($PropName, $true)

$Outlook = New-Object -comobject Outlook.Application
$ns = $Outlook.GetNameSpace("MAPI")

$PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"

#Get all shared mailboxes
$mailboxes = $Outlook.GetNameSpace('MAPI').Stores | Where-Object {$_.ExchangeStoreType -eq 1}

#$mailboxes | Select DisplayName, SmtpAddress

foreach ($mailbox in $mailboxes) {

$mailboxname = $mailbox.displayname
write-host $mailboxname

$store=$ns.Stores.Item($mailboxname)

#calendar = 9, contacts = 10
$HideFolder = $store.GetDefaultFolder(9)

write-host $($HideFolder.parent.Name)

$oPA = $HideFolder.PropertyAccessor

$value = $oPA.GetProperty($PropName)

# true = hidden, false = visible
# check to see if hidden and change to visible
If ($value -eq $false)
   {
   write-host "changing prop"
    $oPA.SetProperty($PropName, $true)
    }

$value = $oPA.GetProperty($PropName)

}

Valid ExchangeStoreType Enumeration values:

Using PowerShell Scripts

To use PowerShell scripts with Outlook, start typing PowerShell on the start menu and open Windows PowerShell when it comes up. Windows PowerShell ISE has a script pane at the top, which is useful if you want to edit the script.

Paste the entire script in the PowerShell window and press Enter or the Run button if using PowerShell ISE.

Note: PowerShell scripts will not work with the Windows Store version of Office. You'll need to use a VBA macro version if you have the Windows store version of Office installed.

Saving PowerShell Scripts

If you want to save the script as a .ps1 file, paste it into Notepad and save it with the extension .ps1. To open it in the PowerShell IDE, type powershell on the start menu and click on Windows PowerShell IDE when the PowerShell app is found. Paste the script in the editing window.

To use it, you need to allow local scripts by running this command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

To run your saved .ps1 file, right-click on the script and choose Run with PowerShell.

Default Folder Enumeration Values

Use VBA to Hide Folders

To use this macro, paste it into the VBA editor, select the folder you want to hide and run the macro. If you need help using the VB Editor, see How to use the VBA Editor for more information and screenshots.

Option Explicit
  
Public Sub HideFolders()

Dim oFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim oPA As Outlook.propertyAccessor
Dim PropName, Value, FolderType As String

PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"
Value = True
 
Set oFolder = Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
Set oPA = oFolder.propertyAccessor

oPA.SetProperty PropName, Value
 
Set oFolder = Nothing
Set oPA = Nothing
End Sub

To unhide a folder, change
Set oFolder = Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder to use a specific folder and change the Value line to False.
For example, if you accidently hid the Calendar, you'll use this for the oFolder line to unhide it.
Set oFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderCalendar)
More information on folder paths and other default folder names is available in the following article:
Working with All Items in a Folder or Selected Items

Option Explicit
  
Public Sub UnHideFolders()

Dim oFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim oPA As Outlook.propertyAccessor
Dim PropName, Value As String

PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"
Value = False
 
' for default folder:
Set oFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderCalendar)

' for subfolder you created:
' Set oFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("folder name")

' for a folder at the same level as the inbox:
' Set oFolder = Session.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Parent.Folders("folder name")

Set oPA = oFolder.propertyAccessor

oPA.SetProperty PropName, Value
 
Set oFolder = Nothing
Set oPA = Nothing
End Sub

Unhide folder in a secondary mailbox

You need to use the GetFolderPath function from https://www.slipstick.com/developer/working-vba-nondefault-outlook-folders/#GetFolderPath

To use, enter the account name and folder you need to unide.
Set oFolder = GetFolderPath("mailbox name\Deleted Items")

Public Sub ShowHiddenFolder()

Dim oFolder As Outlook.Folder
Dim oPA As Outlook.PropertyAccessor
Dim PropName, Value As String

PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"
Value = False
 
Set oFolder = GetFolderPath("mailbox name\Deleted Items")

Set oPA = oFolder.PropertyAccessor

oPA.SetProperty PropName, Value
 
Set oFolder = Nothing
Set oPA = Nothing
End Sub

If you accidentally hid a folder and can't recall which folder it was, use this macro to create a list of folder names and the Hidden property value.
This macro is based on the macro at Print a list of your Outlook folders

To use, select the root of the data file you want to check and run the GetFolderHiddenState macro.

When finished, the macro creates a new email message containing all of the folders as shown in the very small sample below.

\\account name\Inbox - 5075 items.  Is Hidden: False 
\\account name\Inbox\Test - 9 items.  Is Hidden: False 
\\account name\Sync Issues\Server Failures - 0 items.  Is Hidden: none 
\\account name\Contacts\Recipient Cache - 1206 items.  Is Hidden: True 
\\account name\Need Replies\test - 2 items.  Is Hidden: False 

Public strFolders As String
 
Public Sub GetFolderHiddenState()
    Dim olApp As Outlook.Application
    Dim olSession As Outlook.NameSpace
    Dim olStartFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
    Dim lCountOfFound As Long
 
    lCountOfFound = 0
      
    Set olApp = New Outlook.Application
    Set olSession = olApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
      
' Allow the user to pick the folder in which to start the search.
    Set olStartFolder = olSession.PickFolder
      
' Check to make sure user didn't cancel PickFolder dialog.
    If Not (olStartFolder Is Nothing) Then
         ' Start the search process.
        ProcessFolder olStartFolder
    End If
     
' Create a new mail message with the folder list inserted
Set ListFolders = Application.CreateItem(olMailItem)
  ListFolders.Body = strFolders
  ListFolders.Display
      
' clear the string so you can run it on another folder
  strFolders = ""
End Sub
  
Sub ProcessFolder(CurrentFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder)
         
    Dim i As Long
    Dim olNewFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
    Dim olTempFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
    Dim olTempFolderPath As String
 Dim oPA As Outlook.propertyAccessor
Dim PropName, value, FolderType As String

' Loop through the items in the current folder.
    For i = CurrentFolder.Folders.count To 1 Step -1
          
    Set olTempFolder = CurrentFolder.Folders(i)
          
    olTempFolderPath = olTempFolder.FolderPath

' Get the count of items in the folder
    olCount = olTempFolder.Items.count

'prints the folder path and name in the VB Editor's Immediate window
    Debug.Print olTempFolderPath & " " & olCount & " " & value
         
' Get the Hidden property value:
    PropName = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/mapi/proptag/0x10F4000B"
    Set oPA = olTempFolder.propertyAccessor
    On Error Resume Next
    value = oPA.GetProperty(PropName)
' if the property does not exist:
 If value = "" Then value = "none"
 
 ' create the string
    strFolders = strFolders & vbCrLf & olTempFolderPath & " Contains " & olCount & " items.  Is Hidden: " & value
         
    lCountOfFound = lCountOfFound + 1
          
    Next
' Loop through and search each subfolder of the current folder.
    For Each olNewFolder In CurrentFolder.Folders
            
        ProcessFolder olNewFolder

    Next
      
End Sub

How to use macros

First: You will need macro security set to low during testing.

To check your macro security in Outlook 2010 and up, go to File, Options, Trust Center and open Trust Center Settings, and change the Macro Settings. In Outlook 2007 and older, it’s at Tools, Macro Security.

After you test the macro and see that it works, you can either leave macro security set to low or sign the macro.

Open the VBA Editor by pressing Alt+F11 on your keyboard.

To put the code in a module:

1. Right click on Project1 and choose Insert > Module
2. Copy and paste the macro into the new module.

More information as well as screenshots are at How to use the VBA Editor