Gmail messages are missing

Emails might skip your inbox if they have been accidentally archived, deleted or marked as spam.

Follow these steps to search all of your emails, including those that aren't in your inbox:

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. In the search box, click the Down arrow .
3. Click the All Mail drop-down menu, then select Mail & Spam & Bin.
4. Enter some information that's in the missing email. If you're not sure about exact words or details, leave the fields blank.
5. At the bottom of the box, click Search .

Tip: To filter your search results even more, you can also use search operators.

You may have created a filter that automatically archives or deletes certain emails.

Here's how to check your filters:

1. From a browser, open Gmail.
2. In the top right, click Settings   See all settings.
3. At the top, click the Filters and blocked addresses tab.
4. Look for filters that include the words 'Delete it' or 'Skip inbox'.
5. To the right, click Edit or Delete.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

When you set up forwarding in Gmail, you can choose whether the original emails are archived or deleted.

Here's how to check your forwarding settings:

1. From a browser, open Gmail.
2. In the top right, click Settings   See all settings.
3. At the top, click on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
4. In the 'Forwarding' section, check whether you've selected Forward a copy of incoming mail. If you have, select Keep Gmail's copy in the Inbox or Mark Gmail's copy as read.
5. At the bottom of the page, click Save changes.

Important: If your emails are being forwarded to an unfamiliar address, select Disable forwarding then take a look at the Gmail security tips. If you can see a forwarding address that you don't recognise, someone might have unauthorised access to your account.

If you forward email from another account into Gmail, emails are sometimes sent to Spam if they aren't authenticated. Learn the best practices for forwarding emails to Gmail.

If you read your Gmail emails through another email client, such as Apple Mail or Microsoft Outlook, follow the steps below for the type of forwarding that you've set up.

I use IMAP to read emails on email clients such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail

When you set up IMAP, you can choose whether the actions you take in your other email client will affect your emails in Gmail. For example, you can choose whether deleting an email in Apple Mail also deletes it from Gmail.

Make sure that you're using the recommended IMAP settings. Look for any settings that explain when emails are deleted.

I use a web app, extension or add-on to read Gmail

Check your settings to make sure that emails aren't being deleted or archived.

1. Visit the Connected apps & sites page.
2. In the 'Apps connected to your account' section, click Manage apps.
3. If you find anything you don't recognise, click the service Remove.

I use POP to read emails on email clients such as Microsoft Outlook

When you set up POP, you can choose whether the actions you take in your other email client will affect your emails in Gmail. For example, you can choose whether deleting an email in Microsoft Outlook also deletes it from Gmail.

1. Visit the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings page.
2. Check to make sure that POP is enabled.
3. If you can see 'Delete Gmail's copy' or 'Archive Gmail's copy', select Keep Gmail's copy in the inbox.
4. At the bottom of the page, click Save changes.

Note: If you're using recent mode with POP, change your email client's POP settings to leave emails on the server.