If your Outlook folder pane shows a folder named something other than Inbox or Sent Items, or if a default folder is missing entirely, the folder structure may have been corrupted. This can happen after a failed mailbox migration, a third-party add-in conflict, or manual renaming of system folders. The /resetfolders command switch restores the original default folder names and locations in your Outlook profile. This article explains what the switch does and provides step-by-step instructions to run it safely.
Key Takeaways: Using Outlook /resetfolders to Fix Folder Names
- Outlook.exe /resetfolders: This command switch recreates default mail folders (Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, etc.) and restores their original names without deleting any emails.
- Run from Run dialog or Command Prompt: Press Windows+R, type the full command with the correct profile name, and press Enter to execute the reset.
- Works with one profile at a time: You must specify the exact Outlook profile name; the switch does not affect other profiles on the same machine.
What the /resetfolders Switch Does and When to Use It
Outlook stores default mail folders in a hidden system folder structure inside your mailbox. When you rename a default folder, the display name changes but the underlying folder ID remains the same. The /resetfolders switch tells Outlook to delete the current default folders and recreate them using the standard English names: Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Drafts, Junk Email, and Outbox. The switch does not delete any messages — it only replaces the folder containers. After the reset, all existing email messages remain in the recreated folders.
You should use this switch only when the default folder names have been changed or when a folder is missing. Common scenarios include a user accidentally renaming Inbox to My Mail, a corrupted offline data file that shows duplicate folders, or a mailbox that was migrated from an older Exchange server and retains nonstandard folder names. Do not use this switch to fix search problems, send/receive errors, or crashes — those require different troubleshooting steps.
Prerequisites Before Running the Command
Before you run the switch, confirm the following items:
- You know the exact name of the Outlook profile you want to fix. To find it, open Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, and look at the name listed under the Email tab. The default profile name is usually Outlook or the email address.
- Outlook is fully closed. The switch will not run if any Outlook process is still active. Check Task Manager to confirm no Outlook.exe is running.
- You have a recent backup of your Outlook data file. Although the switch does not delete emails, backing up your PST or OST file provides an extra safety net.
Steps to Run Outlook /resetfolders
- Close Outlook completely
Click File > Exit on all open Outlook windows. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Escape. On the Processes tab, look for any Microsoft Outlook entry. If you see one, right-click it and select End task. This ensures no background process interferes with the command. - Open the Run dialog
Press the Windows key and the R key at the same time. The Run box appears. Alternatively, right-click the Start button and choose Run. - Type the /resetfolders command
In the Run box, type the following exactly, replacing ProfileName with the actual name of your Outlook profile:outlook.exe /resetfolders /profile "ProfileName"For example, if your profile is named Outlook, type:
outlook.exe /resetfolders /profile "Outlook"
If your profile name contains spaces, keep the quotation marks. If your profile name has no spaces, the quotation marks are optional. - Press Enter and wait for Outlook to open
Press Enter or click OK. Outlook launches and immediately runs the folder reset. You will see a progress bar that says Processing. Do not click anything during this phase. The process can take 30 seconds to several minutes depending on mailbox size and network speed. - Verify the folder names
After Outlook finishes loading, look at the folder pane on the left. The default folders should now show the standard names: Inbox, Sent Items, Deleted Items, Drafts, Junk Email, and Outbox. Open a few folders to confirm your messages are still present. If you see duplicate folders, right-click the extra folder and select Delete Folder. Outlook will prompt you to confirm — click Yes.
Running the Switch Without Specifying a Profile
If you omit the /profile parameter, Outlook will prompt you to choose a profile when it starts. This is useful if you have multiple profiles and are unsure which one needs the reset. The command becomes:
outlook.exe /resetfolders
After pressing Enter, Outlook displays the profile selection dialog. Select the profile you want to fix and click OK. The reset proceeds as described above.
What to Do If the Reset Does Not Work
Outlook opens but folder names did not change
If you run the command and the folder names remain modified, the switch may not have executed. The most common cause is that Outlook was still running in the background. Repeat the steps and ensure you end the Outlook process in Task Manager. Also confirm that you typed the command correctly — a missing space before /resetfolders will cause Windows to fail to find the file.
Outlook shows an error that the command line argument is not valid
This error appears when you run the command from a directory that does not contain Outlook.exe. The Run dialog automatically uses the correct system path, but if you are using Command Prompt, navigate to the Outlook installation folder first. On 64-bit Windows with 64-bit Office, the path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16. For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16. Once in the correct folder, type the command without the full path.
Default folders are missing after the reset
If a default folder like Drafts or Junk Email does not appear after the reset, check whether the folder was previously hidden by an Exchange policy or a retention rule. Go to Folder > New Folder and try to create a folder with the same name. If Outlook says the folder already exists, it is likely hidden. Run the following command in the Run dialog to show hidden folders: outlook.exe /showfolders. This switch displays all folders including those marked as hidden.
/resetfolders vs Other Outlook Reset Switches
| Item | /resetfolders | /cleanviews |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Recreates default folder names and structure | Resets column views, sorting, and grouping to defaults |
| Data affected | Only folder names and hierarchy | Only view settings per folder |
| Emails deleted | No | No |
| When to use | Folder names are wrong or missing | View columns or sorting are corrupted |
| Command syntax | outlook.exe /resetfolders | outlook.exe /cleanviews |
Both switches are safe to run and do not delete data. Use /cleanviews if the problem is limited to how columns appear in the message list. Use /resetfolders only when the folder names themselves are incorrect.
You can now restore Outlook default folder names using the /resetfolders command switch. After the reset, verify that all messages remain intact and that no duplicate folders exist. If you need to reset other Outlook settings, try the /cleanviews switch for view issues or /resetnavpane for the navigation pane. Always close Outlook completely before running any command switch to avoid partial execution.