How to Sync Outlook Drafts Folder With OWA So Drafts Appear Online

You save a draft message in Outlook for Windows but cannot find it when you check your drafts on Outlook on the web (OWA). This problem occurs because the default save location for drafts in Outlook is set to your local mailbox instead of the Exchange server mailbox. This article explains how to change the Outlook drafts folder to the server-based folder so your drafts synchronize and appear in OWA and all other email clients connected to the same Exchange or Microsoft 365 account.

Why Outlook Drafts Are Not Syncing with OWA

Outlook for Windows can store draft messages in two locations: your local mailbox (a PST or OST file on your computer) or your Exchange server mailbox (the copy stored on the Microsoft 365 or Exchange server). By default, Outlook saves drafts in your local mailbox. Because OWA reads drafts only from the server mailbox, any draft stored locally remains invisible to OWA and other clients like Outlook for Mac or the Outlook mobile app.

The root cause is a setting in Outlook that controls where unsent messages are saved. When this setting points to a local folder, the draft never leaves your computer. Changing this setting to the server folder forces Outlook to write drafts directly to the Exchange server, which makes them available in OWA immediately after the next send/receive cycle.

Steps to Change the Outlook Drafts Save Location to the Server

Follow these steps to redirect Outlook to save drafts in your Exchange server mailbox. You need full access to your Outlook account and the ability to change account settings.

1. Open Outlook and go to File > Info
   Click the File tab in the top-left corner of the Outlook window. On the Info page, locate the Account Settings button in the upper-right section. Click Account Settings and select Account Settings from the dropdown menu.
2. Select your Exchange or Microsoft 365 account and click Change
   In the Account Settings dialog, you see a list of all email accounts configured in Outlook. Select the account that uses Exchange or Microsoft 365 (the one you want to sync drafts with OWA). Click the Change button above the list.
3. Click More Settings in the Change Account window
   The Change Account window shows your server settings. In the bottom-right corner, click the More Settings button to open the Microsoft Exchange dialog.
4. Go to the Advanced tab and click Offline Folder File Settings
   In the Microsoft Exchange dialog, click the Advanced tab. Near the bottom of this tab, click the Offline Folder File Settings button. This opens a dialog that controls how Outlook synchronizes data with the server.
5. Click the Browse button next to the Drafts folder location
   In the Offline Folder File Settings dialog, look for the section labeled Drafts. Next to the current folder path, click the Browse button. A folder picker dialog appears showing your mailbox folders.
6. Select the server-based Drafts folder (usually named Drafts) and click OK
   In the folder picker, expand your mailbox root (usually your email address) and select the Drafts folder that is part of your Exchange mailbox. Do not select a local folder or a folder inside your local PST file. Click OK to confirm the selection.
7. Click OK on all open dialogs to save the change
   Click OK on the Offline Folder File Settings dialog, then OK on the Microsoft Exchange dialog, and finally Next and Finish on the Change Account window. Outlook may prompt you to restart the application. Click Yes to restart now.
8. Force a full send/receive to sync existing drafts
   After Outlook restarts, press Ctrl+Shift+S to open the Send/Receive All command. Alternatively, go to the Send/Receive tab and click Send/Receive All Folders. This action pushes any previously saved local drafts to the server and pulls server drafts into Outlook.

What to Do If Drafts Still Do Not Appear in OWA

Drafts folder name mismatch between Outlook and OWA

Outlook and OWA may use different folder names for drafts. In Outlook, the default draft folder is named Drafts. In OWA, the folder is also named Drafts by default. If you or your organization renamed either folder, the sync may break. In Outlook, right-click the Drafts folder in the folder pane, choose Properties, and note the folder name. In OWA, right-click the Drafts folder in the folder list and select Rename. Ensure both names match exactly, including capitalization.

Cached Exchange Mode prevents immediate sync

Outlook uses Cached Exchange Mode by default, which stores a local copy of your mailbox. Drafts saved in the server folder may take up to 30 seconds to appear in OWA. To speed this up, press F9 to trigger a manual send/receive for all folders. If you need real-time sync, disable Cached Exchange Mode temporarily: go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings, select your account, click Change, then uncheck Use Cached Exchange Mode. Restart Outlook.

Drafts folder is hidden or deleted in OWA

If the Drafts folder is missing from OWA entirely, you may have accidentally deleted or hidden it. In OWA, right-click the Folders heading in the left pane and select Add shared folder. Type your own email address and click Add. This recreates the default folder structure, including Drafts. After adding the folder, repeat the steps in the previous section to select the correct server Drafts folder in Outlook.

Local Drafts vs Server Drafts: Key Differences

Item	Local Drafts (Default)	Server Drafts (Synced)
Storage location	Local OST or PST file on your computer	Exchange server mailbox in Microsoft 365
Visible in OWA	No	Yes
Visible in Outlook for Mac	No	Yes
Visible in Outlook mobile app	No	Yes
Accessible from another computer	No	Yes
Sync speed	Instant (local only)	Depends on send/receive schedule
Risk of data loss	Higher if computer crashes	Lower (backed up on server)

You can now change the Outlook drafts folder to the Exchange server location so your drafts sync with OWA and appear in all your email clients. After making this change, test by saving a draft in Outlook and checking OWA after a few seconds. For advanced users, consider creating a search folder in OWA that displays all drafts across multiple accounts if you manage more than one mailbox.