🛠️ Fix Missing Gmail Emails in Outlook After Migration or Move (IMAP Issue)
If you use Outlook to access your Gmail account via IMAP or recently migrated emails or setup an Outlook profile you might run into a frustrating issue people on Reddit have mentioned where a folder appears to have emails but you cannot seem them.
You might even see a blue unread count or know emails were successfully moved—but the Inbox or folder looks completely empty.
Don’t panic. The emails are still there, but Outlook just isn’t showing them correctly due to a view issue. Here’s how to fix it.
🔍 Why is Outlook Not Showing the Emails?
Outlook sometimes defaults to a view that doesn’t properly display IMAP-synced messages, especially after:
- An email migration (e.g., from another provider to Gmail)
- Bulk moves or archive imports
- Reconfiguring your Gmail account in Outlook
This is especially common when using Gmail with Outlook via IMAP, because of the way Gmail labels and folders interact with Outlook’s folder system.
✅ The Fix: Set the Correct IMAP View in Outlook
Here’s how to get your emails back on screen:
1. Switch to the Correct View
- Open Outlook
- Go to the Inbox (or affected folder)
- Click the View tab at the top
- Click Change View
- Select IMAP Messages
Your missing emails should appear immediately.
2. Make It the Default View
To avoid this issue in the future:
- Still in the View tab, click Change View → Manage Views
- Select IMAP Messages
- Click Set as Default
- Click Apply View
3. Apply the View to All IMAP Folders
If you have other folders (like Sent, Archives, or custom Gmail labels) where emails are also invisible:
- Click View Settings (still under the View tab)
- Click Apply View to Other Mail Folders…
- Select the other folders you want to fix
- Click OK
🧠 Bonus Tip: Why Does This Happen?
When using IMAP, Gmail treats labels as folders. Outlook doesn’t always interpret them correctly, especially after a migration or when emails are bulk-moved using a third-party tool or even via Gmail’s web interface.
Outlook may fall back to a basic or custom folder view that doesn’t properly show synced IMAP messages—so they’re technically there, but hidden by the wrong layout.
💬 Still Having Issues?
If you’re still seeing unread counts but no emails, also try this:
- Press Ctrl + 6 to switch to Folder List view
- Right-click your Inbox → IMAP Folders
- Click Query, find the folder, and click Subscribe if it’s not already
- Hit F9 to refresh all folders
Or check the web version of Gmail to confirm the emails are in the expected location.
✅ Final Thoughts
This is a common issue for users accessing Gmail in Outlook after migrations, imports, or account reconfigurations. Luckily, it’s an easy fix once you know where to look—and setting the IMAP Messages view as default can prevent future headaches.
If you need Google Workspace support from an experienced team reach out to LME Services
