Deleting emails permanently

Last published : Apr 17, 2026
Administrators can use the Delete option to permanently delete emails from users. In Personal.cloud and Mobile Web Access, administrators or users cannot search the emails that have been deleted.
Note: For information on how to enablePrivilege Deleteto company level, seeConfiguring archive optionsin theManagement Console Help. For information on how to enablePrivilege Deleteto administrators, seeEditing the built-in administrator rolesin theManagement Console Help.
To delete emails
  1. Under Managed Accounts, navigate toNew search , and then conduct a search.
  2. If required, select the check box for one or more emails.
  3. Click the Delete icon, and then select an option to specify which emails to delete.
    Note: A maximum of 300 emails can be deleted in a single transaction. The Permanently delete emails dialog box appears informing that once emails are deleted, they cannot be recovered or accessed and that this is permanent and irreversible action. It may take up to 60 minutes for deleted emails to stop appearing in the end-user search results.
  4. Click Yes.
The confirmation dialog box appears informing that action has been executed successfully.
  1. To check the status of the deleted emails, navigate to Deleted itemsunderManaged Accounts , and review the list of emails.
    Note: A list shows the deleted emails in chronological order from most recent to older. You can sort by email Date or Date Added (default).
The status of the deleted email can be:
  • Deleted \- the email has been deleted.
  • Queued \- the email is queued to be deleted.
  • On Legal Hold \- the email is on legal hold status, and it cannot be deleted.
The email on legal hold has Legal hold tag, Legal hold search, or Legal hold Custodian in a Case applied. To delete an email marked on legal hold, first, remove any applicable legal hold that has been previously applied .
Related information