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How to batch delete all empty folders in Outlook?

Suppose there are dozens of empty folders under a mail folder in Outlook, generally we can delete the empty folders one by one by right-clicking menu. Compared to right clicking repeatedly, this article will introduce a VBA to quickly delete all empty subfolders of one Outlook folder in bulk.

Batch delete all empty folders in Outlook with VBA

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arrow blue right bubbleBatch delete all empty folders in Outlook with VBA

To remove all empty subfolders of a certain Outlook folder, please do as follows:

1. Press Alt + F11 keys to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste below VBA code into the new module window.

VBA: Delete all empty subfolders of certain Outlook folder in bulk

Public Sub DeletindEmtpyFolder()
Dim xFolders As Folders
Dim xCount As Long
Dim xFlag As Boolean
Set xFolders = Application.GetNamespace("MAPI").PickFolder.Folders
Do
FolderPurge xFolders, xFlag, xCount
Loop Until (Not xFlag)
If xCount > 0 Then
MsgBox "Deleted " & xCount & "(s) empty folders", vbExclamation + vbOKOnly, "Kutools for Outlook"
Else
MsgBox "No empty folders found", vbExclamation + vbOKOnly, "Kutools for Outlook"
End If
End Sub

Public Sub FolderPurge(xFolders, xFlag, xCount)
Dim I As Long
Dim xFldr As Folder 'Declare sub folder objects
xFlag = False
If xFolders.Count > 0 Then
For I = xFolders.Count To 1 Step -1
Set xFldr = xFolders.Item(I)
If xFldr.Items.Count < 1 Then 'If the folder is empty check for subfolders
If xFldr.Folders.Count < 1 Then 'If the folder contains not sub folders confirm deletion
xFldr.Delete 'Delete the folder
xFlag = True
xCount = xCount + 1
Else 'Folder contains sub folders so confirm deletion
FolderPurge xFldr.Folders, xFlag, xCount
End If
Else 'Folder contains items or (subfolders that may be empty).
FolderPurge xFldr.Folders, xFlag, xCount
End If
Next
End If
End Sub

3. Press F5 Key or Run button to run this VBA code.

4. In the popping out Select Folder dialog box, please select the specific folder whose empty subfolders you will delete in bulk, and click the OK button. See screenshot:

5. Now a Kutools for Outlook dialog box comes out and shows you how many empty subfolders have been deleted. Click the OK button to close it.

Until now, all subfolders of the specified Outlook folder have been deleted in bulk already.


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Comments (10)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
This worked great for me. Thank you. Some folders cannot be deleted as they are native to Outlook, but the sub-folders work great.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
74 empty folders were deleted but unfortunately also 109 folders that were not. Other empty folders were left untouched.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Super easy and incredibly helpful. Thank you!!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I am getting the same error like Bryan.... and now?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
The script tries to delete a folder that was already deleted.
I added a row after xFlag = False with this content:
on error resume next
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I am getting the following error when run the above " Run-time error '-2147352567 (80020009)' Cannot delete this folder. Right-click the folder, and then click properties to check your permissions for the folder. See the folder owner or your administrator to change your permissions"

It appears the script moves 1 item to the deleted folder and then errors out.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Agree - I get the same error.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
The script tries to delete a folder that was already deleted.
I added a row after xFlag = False with this content:
on error resume next
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Indeed, add:

On Error Resume Next

AFTER:

Dim x Fldr As Folder 'Declare sub folder objects
xFlag = False

It should look like this:

Dim x Fldr As Folder 'Declare sub folder objects
xFlag = False
On Error Resume Next
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Brilliant!!!
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