However, you’ll likely want to empty your Deleted Items folder from time to time in order to save space and stay organized. Now, this doesn’t instantly destroy the message forever–it just moves it to your Deleted Items folder. Deletingĭeleting is used when you have no further use for an email. Each has their place, and if you use both of them when appropriate, you’ll find managing your email much easier. If you’re not already aware, the icon with the X is the Delete button, and the one that looks like a file box is the Archive command. On the other hand, if you’re constantly struggling with your available amount of storage space, then maybe the deletion option is best for you. If you often find yourself needing to retrieve information from old emails, you might find the archiving option useful. archiving in Outlook: What’s the difference? We’ll explain how and when you should use each action.