final answer on disappearance of hotmail emails in outlook? - Microsoft Community

i've been trying locate concrete answer on , have yet find one....

breakdown:

i've had hotmail account on 10 years. use not often. logged in today locate important email (yes, sigh, know shouldn't keep important info in free email account, here are!) , took me outlook. had no trouble logging in/did not need reset password etc.; however, emails , folders going on decade gone.

other info:

-i did not accidentally delete these emails/they not appear recoverable 'deleted' folder, per se. i've been sent link re: 'how recover accidentally deleted files' dozen times. not issue.

-i can't remember last time logged in, (not more year, though, imagine), perhaps it's possible account may have been made 'inactive.'

-i have 'added' hotmail account outlook, , can see emails sent hotmail address going 1 year.

my question(s):

-am missing re: how access old emails , folders in hotmail via outlook?

-if account indeed considered 'inactive,' of hotmail emails gone forever now? (i'm crossing fingers , toes isn't case reasons others have mentioned on here: emails deceased loved ones, past drafts/iterations of academic work, record of emails/history of correspondence need spouse's visa application, contacts, etc., etc.)

-if they're not gone forever, steps need take them back?

thanks in advance out there reading!

Outlook.com / Email / Restore or recover messages