how do i find outlook temp files

If you ever accidentally save a document to “Outlook Temp”, the default folder for when you open a document from within an email, you might find that it’s very hard to locate and impossible to open. It won’t show up in recent documents. I found a simpler to recover it.

1. Re-open the original document from the same email.
2. Choose File -> Save As
3. The “Outlook Temp” folder should open with all of the documents grayed out.
4. Locate your saved document, right click on it and select “Move to Trash”
5. Open “Trash” and get your document and move it to an accessible folder.

I just had this problem....an hour and a half later my wife came in and figurerd it out. Do not close outlook. If you have upgraded to Lion, the Library is no longer viewable. Very simple now!!

1. open finder
2. Go to the "GO" drop down menu and hold down the option key. (next to the command or apple key)
3. The "Library" option will appear between the "Home" and "Computer" options in the same "GO" drop down menu
4. Click on "Library" and you are in..then you will find "Cache" and then "temporaryitems" and Eureeka!!! The outlook temp folder is in there and your troubles are over!!!

This is a great help! Thanks!

I had closed my outlook but not shut down my computer and was able to do the steps.

1. reopen outlook

2. open finder

3. Select Go at top of the apple menu

4. In the drop down menue of Go, Select the option "Go to folder" or use the controls-Shift/Command/G to open the box.

4. Copy and paste ~/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/Outlook Temp/ into to box.

RishavMehta wrote:

A better way to find your attahcement -

1. Open Excel.

2. Click on 'File' on the top left of your screen.

3. Click the option of 'Open' or use shotrcut 'Command Key + O'

4. Click on the 'Drop Down Menu'. In that Menu you will always find the 'Outlook Temp' folder which would conatin your attachment.

I found my attachment this way..

Please post a screenshot to support your assertion that the Outlook Temp Folder always appears on the Excel File Open dialog:

This how it appears on my copy of Excel:

Note that there is no reference to Outlook Temp Files in the Drop Down Menu (contrary to your statement that it is "always there")

So open it on your machine, take a screenshot and post it here.

You totally rock- I thought hours of work were lost. By mistake I saved a word document I oppened from an Outlook attachment as a web page. It saved it to Outlook temp which I could not find....🙂

LAIII wrote:

I just had this problem....an hour and a half later my wife came in and figurerd it out. Do not close outlook. If you have upgraded to Lion, the Library is no longer viewable. Very simple now!!

1. open finder
2. Go to the "GO" drop down menu and hold down the option key. (next to the command or apple key)
3. The "Library" option will appear between the "Home" and "Computer" options in the same "GO" drop down menu
4. Click on "Library" and you are in..then you will find "Cache" and then "temporaryitems" and Eureeka!!! The outlook temp folder is in there and your troubles are over!!!

TommyTx5 wrote:

Not sure if I am looking in the right place... I am finding /library/caches/... nothing as /temporaryitems/etc

Strange ..... that is the default location and I'll assume you did not change that.

Use spotlight, enter the filename and search.

Thank you, but unfortunately, I shut down my computer - I know, not very smart. The file is not in the folder mentioned above. Is there any other way to get it - the Apple Genuises said it was gone for good.

Thanks Gerardfromwa - This worked for me on Mountain Lion. I evenutally found Library and then Caches, but TemporaryItems was also hidden. This solution got me there though. Save me from losing an hour of work!

Absolute LIFESAVER!! Thank you! I spent 30 minutes looking for a contract I had edited and saved, only to realize I accidentally saved it to the Outlook Temp file. Spotlight didn't work, nothing worked until I read this thread.

GBAstupid wrote:

Much appreciated when I had a similar problem today. As usual, there is a lot of stuff that makes absolutely no sense on these machines. Why would that library be hidden?

Because contains files that do not need editing by the user (system files), and errors in that folder can be serious.

And it should never be chosen as a file>save location.

Pick a sensible location for the files and save them there.

This worked for me...and I created a shortcut link on my dock so I can always get back to this folder. (I often open a file in Outlook and forget to save as into a permanent folder - problem solved now!)

LAIII,

Brilliant, worked like a charm and saved a grown man from crying in public. Successfully retrieved a long report which I was sure I'd just flushed down the toilet. On behalf of the clueless everywhere, thankyou.

So to recap:

To display any hidden folders, hold down the "option" key when opening a folder

And I recommend once you reveal Outlook Temp in your finder, drag it to your Finder sidebar so it's always easily accessible.

Thanks!

A better way to find your attahcement -

1. Open Excel.

2. Click on 'File' on the top left of your screen.

3. Click the option of 'Open' or use shotrcut 'Command Key + O'

4. Click on the 'Drop Down Menu'. In that Menu you will always find the 'Outlook Temp' folder which would conatin your attachment.

I found my attachment this way..

Yes I too would like to extend a huge Thank You for your great finding of this tricky hidden folder - I was starting to go a little crazy looking for it! Why on earth they have hidden it I do wonder?!

Kind Regards Lisa