There is no option within the Outlook UI to delete any standard Outlook folder (i.e. <Inbox> etc) which was created at any point by defining a PST file as the “default data file” within ANY Outlook profile. More specifically, if a PST file was defined as a default data file in a previous version of Outlook and copied over to a new profile, it will still not be possible to delete the folder.
Another scenario would be when a new PST file is created in a profile and set as the default for the profile so as to contain the default contact/calendar folders for one or more IMAP based accounts. Once a PST file is designated as the default, all the standard folders will be created making most superflous. Some people would rather not have those extra folders appear in the Navigation Pane. Others may want to rename a standard Outlook folder.
These folders can however be deleted/renamed using a program called MFCMapi (The following was accurate as of the time this post was originally published using the latest version of MFCMapi)
*** before proceeding with any actions, be sure to make a backup of any PST file in the event that you run into an uh-oh moment
- download MFCMapi, unzip the file and click on the MFCMapi.exe file to run the program (there is no installation)
- From the menu –> Session –> Logon –> select the Outlook profile you want to use
- All the data stores in the profile will appear next
- Double-Click on the data store that contains the folder you want to delete or rename
- On the screen that appears, click on the small arrow besides <Root Container> so that it gets expanded
- On the expanded tree that appears, select and expand <Top of Outlook Data File> (in earlier versions of MFCMapi, this would be IPM_SUBTREE)
- This will list all the folders contained in the data store
Deleting a folder
- right-click on the folder to be deleted
- select <Delete Folder> from the menu
Renaming a folder
- select (single-click) the folder to be renamed
- the properties for the folder will appear in the right window
- double-click on the PR_DISPLAY_NAME property to edit the property
- change the ANSI value –> <OK>
