Outlook cannot copy folder because it may contain private items

A user was recently trying to copy a folder from a shared mailbox they had full access to but was prevented from doing so because Outlook stated that it ‘Cannot copy this folder because it may contain private items’.

There is a Microsoft KB article (3205975) that discusses this (by design) restriction, and offers various workarounds. Personally, as an admin, I found method 3 – shown below – the simplest resolution (i.e. make the user a delegate of the shared mailbox and give them owner permissions – revoke after the copy is completed of course) – your mileage may vary!

Log on to Outlook as the shared mailbox.
Click File, click Account Settings, and then click Delegate Access.
Click Add.
Type the user’s name, or search for and then click the name in the search results list.
Click Add, and then click OK.
In the Delegate Permissions dialog box, select Editor permissions for the Inbox (and select any other custom access levels that you require).
Enable the Delegate can see my private items option, and then click OK.
Right-click the top-level folder, and then click Folder Permissions. The top-level folder is displayed as the shared mailbox email address.
If the user is not listed on the Permissions tab, add their name. To do this, follow these steps:

• Click Add.
  Select the name from the list, or search for and select the name from the search results.
  Click Add, and then click OK.
  Select the name, and then select Owner for the Permission Level.
  Click OK.
  Right-click the folder which you want to move, and then click Properties.
  On the Permissions tab, if the user is not listed, add their name:
  • Click Add.
    Select their name from the list, or search for and select their name from the results.
    Click Add, and then click OK.
    Select their name, and then select Owner for the Permission Level.
    Click OK.