Last updated on February 24th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
Introduction
PST files are Outlook data files which store the information about your mailbox in the system. They are perfect to create a backup of your account’s email information. You can then retrieve the important mailbox information when you require it. Furthermore Outlook PST files increases with the size of your mailbox. The dimension of the PST file is allowed up to a limit. Once the limit is reached the files begin to display errors and vulnerable to corruption. A simple solution to the issue is to reduce PST size.
It is now possible to cut down on the size the PST file by using a variety of methods. All of them come with pros and pros and. Therefore, it is impossible to reduce or compress PST size using any other method. Before we learn how to shrink the size of a PST file, let’s look at the necessity to reduce PST size.
Why User Reduce PST File Size?
A smaller-sized Outlook PST file is beneficial in every way. Equally, a huge PST is always detrimental. We will discuss some of the primary motives for compacting large Outlook PST files.
- A huge Outlook PST file can slow down the process in Outlook applications. It decreases the performance and effectiveness of email clients.
- It occupies more space and interferes with the operation of other programs. The maximum capacity for storage of the PST file is 50GB in all current editions for MS Outlook.
- It is possible that the Outlook PST file will tend to get corrupted as it gets close to that threshold. The most frequent issue result from your Outlook PST files are large in size.
In light of all these reasons, it becomes imperative for each user to decrease PST size.
Manual Steps to Reduce PST File Size in Outlook 2019 and lower versions
In the light of the conventional methods, There are two methods to reduce the size of Outlook PST files. These methods are both affordable and effective. They are easy to perform using the most recent version that are available in MS Outlook.
#1. Use Empty Deleted Items Folder Feature
It’s the safest and efficient method of to shrink PST files. Following the instructions below, you can clear your deleted folder.
- Start your Outlook app and then press File button.
- From the Information Tab, you can click the Tools icon and then choose the Cleanup of the Mailbox
- It will launch an interface for mailbox Cleanup, click on the View deleted items size button.
- Then, click to “Empty” button to permanently delete all items that were deleted.
This method is recommended only if your deleted item folder is the size of a large one. But, you may select a different approach if there is nothing inside the deletion items directory.
#2. Compact Now Feature of MS Outlook
MS Outlook has a built-in feature that can reduce PST files. It’s safe and reliable choice.
- Start MS Outlook and click on the File
- In the Information tab, click the Account Settings tab.
- Select the account settings selection from the dropdown menu.
- Once you have done that, go to then Data Files tab from the Account Settings.
- Select a specific email address and click the Settings icon.
- The new wizard will appear, click on the compact now button.
Both of the methods mentioned above work. However, when you reduce PST size, the chance of corruption are very high. Beyond that there are other drawbacks in shrinking Outlook file.
Drawbacks of Shrinking PST File
- Utilizing the compact feature several times isn’t secure in the case of PST files. Therefore, it’s not a long-term solution.
- In the event that your deleted item folder completely empty, then you could decrease the PST size by cleaning out the trash folder.
- The chances of corruption of files are significant when you compress the file to its initial size. At times, the files is impossible to access, and you might lose important data.
If you’re looking to keep your mailer data secure and safe, The best method is to split Outlook PST files.
Reduce the size of PST files by using PST Splitter Tool
SoftMagnat PST Splitter Tool is the best tool to split Outlook PST files into various smaller files. It can reduce PST size by splitting the large PST file into smaller files. Thus, this tool allows users to reduce PST file without opening Outlook. Additionally, it offers all the features you need to can be customized to meet your preferences. It’s an excellent solution to shrinking PST files since it doesn’t damage contents of the file.
Conclusion
There are many ways to decrease PST size within MS Outlook 2007. But this isn’t the most efficient method to keep the integrity of data. So, breaking up the huge-sized Outlook PST files is the most effective way to control your Outlook data file without losing its contents.