Do you use the Archive Feature in Outlook to Reduce the Size of Emails?

Heavy Outlook PST Data File size or old items in Microsoft Outlook makes it slower and archiving email in Outlook helps to overcome from such issues. Storing a huge size of Outlook Data in Outlook is not a positive sign for your Outlook email client and somewhere it's hard to manage it.

So, what is archiving in Outlook?

In simply archiving means saving or backing up the old items of Outlook such as messages, contacts, tasks, calendars and others Outlook' database. In Outlook, we create archive PST file and reduce the size of an Outlook data file which put a good impact on Microsoft Outlook's performance. Through archiving feature in Outlook, users can build a new PST having a name of e.g. archive.pst, which can be accessed in the future. Means, it's a simple option to reduce the space of Outlook data file (.pst) instead of deleting mails from inbox.

Note: Archive PST File is the data file which keeps the entire archived database.

Does Archiving Reduce PST File Size?

Yes, Archiving is one of the best and efficient way in comparison to other techniques like Compact and Exporting.

Location of Archive Outlook Data File (.PST):

Archives also use the PST file format to save the archived database from Outlook. But a big question is that where archive files are stored in Outlook? The given below are the default location for newly created Archive Outlook PST file on Windows7/Vista and Windows XP:

Note: Location of Archive PST File varies according to version of Microsoft Windows.

Windows7/Vista: drive:\Users\user\Documents\Outlook Files\archive.pst

Windows XP: drive:\Documents and Settings\user \Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\archive.psts

How to Archive PST File in Outlook 2010?

MS-Outlook provides two methods through which we can Archive Outlook Items:

• Manually: In this method, each time archive folder is created by user by executing the same procedure.
• Auto-archive: Automatically makes an archive of PST file after a specific time interval on a pre-defined location.

In this blog section, we will discuss briefly about the manual way to Archive Outlook Folders and their instructions.

How to Archive PST File in Outlook 2010:

Click on "File" and go to the "Cleanup Tools" from the drop-down menu.

By clicking on "Cleanup Tools", you will get "Archive" option (make a click on it).

Now, a pop-up window will give you the option to select the folders or any of sub-folders to begin the archiving process, choose a folder from it.

Note: In this new Archive's window, you can also select the archive folder other than a limited data and can provide a path for archived file to save it.

Finally, press on "Ok" button.

Archiving an Outlook PST File is effective technique to manage Outlook Database. It's also truth that an overflow of Outlook emails can mess up Outlook experience and can increase the risk of corruption or data lost in Microsoft Outlook.