Outlook is a popular email client that is used by millions of people around the world. It is a powerful tool that allows you to manage your emails, contacts, and calendar all in one place. However, over time, your Outlook mailbox can become cluttered with old emails, attachments, and other items that can slow down your system and make it difficult to find the information you need.

To avoid this problem, Outlook offers a feature called Archive, which allows you to move old items to a separate PST file. This can help keep your mailbox clean and organized, while also improving the performance of your system. In this article, we will show you how to archive old mail in Outlook and keep the PST file small.

Step 1: Create a New PST File

The first step in archiving old mail in Outlook is to create a new PST file. To do this, follow these steps:

1.Click on theFiletab in the Outlook ribbon.

2.SelectInfofrom the left-hand menu.

3.Click onAccount Settingsand selectAccount Settingsfrom the drop-down menu.

4.In the Account Settings dialog box, click on theData Filestab.

5.Click on theAddbutton to create a new PST file.

6.Choose a location and name for the new PST file, and clickOK.

Step 2: Set Up AutoArchive

Once you have created a new PST file, the next step is to set up AutoArchive. This feature allows you to automatically move old items to the new PST file on a regular basis. To set up AutoArchive, follow these steps:

1.Click on theFiletab in the Outlook ribbon.

2.SelectOptionsfrom the left-hand menu.

3.Click on theAdvancedtab.

4.Under theAutoArchivesection, click on theAutoArchive Settingsbutton.

5.In the AutoArchive dialog box, select theRun AutoArchive every X dayscheckbox.

6.Choose a frequency for AutoArchive and select the new PST file you created in Step 1 as the location for archived items.

7.ClickOKto save your settings.

Step 3: Manually Archive Old Items

In addition to setting up AutoArchive, you can also manually archive old items in Outlook. To do this, follow these steps:

1.Click on theFiletab in the Outlook ribbon.

2.SelectCleanup Toolsfrom the left-hand menu.

3.Click onArchive.

4.In the Archive dialog box, select the folder you want to archive and choose a date in theArchive items older thanfield.

5.Select the new PST file you created in Step 1 as the location for archived items.

6.ClickOKto start the archiving process.

Conclusion

Archiving old mail in Outlook is a simple and effective way to keep your mailbox clean and organized, while also improving the performance of your system. By creating a new PST file, setting up AutoArchive, and manually archiving old items, you can ensure that your Outlook mailbox stays small and efficient. So why not give it a try today and see how much easier it is to manage your emails with Outlook!