Break PST File to Reduce Size and Speed up Outlook

Introduction
You want to split your PST file into smaller and lighter files, and you are facing issues with your Outlook being slow and harder to work with because of frequent hangs or crashes, especially on an older computer. It can happen because of many reasons, but one of the reasons could be heavy PST files, as a PST file stores all the data of Outlook, like emails, notes, contacts, tasks, calendar, and attachments.

Over time, these PST files become increasingly large, occupying a significant amount of space and making them difficult to organize and back up. Splitting the Outlook PST file and reducing its size can significantly improve your Outlook experience, enhancing your workflow. If you are looking for some possible and easy ways to split an Outlook PST file, this is the article you need to go through, as I will address all the problems that I have mentioned above and explain the methods that will help to break a PST file. In this blog, I’ll also mention the expert-recommended direct tool that will make the whole process much easier and beginner-friendly.

First, let’s start by knowing why a split PST file is helpful.

Why Do You Need to Split or Reduce the Size of a PST File?

There are multiple valid reasons why users choose to break PST files, and those reasons I have listed below, which you can read and see if that’s what you are facing and need to break your PST file to solve that issue.

• An oversized PST can affect the process of Outlook, which can lead to lag, freeze, and a long time to open emails in Outlook, which will hinder your workflow and efficiency.
• Large PST files have a higher risk of corruption and damage, which can lead to emails and data loss.
• As lighter files are easier to load, splitting PST files will make the searching and processing of PST files simpler.
• If you want a less risky and quicker backup, breaking your PST files into smaller files is the ideal solution, as they will consume less time for the process.
• Managing bulky PST files is complex and confusing. If you want to get rid of it, you can split your PST files, which will help you sort emails by year, project, or category.

Free Manual Methods through which you can reduce the size of Outlook PST

You can find multiple manual ways on the web through which you can split your large PST folder into single files, without any charges but these methods do require a proper technical skill to run and lots of free time in your hands, as the speed of manual methods depends upon the file size and internet connectivity, which makes the process time consuming as it can take hours and days to complete and Outlook set up is must for these methods without Outlook it can’t take the place. Below, I have explained two manual ways that might help you.

Method 1. Split PST file using the archive feature

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click File>Info>Tools>Clean up old items.
3. Select Archive this folder and all subfolders.
4. Choose the email account or folder you want to archive.
5. Pick a date for the email; anything older than this will be moved.
6. Click Browse and choose a location to save the new PST file.
7. Click OK to start the process.

Outlook will create a new PST file, which reduces the size of the original one.

Method 2.  Break the Outlook PST file by creating a new PST and moving emails.

1. Set up and open Outlook on your system.
2. Click File>Account Settings.
3. Go to the Data files tab.
4. Click Add and create a new PST file.
5. The new PST file will appear in Outlook.
6. Select emails or a folder from the old PST file.
7. Drag and drop them into the new PST file.

Limitations of Manual Methods

• This method is good in its own way and available free of any cost for every user, but it does have a limitation that I have mentioned below for you to read:
• The manual method requires technical knowledge and guidance, which makes it unsuitable for beginners and novice users, as without any technical skill, the process can become complex and tricky.
• The entire splitting of the Outlook PST file depends upon the internet connection and size of the file; if the file is heavy or the internet is slow, it will take hours or days to finish, which makes it time-consuming and not so efficient.
• Any manual process needs the proper installation of Outlook on the system, which makes the process dependable. Without the presence of Outlook, you can’t process the PST files.
• These methods don’t ensure data security and integrity. Throughout the process, if anything went wrong, you might face file corruption and data loss, as there are no backup facilities.

Efficient and Hassle-Free Direct Method to Split the PST file

If you want to work with a secure and professional method to break PST files into multiple lighter files or emails, I recommend you try the DataVare Outlook PST Split Expert Tool, which helps you ensure data integrity while offering multiple advanced features such as Windows and Outlook compatibility with both ANSI and UNICODE versions, can split files according to different sizes, year, and folder, save your data locally, fully independent, and the best part is that there is no file size limitation on at all which give you the flexibility to work with batch and bilk of Outlook PST files.

Here are the significant features of the Direct Tool:

•    It can break both the ANSI and UNICODE versions of files of any size.
•    Designed to split the PST file according to your desired file size, which you can select.
•    Offers division of PST files by the year; you can add the starting and ending year for the targeted division.
•    Can separate a selected PST file from a large PST folder using the Divide PST by Folder option.
•    Comes with a Free Trial version with 24/7 active customer support.

Simple Steps to Run the Direct Tool

You can follow the steps mentioned below to break your PST files in a few minutes without any expert knowledge:
1.  Open the split software on your system.
2.  Browse the Input File location and upload the PST file.
3.  Choose the Available Split Options and select the folder.
4.  Browse the Output File Location where you want to store your resultant file.
5.  Choose the option to save Contacts in a separate PST file and hit the Split Now button.
Within a few minutes, the splitting process of the PST file will be done and saved to your desired location that you selected.

Why Direct Methods Instead of Manual Methods?

Below, I have mentioned why the direct method is better than a manual method.
•    The direct method is beginner-friendly as it offers a modern and self-explanatory GUI; on the other hand manual method is complex and needs technical skill.
•    It offers data security, as throughout the division process, there will be no data loss or file corruption, but manual methods are prone to risk and data loss.
•    This tool works locally and doesn’t require any internet connection, while the manual methods need a stable internet connection.
•    As manual methods require Outlook, unlike direct methods, they work well on their own without any dependency on Outlook.

Conclusion

In the above section, I have mentioned how you can avoid having one large PST file by splitting it down into smaller PST files to allow for better Outlook performance and management. There is no cost manual method, but it will take a long time to complete, you need to have technical knowledge of how to use Microsoft Outlook, and it can result in accidental data loss. Using a tool designed to split large PST files will make this task easier, more efficient, and secure than the manual method. This type of tool will enable you to split your PST files without depending upon MS Outlook, give you assurance that your data will not be accidentally deleted, and enable you to easily split your PST files by size, year, and folder locations. If you would like to test and see how easy it is to use a PST Split Tool, try it with a free trial to determine if this product meets your needs before buying it.

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