How to Speed Up Outlook: Effective Tips to Boost Performance

Overview: In this informative guide, we’ll discuss how to speed up Outlook performance using the best expert ways, which will effectively improve Outlook speed and ensure each users have a smooth and fast experience.

If you’re Outlook hasn’t been working fast or lagging over the past few days, it might be due to your Outlook mailbox full, damaged OST/PST files or unwanted third-party add-ins resulting in slow productivity. Never mind, there are many effective solutions to enhance performance. Let’s walk through its common reasons.

Now, you can verify if the above problems are making some delay in Outlook. If yes, then follow the given solutions.

Let’s walk through the explanation one by one.

#1: Archive Old Emails

If working with a large mailbox, then it’s the main reason for the slow response of Outlook. If you can’t delete the data, then you can simply archive your emails and move to the archive folder, which speed up Outlook performance to some extent.

Steps:

1. Nav to File > Tools > Clean Up Old Items > Archive.
2. Choose or make a new folder and name it Archive.
3. Select the date to move emails older than that.
4. Save the archive to a new data file > click Ok.

#2: Turn-Off Unwanted Add-ins

If using third-party or non-necessary add-ins, then it might slow down performance. So disable the ones by following:

Steps:

1. Go to File > Options > Add-Ins> Manage COM Add-ins > Go.
2. Remove add-ins which you don’t need or that look unnecessary.
3. Start Outlook again to check changes.

#3: Disable RSS Feeds & Clutter

RSS feeds & clutter folder might look important, but they increase mailbox size with a slow syncing process.
Steps:

1. Navigate to File > Options > Advanced > RSS Feeds.
2. Untick the syncronize RSS feed to the common feed list.

And if you want to disable clutter, then

1. Go to Settings > Mail > Automatic > Clutter > Turn off.

This will reduce the unwanted data to process and allow Outlook to run faster.

#4: Update System Along with Outlook

Working on an outdated or older version increases bugs & errors, whereas a new one will fix bugs, security errors and increase Outlook speed.

Steps:

1. For Outlook: Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
2. For Windows: Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for any updates.

If yes, then update and make a habit of updating, as it optimises stability and speed.

#5: Repair Damaged Data Files

Damaged files can cause lags, crashes or slow response. Restoring the files might increase Outlook speed.

Steps:

1. Quit MS Outlook.
2. Launch ScanPST.exe, usually found in the Office Installation Folder.
3. Choose your files > click on Start button > Repair.
4. Restart your Outlook.

It’s very necessary to recover the data files for faster performance.

#6: Manage Cached Exchange Mode

This is mainly for Office 365 or Exchange users; if we clear Outlook cache emails, then it’ll surely increase speed. It’s because

Steps:

1. Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Choose Exchange Account Change.
2. Select the period of 12 months or less, which is usually under the Mail to keep Offline option.
3. Press Next > Finish > Launch Outlook Again.

This ensures that only new and recent conversations will be saved locally, resulting in speed up Outlook performance.

#8: Optimise Mailbox Folders

If your local folders become large, causing a delay in the loading of emails, then organise your folders for enhanced performance. Here you can:

• Move your old emails to the archive folder.
• Prevent saving huge attachments in your mailbox; instead, store them outside.
• Put some storage restrictions on folders.

Smaller or organized folders speed up Outlook to process data quickly and increase.