Troubleshoot the OST File Too Large issue in Easy Steps

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  • Updated on December 22nd, 2023

Summary: OST files (.ost) are offline folder files in Microsoft Outlook. It stores all data from Microsoft Outlook on the local computer, including emails, contact information, hidden items, public folders, and many others. Therefore, the result is that the OST file is much larger than the mailbox, and due to this, users are facing many problems in case they need to fix the oversized OST file issue. There are several solutions to this task, and users are stuck between them. If you are also one and want the best reliable solution to resolve this issue, you are in the right place. This blog will cover all your doubts, like What are the issues in Outlook due to the oversized OST file? How to fix the error OST file is too large? Now, let’s get started with the view of the user’s problem that you are facing. Download Now   Purchase Now

User Query: ”I’ve been dealing with this Outlook OST file that’s too large, and it’s seriously affecting my email style. It’s so large that every action in Outlook feels like it’s in go-slow mode. Can anyone share some practical tips on how to shrink this thing down to a more manageable size? I’ve tried a few things, like deleting some emails and attachments, but it doesn’t seem to make a dent.

I’m not really a tech whiz, so if you could break it down in simple terms or step-by-step instructions, that would be awesome. Because of this size issue, I have a ton of work emails, which is making my inbox a bit of a mess.”

After getting this query, I researched and tried many methods to fix this problem, and now we will provide the best tested and reliable solution to fix this issue. However, first, let’s discuss the problems that users are facing when the Microsoft Outlook OST file is too big.

Problems in Outlook due to the Oversized OST Files?

Here are some issues that users are facing due to oversized Outlook OST files.

  • Sometimes, Outlook has trouble opening or loading a specific file (called OST).
  • If your OST file is too big, Outlook might have a hard time keeping everything in sync.
  • It’s not always easy to add new information to an existing OST file in Outlook.
  • Sometimes, error messages pop up when Outlook is trying to synchronise.
  • Outlook might suddenly stop or pause unexpectedly.

Once you have read the points mentioned above. Let’s now learn the most effective techniques for repairing large Outlook OST file issues.

Reliable Methods to Fix Outlook OST File Too Large Issue?

In this section, we are going to talk about numerous techniques to resolve the oversized OST file issue. Let’s discuss this in more detail down below.

Method 1: How to reduce the size of Outlook OST file?

In this section, we are going to show you how to reduce the size of your Outlook OST file by using manual methods. Let’s now talk about the techniques one by one.

Delete Unnecessary Emails:

Open Outlook, go to your Inbox, select emails you don’t need, and press delete. Empty the “Deleted Items” folder to free up space. Moreover, clear out unnecessary items such as old calendar entries, tasks, and notes to reduce the overall size of the OST file.

Archive Old Items:

Use the built-in archiving feature to move old emails, attachments, and other items to a separate archive file (PST). First, create an archive for old emails. Go to “File” > “Options” > “Advanced” > “AutoArchive Settings” and set a schedule for archiving.

Gmail Backup Tool Step 2

Compact OST File:

Close Outlook, go to the Control Panel, find the “Mail” option, click on “Data Files,” select the OST file, and click on “Settings.” Then, click on “Compact Now” to compact the file while Outlook is closed.

Gmail Backup Tool Step 2

Remove Large Attachments:

Identify and delete emails with large attachments. Save important attachments to your computer if needed, and then delete them from the email to reduce the OST file size.

Empty the “Deleted Items” Folder:

Regularly empty the “Deleted Items” folder to permanently delete unnecessary emails and free up space.

Reduce Mailbox Size Limits:

If your email server has mailbox size limits, consider reducing the size of your mailbox by archiving or deleting items to stay within the specified limits.

Use Mailbox Cleanup:

In Outlook, go to “File” > “Tools” > “Mailbox Cleanup.” Use features like “AutoArchive,” “Empty Deleted Items Folder,” and “View Mailbox Size” to manage mailbox space.

The above-mentioned manual methods can reduce file limits, but there are lengthy ways to resolve this issue that take time and effort and also require a tech-savvy person who is familiar with Outlook. Furthermore, these methods might be useful sometimes, but not always for all.

Sometimes it doesn’t work, and there’s a risk of large corruption in the Outlook files. Moreover, there is a risk of losing and corrupting your important data. In this case, the user should need to recover the data that was deleted or corrupted.

Now, we are going to show you the best OST recovery tool that helps recover the OST file without losing data. It can easily handle large amounts of data at once and is tested by experts. Let’s understand the method in detail without further delay.

Method 2: How to OST Recover the Outlook OST File?

This OST Recovery Tool is a trustworthy and quick method that helps to recover multiple OST files at the same time. It can manage large Outlook OST files easily without losing any data. Moreover, it offers various options that allow you to manage the OST files according to your needs. This software can easily restore all Outlook mailbox items, including emails, attachments, contacts, tasks, and many others. It offers multiple file formats to save the restored OST files, such as PST, MBOX, MSG, EML, and others.

  1. Download, install, and run the OST Recovery Tool on your device.
  2. Go to “Open” and choose the OST file from which you need to recover the data.
  3. Then, select the recovery mode, like standard, advanced, or deep. Also, select the other options as you want.
  4. Here, the software will scan the selected OST files within a few minutes, then click the OK button.
  5. In the next step, choose the folders that you want to restore and click Save.
  6. After that, select the saving PST format and click Ok.
  7. Finally, your OST file data is restored successfully.

Conclusion

As you learn various methods to fix the OST file oversized issue manually. However, the manual methods can affect your important data due to a few common mistakes, as discussed above. In this case, you must use the best OST recovery tool to recover the OST files and save them in PST or other formats where you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What causes Outlook OST files to be big?

Ans- Outlook OST files get big mainly because of accumulated email data, especially large attachments, and other items like calendar entries. The more you use Outlook for various tasks, the larger the file becomes. Regularly cleaning up your mailbox and removing unnecessary items can help manage the file size.

Q. What issues may users face with a large OST file?

Ans- Slower performance, longer loading times, and possible synchronization issues are some of the problems that can arise from having a large OST file in Outlook. Users may experience delays in accessing emails or struggle in sending/receiving messages. Additionally, a large OST file can increase the risk of data corruption and make it challenging to manage mailbox organization efficiently. Regular maintenance and file size management can help reduce these issues.

About The Author:

Adom Smith is a DataRecoveryHelp Technology Writer. He is a technology enthusiast with over 3 years of experience in Data Recovery, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics. He enjoys researching and sharing DIY solutions as well as tips and tricks for resolving Windows technical issues.

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