How to Remove Duplicate .pst Files in Outlook?

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This article will guide readers on how to remove duplicate .pst files in Outlook 2007, 2010 and 2013 versions.

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When you are someone who uses Microsoft Outlook almost daily, you will get duplicate items in your Inbox and Sent folder at one stage. This basically happens because the files are being saved on the drive of the system by overwriting the previous ones at the same time. Due to the continuous creation of junk data, duplicate (or multiple) copies of the same files get saved. This problem has occurred with people in Outlook 2007, 2010 and 2013 versions.

Duplicate files adversely affect the software in every field you can imagine. As a consequence, your email related operations will also suffer. And due to Outlook taking a hit in its performance, you won’t be able to see and reply to emails promptly. So it is better to clean up the mess before it gets to you.

Why Outlook files get duplicated?

    • If you have enabled the Leave messages on the server option, then it will automatically create multiple copies of the same email messages
    • When Outlook account is synced with phones and PDAs
  • When you backup the Outlook folder data

Effects of Duplicate pst email files in Outlook

Below is a list of the adverse effects you will have to face due to duplication of .pst files in Outlook:

    • Poor performance: The speed of Outlook will take a big hit over time. It will take a lot of time to open any email file you want
    • Lack of storage: Due to continuous addition of new files in the Microsoft Outlook folder, it will become hard to get any space for your other important files. More importantly, the size of the Outlook folder will exceed the regular size limit
  • Loss of data: Because of the overwriting of files, saving .pst file data in your Outlook folder will become even more difficult

Remove duplicate .pst files in Outlook

Before we talk about removing duplicate .pst files in Outlook, them find out what the .pst files actually are. Outlook .pst files are made of emails, contacts, journals, calendars and even notes. These are saved in ANSI and Unicode formats. Their duplicates come into being when you try to configure .pst settings more than once. To delete the duplicate files without causing any hazard, just follow the below steps.

    • Exit Microsoft Outlook
    • Backup your .pst files – this is the default location: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
  • Now delete the outlook.pst file

Now go back to Microsoft Outlook and delete duplicate files

    • Open Outlook and click on File
    • Click View | Current View | Customize current view
    • Right-click Field Chooser and choose All <item name>
    • Now select Modified from Field Chooser
    • Check if the duplicate emails have different dates. If yes, click modified option to sort emails by date
  • To delete all files, select the first email and now hit Shift + Delete

This will delete all duplicate files from the folder within moments.

Clone Files Checker

If the manual solution isn’t working, seems too complex or you just want to avoid all the hassle associated with it, you can use Clone Files Checker to do it all for you.

  • Download and install Clone Files Checker
  • Open the software and browse to the following location in the Step 1 section:
    C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

    Use the Add button to add up the target folder
    • Now click Start Search to launch the scan
    • Once the scan is over, you can easily choose whether to delete the duplicates permanently or move them to a folder of your choice
  • Once this operation has concluded successfully, all the duplicates would have been purged off from Outlook on your computer
Raza Ali Kazmi
Website

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Raza Ali Kazmi works as an editor and technology content writer at Sorcim Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. He loves to pen down articles on a wide array of technology related topics and has also been diligently testing software solutions on Windows & Mac platforms. If you have any question about the content, you can message me or the company's support team.