Remove Duplicate PST Files Cleverly

/ Duplicate Errors, Emails / By

At times, you can see two identical sets of folders while looking at your folder list. Microsoft Office Outlook shows duplicate items under the Personal folder, besides the default folder containing your emails, contacts and other items.

If you wish to delete duplicate PSTs easily, you can download Clone Files Checker (CFC), and scan the folder containing these files. CFC allows you to scan, review and move duplicate files based on different criteria such as files location, file versions, etc. Download it here:

Duplicate PST Files? Download Clone Files Checker

CFC follows Google Software Principles

Remove Corrupted Data Files

Most often, the duplicate PST files indicate corruption of your email profile. The profile files were overwritten during a recent Outlook update. Clean-up and recreate your email profile to prevent PST duplication.

For Microsoft Office Outlook 2010:

  1. Click the File menu, choose Account settings.
  2. Click the Data Files tab in the newly opened dialog box.
  3. Select a folder containing set of duplicate PST files, and then click the Remove button.

Fix Registry Mess

There are numerous incorrect, duplicate and junk mail profile keys in your Registry. Use the clean profile command to delete them and automatically re-create the missing ones.

For Windows 10/ 8.1/ 8:

  1. Press Windows Key + X; choose Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Execute the following command:

          outlook.exe /cleanprofile

  1. After successful completion, type Exit and then press Enter.

For Windows 7/ Vista:

  1. Click the start button, type CMD in the Search box.
  2. Right click CMD from the Search Results, choose Run as administrator from the right-click menu options.
  3. Refer to Steps # 2-3 under the Windows 10/ 8.1/ 8 section.

For Microsoft Office Outlook 2007, 2003:

  1. Click the File menu.
  2. Choose Data File Management option.
  3. Locate a folder containing your duplicate items.
  4. Click the Remove button.

Delete Outlook.pst File

Do not permanently delete this file. Move it to the Recycle Bin and then reload Outlook.

For Windows 10:

  1. Exit Microsoft Office Outlook. Make sure you close the system tray icon.
  2. Click the File Explorer icon on Taskbar.
  3. Click the View tab in Ribbon interface, and then check the Hidden items box.
  4. Open the following location:  C:\Users\USER_NAME\AppData\Local\MicrosoftOutlook
  1. Move the Outlook.pst file to Recycle Bin.

For Windows 8.1/ 8:

  1. Open Libraries from the File Explorer.
  2. Click the View tab in Ribbon interface.
  3. Click the Options icon at extreme right corner.
  4. Click the View tab in the newly opened Folder Options dialog box.
  5. Select Show hidden files, folders and drives option from Hidden files and folders category.
  6. Click Apply | OK.
  7. Open the following location:  C:\Users\USER_NAME\AppData\Local\MicrosoftOutlook
  1. Move the file Outlook.pst to Recycle Bin.

For Windows 7/ Vista:

  1. Open My Computer.
  2. Press Alt key to show the menu bar.
  3. Click the Tools menu, and then Folder Options.
  4. Refer to Steps # 4-6 under Windows 8.1/ 8 user’s section.
  5. Open the following location:  C:\Users\USER_NAME\AppData\Local\MicrosoftOutlook
  6. Move Outlook.pst to the Recycle Bin.
Raza Ali Kazmi
Website | + posts

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.