Just lately, my laptop computer was working out of cupboard space. So, I checked the same old suspects like massive downloads, too many movies, and forgotten apps. Nonetheless, none of them defined the storage problem. I couldn’t discover out the actual offender. Out of curiosity, I made a decision to dig a bit of deeper into system folders that I by no means actually checked out earlier than. I came upon that Microsoft Outlook was really taking on plenty of house on my laptop computer.
The shocking half was that Outlook itself didn’t look bloated. The app was working usually, and I wasn’t getting any storage warning there. Additionally, I hadn’t downloaded something uncommon. Truly, the issue was buried within the Outlook cache. And that’s why it took me so lengthy to note.
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I ran one Disk Cleanup command and recovered 20GB of Home windows Replace information I did not know have been there
Quickest 20GB I’ve recovered on my PC.
What’s Outlook Cache
And why does it get so massive
Screenshot by Kanika Gogia
Once we use Microsoft Outlook, it not solely reveals our emails from the cloud. It additionally shops a neighborhood copy of our mailbox information, so we will entry our emails sooner and even work offline. Mainly, this makes issues sooner as Outlook doesn’t at all times should fetch all the information from the cloud each time you open it. This native information is saved in an OST (Offline Storage Desk) file, and consists of your emails, attachments, contacts, calendar information, and extra.
In fact, this saved information is beneficial, however the issue is that it grows in a short time. By default, Outlook typically downloads all of your emails. This consists of every thing from messages and attachments to calendars and contacts. You probably have a number of accounts or cope with massive information frequently, the Outlook cache can balloon into tens of gigabytes over time.
In my case, it was the mixture of years of e mail syncing, cached folders I didn’t find out about, and short-term information that I by no means deleted. I by no means observed any problem till Outlook had already taken an enormous chunk of my cupboard space.
The place Outlook hides its cache
Taking over gigabytes out of your sight
The most important motive why I didn’t discover this problem sooner is that Outlook doesn’t show its cache within the app. Fairly, it shops the cache inside a hidden system folder. It’s not your Program Recordsdata or Paperwork folder. You would possibly by no means hit upon it whereas casually shopping your gadget.
On Home windows, it’s underneath C:Customers[YourName]AppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook.
Right here’s how yow will discover it:
- Press Home windows + R keys to make use of the Home windows Run field.
- Kind: %localappdatapercentMicrosoftOutlook and press Enter.
As soon as I opened this folder, the issue was apparent. I noticed OST information, and one in all them was large — taking on the majority of that lacking 15GB. If you wish to examine the scale, right-click the file, choose Properties, and examine the scale underneath the Normal tab.
In addition to this, there’s a RoamCache folder that shops short-term information, and it could additionally add up over time. You could find it in %localappdatapercentMicrosoftOutlookRoamCache.
Why deleting information isn’t the appropriate repair
Handle the cache as an alternative
Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOfCredit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf
My first intuition was to delete that massive file and get my house again. Clearly, many people will really feel the identical, however it isn’t the appropriate approach to cope with the difficulty. When you delete the whole OST file, it can additionally wipe out some crucial information out of your gadget. Consequently, you would possibly lose your essential offline information. Additionally, it’d set off gradual efficiency and syncing points. And, even for those who do, Outlook will rebuild every thing from scratch.
Subsequently, you don’t should wipe out the information blindly. As a substitute, it’s important to handle the cache. This may assist you management how a lot information Outlook shops within the first place.
handle Outlook Cache
Right here’s what really labored for me
Screenshot by Kanika Gogia
As soon as I found out what was occurring, I made a decision to make a number of focused adjustments. These helped me liberate house, and likewise made Outlook sooner.
Restrict how a lot mail is downloaded
Fortunately, Outlook provides you management over how a lot of your mailbox is saved regionally. So, as an alternative of syncing every thing, I made a decision to restrict it to current emails. Right here’s how one can do it:
- Open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings
- Double-click your e mail account and discover the Mail to maintain offline slider.
- Now you can change it from All to one thing like 6 months.
- Be certain that to restart Outlook.
Your older emails gained’t disappear, so you possibly can nonetheless entry them on-line. However they gained’t be saved in your gadget now.
Clear the short-term RoamCache information
Outlook additionally creates short-term cache information in folders like RoamCache. This consists of issues like autocomplete information and calendar information. You’ll be able to safely delete these information to clear muddle and repair efficiency points in your gadget.
- Shut Outlook and press Home windows + R
- Kind: %localappdatapercentMicrosoftOutlookRoamCache
- Contained in the folder, choose all information and delete them. Simply ensure you don’t delete the folder itself.
- Reopen Outlook.
This may clear undesirable short-term information with out affecting your emails.
Handle massive attachments
In my case, attachments have been one of many greatest contributors to the cache. This included PDFs, shows, and forwarded paperwork. Fairly than permitting the attachments to pile up, I began deleting them manually.
I looked for emails that have been greater than 20MB in measurement. This immediately pulled up messages with cumbersome attachments. I archived essential emails and saved important attachments to my laptop computer earlier than eradicating them from Outlook. Sure, it took a little bit of time. Nevertheless it additionally diminished the entire house Outlook was utilizing.
Flip off pointless syncing
Whereas doing all of this, I additionally found that Outlook was syncing greater than I really wanted. Over time, I’ve added a number of accounts and folders. Outlook was protecting native copies of all of them, even for those I hardly ever used. To repair this, I eliminated previous/unused e mail accounts and restricted which folders have been synced.
The outcomes after fixing Outlook’s cache
Outlook cache is beneficial, however it could additionally turn into one of many greatest storage hogs for those who by no means examine it. As soon as I began managing Outlook cache, the distinction was speedy. I claimed a big chunk of valuable storage, and Outlook additionally felt extra responsive. No, that 15GB cache didn’t disappear immediately. However over time, it shrank considerably as Outlook adjusted to the brand new settings. Extra importantly, the cache stopped rising uncontrollably.
