4 Techniques to Split PST Files Into Smaller Parts to Manage Outlook Data Efficiently

Microsoft Outlook is a widely used email client that helps users efficiently send, receive, and manage emails. It stores data such as emails, contacts, calendars, folders, etc., and these PST files become bulky with time, which can slow Outlook’s performance and create various issues. To solve this problem, we need to split PST files into smaller parts. In this blog, we will explore four effective methods to break PST files and enhance Outlook’s performance.

Why Do We Need to Split the PST File?

Large PST files can cause several problems for Outlook users. Below are some of the main reasons why splitting PST files is necessary:

• Large PST files can slow down Outlook, making accessing emails and other data difficult. 
• Oversized PST files are more prone to corruption; reducing the PST file size minimizes the risk of corruption and prevents data loss.
• Large PST files contain lots of data, and backing up that data becomes difficult with large PST files.
• Smaller PST files are easier to organize, transfer, and share, that making data handling more efficient.

Methods to split PST File Into Smaller Parts

Method 1: Split PST File Using the “Archive” Feature

Microsoft Outlook has a built-in feature called Archive that facilitates the use of split large PST files efficiently.

Steps to Split PST Using the Archive Feature:

1. Firstly, open Microsoft Outlook and go to the File tab.
2. Then, tap on Options and select Advanced.
3. Under the AutoArchive section, click on AutoArchive Settings.
4. Next, select the folder you want to archive and specify the date range.
5. Then, tap on Browse to choose the storage location for the archived PST file.
6. Finally, assign a name to the archived PST file and tap on the OK button.

After applying these steps, users can break the PST, and if these steps seem complicated to apply, you can go with the next one.

Method 2: Split the PST File Using the “Import/Export” Facility

In this method, we are going to use Outlook’s Import/Export feature; let’s dive into that.

Steps to Split PST Using Import/Export:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your PC.
2. Locate the File tab and select Account Settings.
3. Under Open & Export, choose Import/Export.
4. Now, select Export to a file and click on the Next button.
5. Then, select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click on the Next.
6. Select the PST folder you want to export to a new file.
7. Next, choose the storage location to store newly created PSTs.
8. Click Finish to finish the process.

Method 3: Split the PST File Using the “Move to Folder” Feature

Outlook’s Move to Folder feature allows users to move selected items to a new PST file, which can help you reduce the size of the original PST file effectively.

Steps to Split PST file Using Move to Folder:

1. Lunch Microsoft Outlook.
2. Locate the File > Account Settings > Data Files.
3. Then, click on the Add button to create a new PST file.
4. Next, navigate to the main menu and open the large PST file.
5. Select the emails and other data you want to move.
6. Then, click on Move > Copy to Folder.
7. Select the newly created PST file as the destination and click OK.
8. Once all is done, delete the moved items from the original PST file to reduce its size.

This method allows users to manually divide PST files by transferring data into separate files.

Method 4: Split PST File Using Shoviv Software

Splitting PST files using manual methods is a bit tricky to apply and takes lots of time to split a PST file, so users can use Shoviv PST Splitter Software to split the PST file into smaller parts. This tool enables users to split PST files by size, folder, date, or year without the risk of data loss.

Steps to Split PST Using Shoviv PST Splitter Software.

1. Download and install Shoviv Software.
2. Now, add the large PST file that needs to be split.
3. Select the destination location for the new PST files.
4. Next, select any splitting criterion: size, folder, date, or year.
5. Then, click on Next to begin the process.
6. Once the process is completed, click Finish.

Conclusion

Splitting large PST files is essential for maintaining Outlook performance and preventing data from being corrupted. We have many approaches to split up PST files, while manual methods can help us split PST file into smaller parts, they require time and effort. Shoviv PST Splitter Software is highly recommended for breaking the PST file more efficiently and securely. It simplifies the process, making PST file management seamless and ensuring a smoother Outlook experience.