This article discusses the way to configure Outlook PST File size limits manually to fix issues like the dearth of space for new incoming messages.
Do you know the default maximum size limit for your Outlook PST file? Most of the Outlook users do not even consider it important. But, when users realize that there is an issue while sending or receiving emails, they need to know the default or specified size for the PST files by them. It could be the reason that the storage space has reached the maximum set value for the PST files. You can verify the set PST file size limit for your Outlook application.
When the maximum limit is reached, when you try to move the Outlook file items, you might receive this error:
Can't move the items. The file > path > \ > filename > .pst has reached its maximum size. To reduce the amount of data in this file, select some items that you no longer need, and then permanently delete them.
Deleting Outlook file items manually would be a cumbersome task. Users need to search for another solution, like increasing the maximum size limit.
For Outlook versions older than 2010 version, the default maximum recommended Outlook PST file size is 20 GB and for Outlook 2010 & above versions, the default maximum recommended size for Outlook PST file is 50 GB.
Now, the question is ‘Can this default maximum PST size be expanded?’. The answer is Yes. For example – You can raise the Outlook PST file size for latest versions from 50 GB to 100 GB. This is done by editing the registry entries.
Now, let us perform the manual way of using these registry entries to configure Outlook PST file size limits.
Likewise, you can create DWORD value WarnLargeFileSize and assign value to it. The recommended size is 95% of the set Mailbox File Size Limit. For example, consider 70GB here.
1024*70 = 71680MB
For ANSI Format files, use registry values as MaxFileSize and WarnFileSize. Note that you need to enter values in Bytes if chosen Decimal as the base. Here, the recommended default size is 1.8 GB only which you can expand up to 2GB only, otherwise the value will be ignored to avoid any corruption issue.
The more you use the Outlook account to send and receive emails, the faster your mailbox increases in size and reaches to its maximum limit. The users understand that the large mailboxes are slower in responding to the queries. But the PST file may not reduce in size automatically, but Outlook has given some methods to shrink it to accommodate more emails.
A Mailbox Cleanup tool is present in Outlook that allows you to view the size of the mailbox and the individual folders. You can use it wisely to search the older email messages that are large but do not require now. Many times, the deleted email messages keep occupying the mailbox space, increasing its size. The mailbox cleanup tool lets you check the deleted emails and delete them directly. Here is the process;
The compact method to reduce the PST file eliminates the whitespace in the PST file.
So, as you have read, it is not a complicated task to configure Outlook files size limits through registries. However, a certain amount of focus and little technical expertise is always needed. And if you set values much beyond the limits, then corruption of PST files could be the result. For users facing PST corruption after attempting this method or already suffering from any PST related issue, we would suggest you trust Kernel for Outlook PST Repair tool. This tool has all the features needed for quality PST solution. Simple GUI and intelligent filters are its highlights. Get a live trial with its demo version on the website.