Is Your Outlook Running Slow? Fix Lagging & Speed Up Email

Have you also noticed that your Microsoft Outlook is running very slow? It may take a long time to open emails and search your inbox. Many of you face this problem, as a result, it makes daily work difficult. Generally, Outlook slows down because of large mailbox files, add-ins, or a corrupt PST file. The main thing is that you can fix this issue in different ways. In this blog, we will share some simple manual methods to fix Slow Outlook. And if those do not work, we will also introduce you to the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool. It repairs damaged Outlook files, improves performance, and helps Outlook work smoothly again. Download Now   Purchase Now

Why Is My Outlook So Slow?

There is not just one reason why your Outlook is performing well. So many factors can be the reasons to make your Outlook slow:

• Oversized PST/OST files: As you know, Outlook stores your data in PST or OST files. If these files are too large, Outlook cannot handle them properly.
• Too many add-ins: When you put Add-ins to add functionality, it will also consume resources. So, you should keep your Outlook profile free from add-ins.
• Outdated version of Outlook: If you are running an old version of Outlook or Windows without updates, then it can create performance issues.
• Too many emails in one folder: In case users store thousands of emails in a single folder, it can make Outlook unresponsive.
• Low system resources: If your computer has limited RAM or storage, Outlook performance can drop.

Understanding these causes makes it easier to fix Outlook and prevent future lagging.

Quick Checks Before Troubleshooting

Before we move to the advanced methods, try the mentioned quick checks. Sometimes, if users know some simple steps, it can resolve the issue:

• Check internet connection: If you have an unstable internet connection, then it can make your Outlook slow.
• Restart Outlook and your system: Temporary glitches may slow down applications, and a restart often clears them.
• Update Outlook and Windows: Microsoft regularly releases its updates. If a user keeps their Outlook up to date can fix known bugs and speed up performance.

When you have already checked the above-mentioned troubleshooting steps and you are still lagging in Outlook, then you can move to the given fixes to fix slow Outlook.

Explore Some Ways to Fix Outlook Lagging Issues

If Outlook is running slow, you don’t always have to jump straight to advanced solutions. Although there are several manual fixes you can try first. Now, we will go through them one by one in detail to fix the slow Outlook:

1. Disable Unnecessary Add-ins

To begin with, one of the most common reasons for Outlook lagging is the presence of too many add-ins. While some add-ins are useful, many of them run in the background and consume resources unnecessarily.

To fix the Lagging Outlook issue, follow the given steps: 

• First, you should open Outlook>>File>>Options>>Add-ins.
• At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins and then click on the Go button.
• Now, you will see a list of installed add-ins. Simply uncheck those add-ins which you really don’t use that much.
• After that, simply tap on the OK button and restart Outlook.

After doing this, you allow Outlook to load only the necessary tools. It reduces startup time and improves overall performance.

2. Secondly, Archive or Clean Up Mailbox

Next, if your mailbox has grown too large, Outlook will naturally slow down. Imagine if you have thousands of emails in one folder, then how can Outlook work? Along with bulk emails, unnecessary attachments increase the load on Outlook.

• Here is the step on how you can clean up your Outlook Mailbox:
• In Outlook, go to the Files>> Tools>>Mailbox Cleanup.
• Use the options to view large items, find old emails, or empty Deleted Items.

You can also move older emails to an archive folder so they don’t burden the main mailbox.

With a lighter mailbox, Outlook can process emails much faster, and you’ll notice smoother performance.

3. Compact the PST and OST Files

Even after you delete the emails, your Outlook data file does not reduce its file size.

Instead, the empty space remains until you compact the file. Over time, this unused space slows Outlook down.

• Simply, click Outlook’s File option>>Account Settings>>Account Settings.
• Then, tap on the Data Files tab and select your PST/OST file.
• Now, click on Settings and then choose Compact Now.

This process reduces the file size and helps Outlook load data more efficiently.

4. Repair Your Outlook Data Files with ScanPST.exe

Sometimes, the real reason behind Outlook lagging is a corrupted PST or OST file. So, you should use the built-in repair tool, which is ScanPST.exe. It can help you fix the slow Outlook performance:

• Close Outlook completely.
• Locate ScanPST.exe in your Microsoft Office installation folder.
• Note: The location of your PST file depends on your Outlook version.
• Run the tool and browse your Outlook data file.
• Now, hit the Strat button to initiate the scanning process.

Once the file is repaired, Outlook can function smoothly and your Outlook can work well without any issues.

5. As Alternative, Utilize the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool to Fix the Outlook Data File

If the built-in ScanPST.exe Tool is not enough to fix your Outlook data file, then the best step is to use the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool to repair your Outlook data file. This software can repair severely corrupted PST files, recover all mailbox items. As a result, your Outlook runs smoothly again. Moreover, it gives you the option to save your repaired data in different formats. Also, it can repair large PST files without limitation. With just a few easy steps, you can scan, repair, and restore your Outlook data without any kind of data loss. You can easily troubleshoot slow Outlook performance due to a large PST file. That’s why it is a reliable choice when the manual repair method doesn’t solve the issue.

6. Create a New Outlook Profile

Lastly, if none of the above-mentioned manual methods fix your slow Outlook, the problem might be with your Outlook profile. Your corrupted profile can slow everything down. In this type of situation, you should create a new profile to resolve this issue and run your Outlook profile:

• Simply, navigate to the Control Panel >> Mail >> Show Profiles.
• Then, tap on the Add to create a new profile.
• Now, configure your email account with the new profile.
• When you completed it, set this created new profile as the default one.

Note: Each of these methods can improve Outlook’s speed in different ways. First, try the simpler solutions like disabling add-ins and cleaning up the mailbox. Then, if Outlook is still slow, move on to compacting or repairing data files. And finally, if the issue continues, creating a new profile may solve it.

Conclusion

When Outlook runs slowly, it can disturb your work and waste time. This problem happens because of simple things like too many add-ins, a large mailbox, or unused features. Sometimes, it can also be due to a damaged PST file. You can try manual fixes. In which you can turn off add-ins, clean up the mailbox, reduce file size, or use the ScanPST tool to repair errors. But if these methods do not solve the problem, using a professional tool is the best choice. With the right solution, Outlook will run faster and give you a smooth email experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

About The Author:

Rohan Wiese

Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.

Related Post

My Outlook .OST File Disappeared After Changing IMAP Server: Best Method

Change Password For Outlook Data File (.PST) – Quick Guides

Quick Guide to Delete All Empty Folders in Outlook PST Easily