How to Merge Outlook Archive Files or Folders? 2025 Guide
Published: April 16th, 2025 • 5 Min Read
Are you looking for solutions to know how to merge Outlook archive files/folders into a new archive and automate to resolve your Outlook archive clutter? Multiple Outlook archives might make it difficult to find what you need.
Therefore, within this technical blog, we will guide you through how to combine multiple Outlook archive files selectively. However, before starting the discussion about the tested solutions. Initially, let us understand the common scenarios behind the problem.
Why Do You Need to Combine Archive Files in Outlook?
Users are often cluttered with multiple Outlook archive files over time. The main reason behind the problem is periodic archiving or system transition. Therefore, to get rid of this problem, users often need a secure and verified solution for merging PST archives. However, different users have different use case scenarios behind merging:
- Need to Combine Multiple Outlook Archive Files in the Primary Outlook Profile.
- Need to Merge Outlook Archive Files within a New Blank PST File.
Till now for better understanding, we have discussed the common pain point and use case scenarios behind the query. Now, let us discover how to overcome this conundrum using the Outlook Classic application.
#1 Merge Archive PST Files with Primary Outlook Profile
- Launch Outlook on your PC.
- Next, go to File >> Open & Export >> Import/Export.
- Now, select Import from another program or file > Outlook data file (.pst).
- Then, browse the Outlook archive file and choose (de-duplication or not).
- Choose to import Outlook archives in the Outlook primary profile account from the drop-down.
- Finally, click on the Finish button to merge Outlook archive files within the primary Outlook profile.
Note: Follow the same set of steps for merging multiple archive files in the primary Outlook profile account.
Best For: Merging 1-3 archive files in current Outlook profile.
Cons: Could take time if you have several archive files. Since it is a steps repetitive process.
#2 Selectively Merge Multiple Outlook Archive Files with New Blank PST
- First, launch the Outlook application on your PC.
- Next, click File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Now, from the pop-up click on Data Files > Add
- After that, name the new blank PST file as merged-archive.
- Thereafter, import the PST archive files in Outlook as described in the #1 Method.
- Lastly, drag & drop the folders from archive files to the merged-archive folder in Outlook to selectively combine multiple Outlook archive files in blank PST on the archive files folder level.
Best For: Selectively merging PST archive but, ideal for smaller merges.
Cons: This process of selectively merging can be time-consuming and may have human errors when dealing with multiple Outlook archives.
Best Solution to Merge Outlook Archive Files/Folders
If you need more control over the Outlook archive merging process on emails, contacts, calendars, and folder level. You may check out the trial version of the all-in-one PST Merge Tool. This smart utility is carved with the functionality to merge damaged or password-protected Outlook archives with advanced filter settings.
How to Merge Outlook Archive Files Using the Automated Utility? Step-by-Step Guide
- At the start, install and run the suggested utility on your system.
- Next, click on the Select Files or Select Folders option to insert the archive PST.
- After that, enable the folders that are required to merge from Outlook archives.
- Thereafter, choose the merging mode based on the folder level.
- Now, apply advanced filter settings for more advanced archive PST file items level merging.
- Then, choose the destination storage path from internal, external, or network drives.
- Finally, click on the Merge button to combine multiple Outlook archive folders.
Bonus Tips for Managing & Merging PST Archives
- Keep your merged PST archived files under 50 GB in size to avoid performance glitches in the Outlook application.
- Clean up the merged Outlook archive file from unnecessary items and remove blank folders to save space.
- Keep your merged Outlook archive file password-protected for a more advanced level of security.
Final Thoughts
To wrap up the blog on the topic of how to merge Outlook archive files/folders. We have started our discussion by understanding the common pain points and scenarios behind the problem. To overcome the issue, we have described two DIY techniques step-by-step guide along with their pros and cons.
However, to overcome the pitfalls of manual approaches, we have described an automated solution. Finally, we have seen how to combine multiple Outlook archive files step-by-step guide along with tips for managing merged Outlook archives.