Break or Split PST File by Year in Outlook: Easy Process
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Why Split PST File by Year? Know Reasons
Dividing PST file by year helps users keep file under size limit. It solves many problems for users; let’s know them below—
- With big PST file, Outlook slows down, freezes, & even lags. Users cannot open Outlook on Windows when they have large PST file.
- Large PST files become corrupted & cause Outlook to shut down abruptly. Once they break in smaller parts by year, they cannot access entire mailbox history.
- 10 or large GB PST file becomes slow to access & risky to backup. Smaller PST files can be easily backed up & shared with team members.
- Faster search & access in year-divided PST files than in large PST files.
Manual Method to Archive PST File by Year
To split PST files by year manually, follow the archive steps carefully:
- Click the “File” button and go to the “Info” option.
- Select the “Clean-up Tool” button and then give a click on the “Archive” option.
- Now you have to find the “Archive this folder and all subfolders” option and select it.
- Choose the specific account or folder that you wish to archive PST by year.
- Click on the “Archive items older than” button and select the desired year.
- Enable the Include items with the “Do not AutoArchive” checkbox.
- Finally, select a location to store the archive file and click on “OK“.
Please note that you must manually delete all items older than the selected year as large file crashes Outlook. Follow the above steps to split the PST files for subsequent years, such as 2016 and 2017.
Limitations of the Manual Method
While the manual method can effectively split PST file by year, it has some limitations:
- Non-technical users may struggle with this method as it requires technical knowledge.
- The manual method is complex and time-consuming, demanding significant effort.
- Data loss is a common risk associated with the manual method.
- There is no guarantee of the successful splitting of Outlook PST files by year.
Automated Method to Split Outlook PST File by Year
No one wants to waste their time doing such easy work that can be done just with a few clicks. Fortunately, there are several online tools available. Among them, Bitrecover PST Split Tool for Outlook stands out as an advanced and reliable option. This software allows you to reduce PST file size with ease and precision by splitting PST files by year and other filtration options.
It maintains the native structure of the PST files while splitting and offers various advanced settings for a seamless experience. With this application, you can easily split PST by year, date, size, email ID, and folders. It creates separate folders for each year, efficiently breaking down Outlook PST files based on specific date ranges.
How to Split PST File by Year?
As we discussed above that using an advanced application is always the right choice. Now let’s see how a look into the steps:
- Download and install the software on your machine, carefully following the instructions provided.
- The software will automatically detect the source location of your configured Outlook profile, or you can manually browse for it using the “Select Files” or “Select Folder” modes.
- If you need to split corrupt PST file by year, check the “Recovery Mode” option.
- The software will scan and list all the PST files in the preview pane. Select the desired files using the checkboxes.
- Choose the destination location where the resultant data files will be stored.
- In the “Split Options” section, select “Split By Date” to split the PST file by year.
- Set the desired date range and click on the “Split” button.
Congratulations! The tool will automatically start splitting the PST file by year. Once the process is completed, click on “OK” and view the split files from the selected path.
Prominent Features of This Software
The software offers several noteworthy features:
- It ensures the protection of your data during the splitting process.
- The tool is compatible with all versions of MS Outlook, making it universally applicable.
- If you are dealing with a large amount of data, you can conveniently increase PST file size in Outlook.
- Users can easily split PST files based on specific years such as 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, etc.
- Additionally, you have the option to create a new folder directly to store the divided PST files by year.
Best Way to Split PST Files by Year: Comparison Table
| Manual (Archive Tool) | BitRecover PST Divider Tool |
|---|---|
| Required Technical skill | Easy GUI with 24*7 technical support |
| Need to repeat it again & again | No repetitive work; split PST file at time |
| Outlook required | No Microsoft Outlook Required |
| Free way to involve manual deletion | No risk of data loss during splitting process |
| Didn’t support batch process | Batch process supported |
| Can’t work with corrupted PST file | Repair PST & split PST file by size |
| Zero cost | Need paid version to divide unlimited PST file. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I split PST File by Year without using Outlook?
Yes, users can easily split PST file by year with automated solution. Users don’t need Outlook installed on their systems to finish PST splitting process.
How quickly can software split PST file by year?
This application usually takes couple of moments to break PST file by year. Users just need to select PST file & choose year option to split PST file.
Does splitting PST file affect emails, contacts, & calendar items?
No, breaking large PST file into smaller chunks doesn’t affect your original emails, contacts, calendar items, & other Outlook data. Creates separate PST files while keeping original PST file.
Is there size limit when splitting PST file?
No, with professional method, there is no size limit when users break PST file. When they choose free method, then they need to follow process again & again.
Conclusion
Splitting Outlook PST files by year is a common need for many users. While a manual method exists, it has limitations in terms of technical knowledge, complexity, and data loss risks. Alternatively, an advanced tool like Outlook offers a more efficient and reliable solution, allowing users to split large PST by year easily while maintaining the native structure. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, this tool provides a seamless experience to archive PST by year.
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