Why Is Outlook Receiving Duplicate Emails?

  

Rollins Duke   
Published: December 24th, 2025 • 7 Min Read

Many MS Outlook users are facing the issue of duplicate emails on daily basis, and their Outlook receiving duplicate emails, but they don’t know why these duplicate emails appear in the inbox, spam, and junk folders. If you are among the users facing the same problem and want to stop your Outlook getting duplicate emails in any versions, such as 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2007. Read this complete blog till the end to get the best possible solution for this problem.

In this blog post, we are going to share the tried step-by-step methods to stop outlook getting duplicate emails. So keep continue reading this informative blog to end.

Before we begin, let’s understand why Microsoft Outlook receiving duplicate emails.

Why Is Outlook Receiving Duplicate Emails?

Outlook can download duplicate emails for multiple reasons. This problem can frustrate users. Even duplicate emails can cause Outlook to be slow to receive emails. Some of the common causes of receiving duplicate emails in Outlook are:

• Email Rules or Filters: Misconfigured email rules or filters can deliver emails to multiple folders (Inbox, Spam, Junk) in Outlook. Incorrect configuration is also a major reason for duplicate emails in Outlook, so always check before configuration.
• Email Account Configuration: Incorrect settings in the email account configuration can lead to duplicate email downloads. For example, if the same email account is set up multiple times with different protocols (POP3 and IMAP), then your Outlook may receive duplicate emails.
• Synchronization Issues: Problems during the synchronization process between the email server and Outlook can download duplicates.
• Corrupted Outlook Data Files: Corruption in Outlook data files (such as PST or OST files) can cause email duplication during the process of receiving or updating emails.
• Email Server Issues: Server-side issues from email provider side can cause Outlook to receive duplicate emails.
• Outlook Add-ins or Plugins: Certain third-party add-ins or plugins installed in Outlook might interfere with email synchronization. Even inadvertently becomes the reason for downloading duplicate emails in Outlook desktop.
• Recovery or Backup Tool: The Outlook backup or recovery software can restore deleted emails, but the recovered emails may also contain duplicate Outlook emails.
• Human Mistakes: Accidental multiple clicks on the “Send/ Receive” button or other actions by the user can start downloading duplicate emails in Outlook. Sometimes users may even forget to enable the “Do not import duplicates” option while importing emails from PST.

Now that we know the most common causes of duplicate emails, let’s move towards the methods to stop outlook getting duplicate emails.

Manual Ways to Stop Receiving Duplicate Emails in Outlook

There are several manual techniques available to stop outlook receiving duplicate emails. Here we are explaining a few most effective and most commonly used tips and tricks to get rid of duplicate emails in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and previous editions.
#1 Verify Email Account Settings:

Check the email account settings in Outlook to ensure there are no duplicates account configured in your Outlook. If you see a duplicate account added using different protocols, remove that duplicate account immediately.

#2 Review Email Rules and Filters:

Review and adjust the email rules and filters in Outlook to prevent duplicate emails from being copied into different folders.

#3 Repair Outlook Data Files:

If corruption is suspected, use Outlook’s built-in repair tool (Scanpst.exe for PST files) to repair Outlook PST files.

#4 Fix Server Duplicates:

If server-side issues are identified, contact your email provider to resolve the problem to stop receiving duplicate emails in Outlook.

#5 Do Not Import Duplicates:

If you are importing emails from PST files to your Outlook client. Then must enable the “Do not import duplicates” option as shown in the figure below.

#6 Clean Up Folder:

If you see Outlook receiving duplicate emails in your mail folders then you can also use the Clean Up folder option. This facility is recommended to remove duplicate emails from PST files, exported from all Outlook editions.

#7 Check POP3 Account Settings:

If you have configured an email account in Outlook using POP3 protocols. Then please check the pop3 settings of your configured account. Make sure the “Leave a copy of messages on the server” option is disabled. This option is available in Account Settings > Email Account > More Settings > Advanced.

Key Limitations of the Manual Method:

• It’s time-consuming process for bulk duplicate emails.
• A small mistake leads to permanent loss of main emails along with duplicates.
• Using ScanPST.exe to adjust settings of (POP3 & IMAP) require tech knowledge to solve.
• This function cannot automatically remove duplicate emails.
• If duplicate emails are created by server, Outlook will not automatically fix the problem.

These were some major limitations of manual method mentioned above to solve this issue. If the manual solution won’t work, you can go with automated solution.

How to Stop Duplicate Emails in Outlook?

1. Firstly, start the software and add Outlook profile data in the software panel.
   
2. After that, select the required Outlook items that have clutter and press Next.
   
3. Enable a mode to fix replica clutter within and across the folders accordingly.
   
4. Use advance filter options for removing duplicate emails, and choosing specific criteria.
   
5. Afterwards, choose the Browse icon to set a required destination path as per your choice.
   
6. Hit the Extract button to start fixing duplicate email clutter.
   
7. After that, you see the task is completed successfully, press Ok to confirm the completion.
   
8. Get resultant PST files and import them in Outlook by enabling the “Do not import duplicates” option.
   

Finally! Now you successfully remove outlook duplicate emails.

Why Choose Outlook Duplicate Remover Tool? Features

• This utility remove Outlook duplicate contacts, calendars, emails, and attachments, etc.
• Advanced filters allow users to delete duplicate emails from folders.
• The tool can auto-detect linked Outlook account data from the default location.
• Also allows users to remove emails from specific areas such as date range, sender/recipient address, and  subject.
• Software can remove duplicate emails even from password-protected data files.

These were reasons that show you why you should choose this tool.

Conclusion

Above you have learned about manual and automated solutions to get rid of outlook receiving duplicate emails. Additionally, we have also explained the top possible reasons why Outlook getting duplicate emails in folders. You can also read some tips and tricks to stop receiving duplicate emails in Outlook email clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why do I get duplicate emails in Outlook?

Ans: There might be several reasons for duplicate emails in Outlook:

• The same email account may configure twice.
• Enable leaving a copy of messages on the server option.
• A problem with antivirus programs.
• Implemented rules and filters in the wrong way.
• Synchronization issues in MS Outlook.
• Email server issues, and others as explained above.

Q2: Is your software capable stop receiving duplicate emails in Outlook 2021?

Ans: Yes, this is an excellent and expert-suggested tool to stop downloading duplicate emails in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2000, 98, and 97.

Q3: Do antivirus programs become a reason for duplicate emails in Outlook?

Ans: Yes, sometimes you may receive duplicate emails in Outlook due to antivirus programs. In that case, you will need to disable the antivirus program for scanning.