Mar 30, 2015

Enhance Microsoft Outlook Performance with Few Easy Steps

Outlook Performance
You may be working with Microsoft Outlook since long time. It is also possible that you may have good understanding on how to work with MS outlook. As you are working with MS outlook, it is quite possible that you may have experienced the problem when Outlook was slow and unstable. It may have created some stress to you and affected the work productivity.


Efficient ways to make your Outlook Performance Better

Outlook PST File Size Matters:

In old versions of Outlook to save PST file from corruption we need to keep small size PST file. In Microsoft Outlook 2003, MS Outlook 2007 we can create “new style” PST files because it is not required to have the old 2GB limit. After up gradation of Outlook 2013 and 2010 there is no concept of PST file size. User can save up to 50 GB data in their PST file easily. 

However, I would recommend you to get the best performance of PST file you can try to keep PST file size not above then 1GB.

Few important steps to keep PST file in smaller size: Split PST File: While receiving and sending emails mailbox size gets large day by day. We all know well that large size of PST file is directly proportionate to outlook mailbox. It would be better if we use to split PST file in to multiple PST files instead of using one large PST file.

Organize Outlook Mailbox Smartly: We usually receive email attachments with our mails. To manage outlook mailbox or customize it in smart manner attach the attachment files outside of the PST and place the link in email. Moreover user can customize PST file size by saving entire email messages some different location instead of Outlook

In case PST files increase then you can compact the PST file.

Uninstall/Disable Add-ins in Outlook: To do our work in a smart manner or to save time we usually install Add Ins. Most of Outlook users are not aware of fact that installation of Add INS also a big reason for PST files corruption.

To get rid of such corruption you can disable the unnecessary add-ins which may not in use. Whenever it required in future then you can make it active too. 

Steps to disable the Add-ins in 

To Disable Outlook 2010 COM Add-ins

Select “COM Add-ins” in the Manage drop-down at the bottom of the “Options->Addins” window and click “Go”. 

Note: To get to the Options window, click on the File tab first.

  1. Un Check any add-ins that you are not using.
  2. Click OK.
  3. To disable Outlook 2007 Add-ins
  4. Select “COM Add-ins” in the Manage drop-down at the bottom of the Trust Center window and click “Go”.
  5. Uncheck any add-ins that you are not using.

Note: If you see “The connected state of Office Add-ins registered in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE cannot be changed”

To disable add ins in Outlook 2003:

In Outlook 2003 there are three places to look for installed add ins and to disable them
.
1. COM Add-ins

To view and disable COM Add-ins in Outlook 2003, navigate to:
“Tools->Other->Advanced Options->COM Add-ins…” and uncheck the Add-ins you do not need.

2. Add-in Manager

Navigate to “Tools->Options->Other->Advanced Options->Add-ins Manager…” and uncheck the Add-ins you do not need.

3. Registry Add-ins

In Outlook 2003, some Add-ins are not shown in the UI. You have to look for them in the registry.
Run regedit*.
Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ Outlook\Addins”.

Look at all sub keys of Add ins. Those are Add-ins you have installed. To disable a particular Add-in, set its “Load Behavior” key to 2.

Always be very careful while performing registry modifications.

Note: Don’t forget to restart MS Outlook after making these changes.

3. Compact your PST files: There is one more option to manage the size of PST file User can compress their PST file by using manual method or by using direct method available to compact the size of PST file. Process to compact PST file is already explained by me in my previous post.

4. Observe Cached Exchange Mode: In case you are using an Exchange-based mail account, enabling Cached Exchange Mode will likely improve Outlook responsiveness.

Note: In case the network connection is very fast between computer and the Exchange server then disabling. Cached Exchange Mode might actually result in better performance.

5 Time to Time updating of data: It is mandatory to update your computer and Outlook for necessary notifications. By doing so all necessary file will be updated and user’s system will work perfectly fine. Make sure that your computer has all updated with patches and Service Packs installed in it.  Never forget to update Microsoft Windows Update service and Office patches and service packs in your computer

6 Reset Outlook cache files: After up gradation of outlook versions we usually forget to update our cache files. In case you have upgraded from Outlook 2010 to Outlook 2013 then it is must to reset Outlook cache files settings. These changes will surely help user to expand their Outlook performance.

7. Disable RSS feeds: You can disable RSS feed in Microsoft Outlook 2007. To disable it you have to follow these steps: 

Open “Tools->Options->Other->Advanced Options”

Uncheck “Sync RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List”

After reading above steps user will easily improve their Outlook performance as well as Outlook productivity.  Hope this article is helpful to you.