Outlook Cleanup Not Working? Try 4 Ways to Fix the Error

Outlook Cleanup Not Working? Here are Quick Fixes to Try

Have you ever experienced the issue of “Outlook cleanup not working”? Many reasons are causing this pesky error. Most likely, you're here because you're tired of cleaning up your inbox manually or wondering why the cleanup tool isn't working. Today, we’ll talk about whether the Outlook Cleanup tool stops decluttering, then how users can automatically clean up duplicates and delete redundant emails using the best alternatives.

What is the Outlook Email Cleanup Tool?

The Outlook email Cleanup tool is made to remove old and large emails. It helps in emptying the deleted items folder, which increases the performance. Also, it is used to remove the chaos, declutter the duplicates, and improve the productivity of Outlook. But what if the Outlook Cleanup not removing duplicates?

Why is Outlook Cleanup Not Working?

Here are the common reasons why Outlook Cleanup not removing duplicates:

1. Profile Corrupted

A corrupted profile keeps Outlook from functioning properly, which could ultimately stop the cleanup tool from working. As a result, email messages are not processed, archived, or deleted, etc.

2. Too Many Emails or Attachments

If you have a large number of emails with many attachments, it will slow down, and also it may skip the items in the Outlook email cleanup tool, and later it becomes difficult to clean a huge PST file.

3. AutoArchive Setting Disabled

AutoArchive is a special feature that we can use to move or delete older emails automatically. If this feature is disabled, then it would never be able to archive or delete the emails, as such, it will appear as if the Outlook email cleanup tool not working well.

4. Outdated Versions

If your version of Outlook is out of date, it might have issues or bugs. Microsoft constantly releases updated versions of software, so for clear direction on the functioning of the cleanup tool, Outlook should be updated to fix the failure of the cleanup tool.

Let’s see if we can operate this if the Outlook cleanup not working manually.

How to Fix the “Outlook Cleanup Not Removing Duplicates” Error Manually?

Method 1: Check Some Rules and Add-ins

Sometimes, some email clients' rules or any other third-party add-ins cause duplicates, which are not repetitive in Outlook in their backend, technically.

Steps to fix:

1. Go to File, then Manage Rules & Alerts.
2. Check and disable the rules that are causing the duplicate emails.
3. Click on File, press Option, then on Add-ins, and close third-party add-ins if any.

Method 2: Fix Your Outlook Data File (PST/OST/BAK)

Check if a problem or a corrupted (PST/OST/BAK) file is preventing Outlook Cleanup not working properly.

To fix:

1. First, close Outlook.
2. Locate ScanPST.exe, it must be in the office installation folder.
3. Launch the tool and select your PST file.
4. Click Start to fix the problem.

Method 3: Launch the Outlook Email Cleanup Tool Properly

Make sure you're using the Outlook Cleanup tool correctly. If not, then use these steps:

Steps to Use:

1. Choose a folder like spam.
2. Navigate to Home > Clean Up.
3. Opt for:

Clean Up Conversation

Clean Up Folder

Clean Up Folder & Subfolders

If none of the conversations are deleted, it means that Outlook didn’t clean up any mail, it considers them as repetitive.

Method 4: Export and Again Import Your Mailbox

This method helps to clean up duplicates by creating a new copy of your mailbox.

Steps:

1. Click on File, press Open & Export, and then Import or Export.
2. Choose an Outlook data file to export.
3. Export the corrupted folder.
4. Then, delete duplicates from your original mailbox.
5. Import again the PST/OST/BAK file through Import from another program or file.

Let's see what are the limitations of this manual method.

Limitations of the Operating Tool by the Manual Method

Here are the drawbacks of the manual method:

• Manual cleanup takes much longer than automated tools.
• Manually, some important data could be accidentally deleted.
• Outlook cleanup not working because it doesn’t provide an automation option, as it has to be done repeatedly each time.
• By manual method, it is difficult to find hidden or duplicated data.
• It is not useful for large mailboxes.
• It only provides the basic options to search, rules, or tagging.

If you want to prevent these disadvantages, use an automated tool that helps you a lot to find and clean up the duplicates easily.

Best Alternative to the Outlook Email Cleanup Tool

If the built-in cleanup tool fails to meet your expectations, then opt for this alternative tool, which is the SysTools Outlook Duplicate Remover tool. It helps to find and remove duplicates like emails, contacts, calendar events, journal, notes, etc, within files and folders. It supports files like PST/OST/BAK. It makes the process very smooth, faster, and smartly.

Let’s See if Outlook Cleanup not Working, Then How are Duplicates Removed Using This Tool?

Steps are followed:

1. Download and launch the Outlook Duplicates Removal tool.
2. Click on Add File on Folder button to insert Outlook-supported files.
3. Click the selected file.
4. It provides two options: Within Folders or Across Folders. You can choose any of them according to your preferences, then press the next button.
5. If you want to save the file in a different destination, then click on the destination option.
6. Press the next button.
7. Choose the select items type option.
8. You can apply filters according to your wishes.
9. Starts the process of cleaning up by clicking on next button.
10. Once all the task is done, click on the close button.

Conclusion

If you’re struggling with the Outlook cleanup not working so you’re not alone, but choosing and following the right steps can remove this problem. So, always going for free or using manual steps, opt for an easy, smart, smooth, trusted automated method that can help in cleaning up the duplicates in minimal time. It not only saves time but also gives a person relief from stress to doing removing duplicates manually.

FAQ on How to Fix If Outlook Cleanup Not Removing Duplicates

Q.1 How to use Cleanup Tools for duplicate emails in Outlook?

The following methods show manual methods of operating:

• Built-in Cleanup Tools in Outlook

1. Click on home
2. Press the clean-up button.
3. Then, select as it includes:

Conversation – for a selected email thread.

Folder – for the whole folder.

Folder & Subfolders – The whole folder also includes subfolders.

4. Confirm cleanup. Conversations will be moved to the Trash Items folder.