How to Remove Duplicate Emails from PST in Outlook

But first, let’s understand the causes of this issue before we get into the different ways to fix it.

Why Do Emails Appear Twice in Outlook?

• Syncing issues- Incorrect sync settings can cause emails to be duplicated across devices.
• Mailbox corruption- Corrupted Outlook data files (PST/OST) can lead to duplicates.
• Forwarding/reply-all- Outlook may create duplicate copies when forwarding or replying to messages.
• Rules/filters- Poorly configured email rules and filters can inadvertently duplicate messages.
• Backups/restores- Restored Outlook data from backups may contain duplicate emails.

How do I Remove Duplicate Emails from PST File

• Check sync settings and ensure they are configured correctly.
• Perform an Outlook repair or run the Inbox Repair Tool.
• Review and update email rules and filters.
• Compact the Outlook data file (PST/OST).
• Create a new Outlook profile or reinstall Outlook if issues persist.

You now have a better understanding of Outlook email duplication and why emails appear twice in Outlook. You can now proceed to discover the most effective and trustworthy solutions to remove duplicates from PST files.

Method 1: Check the Account Settings in Outlook

1. First, open Microsoft Outlook on your device.
2. Then, go to the File tab > Info > Account Settings.
3. Now, click on the Email tab and locate the desired email account you want to configure.
4. If you see multiple instances of the same email account, select and remove the duplicates.
5. In the last step, click the Close button to save the changes.

Method 2: Delete Duplicate Emails in Outlook Through Import/Export Wizard

1. Launch the Microsoft Outlook program on your computer to begin the first step.
2. Click on the File tab > Open & Export > Import/Export option.
3. In the Import and Export Wizard, choose Import from another program or file and hit Next.
4. Now, select Outlook Data File (.pst) as the file type and click Next.
5. Browse and select the PST file you want to import.
6. In the next step, select the “Do not import duplicates” option.
7. Afterward, choose the desired folder to import the emails and select the “Include subfolders” option.
8. 8. Select the “Import items into the same folder” option and click Finish.

Method 3: Set Up Outlook Rules Properly

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your screen.
2. Go to the File tab > Manage Rules & Alerts.
3. In the Rules and Alerts window, review your existing rules and make sure they are configured correctly.
4. If needed, create new rules to handle email sorting and organization properly to prevent duplicate emails.

Method 4: Configure the Inbox Updates Frequency

1. First, open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Go to the Send/Receive tab > Send/Receive Groups > Define Send/Receive Groups.
3. In the Send/Receive Groups dialog, select the group you want to modify and click the Edit button.
4. Now, in the Edit Send/Receive Group Settings window, enable the “Schedule an automatic send/receive every ___ minutes” option and set the desired interval.
5. In the end, click OK to save the changes.

Method 5: Clean Up Inbox Using Outlook Tools

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Choose the mailbox folder you want to clean up.
3. Go to the Home tab and click the Cleanup dropdown.
4. Select the desired cleanup option:
• Clean up Conversation: Clean up duplicate emails in Outlook within a conversation.
• Clean Up Folder: Removes duplicate emails from the selected folder.
• Select Clean Up Folders and Subfolders: Removes duplicate emails from the selected folder and its subfolders.
5. Right-click the Deleted Items folder and select “Empty Folder” to permanently delete the removed emails.

Method 6: Turn Off Antivirus Email Protection

1. Open your antivirus or security software.
2. Locate the email protection or filtering settings.
3. Temporarily disable the email protection feature.
4. Try sending and receiving emails in Outlook to see if the duplicate issue is resolved.
5. Remember to re-enable the email protection feature after resolving the issue.

Note that these manual techniques might not work every time, particularly if there are a lot of duplicate emails or a big PST file. In such cases, we recommend you use a dedicated tool for more efficient and reliable results. Let’s now discuss the professional solution in the below section.

Method 7: Recommended Solution to Remove Duplicate Emails from PST

The Outlook Duplicate Remover can help you remove or delete duplicate emails from your Outlook 2016, 2010, 2007, and even Outlook 2021 without losing any data. This software allows you to remove duplicate items from single or multiple Outlook PST files at once. The best part is there is no file-size restriction on the Outlook PST files during the removal of duplicates. Moreover, it also offers two different modes to manage duplicate items:

1. Search Duplicate Item within the folder
2. Search Duplicate Across PST file

This means you can eliminate duplicate emails in Outlook according to your specific needs. You can download the demo version of the software and follow the steps to remove all your duplicate data in one go.

Follow the 6 easy steps to remove duplicate emails from Outlook PST files:

1. Install and run the Outlook Duplicate Remover software on your computer.
2. Add the Outlook PST file(s) you want to check for duplicates.
3. Select the specific folders or the entire PST file that you want to scan.
4. Choose the comparison criteria to identify the duplicate emails, such as subject, sender, date, etc.
5. Click the “Next” button to start the process of removing the duplicate emails.
6. The software will then remove all the duplicate email items from the Outlook PST file.

Conclusion

This guide has shown you different ways to remove duplicate emails from Outlook PST files. If you have a small amount of data, you can try the manual methods. However, if you have a large PST file with lots of duplicate emails, you should use automated software that makes your task easier and more reliable. It can quickly and easily remove all the duplicates without you needing any special technical skills. So, if you have a big inbox full of repeated emails, the automated solution is the best way to go.

About The Author:

Eva Shirley

Eva Shirley is a skilled technical content writer with expertise in creating engaging and informative content. With over 5 years of experience and a passion for writing, she has solved many users' queries by providing quality content.

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