Outlook mailbox cleanup tool

The Outlook Mailbox Cleanup tool is a built-in feature in Microsoft Outlook that helps you manage and clean up your mailbox by removing unnecessary items, such as deleted items, duplicates, and large files. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Open Outlook

Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.

Step 2: Go to the "File" menu

Click on the "File" menu in the top left corner of the Outlook window.

Step 3: Click on "Clean Up Folders"

In the "File" menu, click on "Clean Up Folders" (or "Clean Up Folder" in older versions of Outlook).

Step 4: Select the mailbox to clean

In the "Clean Up Folders" dialog box, select the mailbox you want to clean up from the list of available mailboxes.

Step 5: Choose the cleanup options

You can choose from several cleanup options:

• Delete all items in the "Deleted Items" folder: This option deletes all items in the "Deleted Items" folder, which can help free up space in your mailbox.
• Delete all items in the "Junk Email" folder: This option deletes all items in the "Junk Email" folder, which can help reduce the amount of spam in your mailbox.
• Delete all items in the "Sent Items" folder: This option deletes all items in the "Sent Items" folder, which can help free up space in your mailbox.
• Delete all duplicate items: This option deletes duplicate items in your mailbox, which can help reduce the amount of clutter.
• Delete all items larger than a specified size: This option deletes all items in your mailbox that are larger than a specified size (e.g., 10 MB).

Step 6: Review and confirm

Review the cleanup options you've selected and confirm that you want to proceed with the cleanup.

Step 7: Run the cleanup

Click "OK" to run the cleanup process. Outlook will then delete the selected items from your mailbox.

Tips and Variations

• You can also use the "Clean Up Folders" tool to move items from one folder to another. For example, you can move all items in the "Junk Email" folder to the "Deleted Items" folder.
• If you're using Outlook 2010 or later, you can also use the "Mailbox Cleanup" tool, which is located in the "File" menu under "Options" > "Advanced" > "Mailbox Cleanup".
• If you're using Outlook 2007 or earlier, you can use the "Clean Up Folders" tool, which is located in the "Tools" menu under "Options" > "Other" > "Clean Up Folders".

Remember to always be cautious when using the Mailbox Cleanup tool, as it permanently deletes items from your mailbox. Make sure to review the options carefully and only select the items you want to delete.