Outlook
      Back to home
      1. IT Vortex Help Center
      2. Email FAQs
      3. Outlook

      Outlook Slow

      Outlook mail browsing and access consistently slow and lagging.

       

      Best Practices for Optimal Performance:

      1. Mailbox Size Management:
        • Archive Old Emails: Consider archiving old emails that you no longer need immediate access to. This can reduce the size of your active mailbox.
        • Online Archive Mailbox: Utilize Exchange Online's In-Place Archive feature, which stores older emails in an online archive accessible from Outlook but doesn't sync all content locally.
        • Clean Up Mailbox: Regularly delete unnecessary emails, especially those with large attachments, or save attachments outside of Outlook.
      2. Shared Mailboxes Access:
        • Limit Synced Shared Mailboxes: Instead of having all shared mailboxes added to your Outlook profile, access them via Outlook Web Access (OWA) or open them only when needed.
        • Disable Cached Mode for Shared Mailboxes: Configure Outlook to access shared mailboxes in Online Mode, so they aren't fully downloaded to your local machine.
      3. Adjust Sync Settings:
        • Download Email for a Specific Time Range: Change your account settings to only download emails from the past few months. Older emails will remain on the server and can be accessed when needed.
        • Disable Download of Shared Folders: In Outlook settings, uncheck the option to download shared folders.

      Why This is Important:

      With Exchange Online, there's a shift towards cloud-based access rather than relying on local copies of data. Maintaining such a large local mailbox is no longer viable due to:

      • Performance Constraints: Large OST files (the local Outlook data file) can slow down search functionality and overall responsiveness.
      • Storage Limitations: Local drives may not efficiently handle continuous growth in mailbox size.
      • Synchronization Delays: Larger mailboxes take longer to sync, leading to delays in sending/receiving emails.

      Next Steps:

      I recommend we schedule a time to assist you with optimizing your Outlook setup. We can help you:

      • Set up an Online Archive and move old items.
      • Adjust your Outlook settings for better performance.
      • Provide guidance on managing shared mailboxes effectively.