How to Fix Outlook Running Slow? – Tips and Tricks

Is Microsoft Outlook running slowly on your PC? You spend almost half of your day sending and receiving emails on Outlook Mail, but the software is not working as expected. Emails lag and fail to load, and Outlook hangs as you switch folders, which is seriously affecting your work.

Is this happening frequently, and are you unable to get your daily tasks done on time? Outlook running slowly or not responding is a common issue, and you should resolve it as soon as possible.

Let us share some practical tips and tricks to get the “Outlook running slow” issue resolved in no time. But before that, take a look at the things you need to check before you troubleshoot.

What to Check Before You Start Troubleshooting

Here is a checklist of what you need to look at before troubleshooting your Outlook Mail that is running slowly: 

• Check for updates: Run Windows Update. Go to File, open Office Account, and click on Update Options. Select “Update Now.” 

• Restart everything: Restart your PC and make sure that Outlook is not running in the background. End tasks using Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Esc). 

• Identify resource usage: Open Task Manager and check for high CPU or memory usage. This generally indicates a system-level issue.

• Verify antivirus: Ensure you have up-to-date antivirus software that does not interfere with Outlook’s operation.

• Test in Safe Mode: Open Outlook Mail in Safe Mode. This will help you check if third-party add-ins are causing the issue.

Possible Reasons for Outlook Becoming Slow and Unresponsive

The most common reasons Outlook becomes slow or unresponsive are insufficient system resources or outdated software. The other reasons could be: 

• Large data files (PST/OST)

• Large mailboxes or folders

• Corrupted user profile 

• Security software conflicts 

• Add-ins and plugins interference

4 Best Solutions to Fix Outlook Running Slow

Is Outlook taking too much time to load? No worries, here are some of the best ways to fix the Outlook running slow problem: 

Solution 1: Manage Your Mailbox Size (Archive Old Mails)

A large mailbox often slows Outlook performance. Regularly empty the “Deleted Items” folder. You can also set Outlook to empty the folder automatically after you quit the application. Transfer your old emails to the archive. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Click on File. 

2. Select Info. 

3. Next, click on Tools next to Mailbox Settings. 

4. Choose the “Clean Up Old Items” option. 

5. Select the folders you want to archive.

6. Choose a date and archive location, then click on “OK.”

Solution 2: Move Emails From Mail Server to Computer

Another great tip to make your Outlook work faster is to move emails from the mail server to your computer. This not only frees up mailbox space but also keeps important messages saved locally. Follow these simple steps to move emails: 

1. First, you need to create a PST folder in Outlook. 

2. After that, click on File and go to Account Settings. 

3. Click on Account Settings, then go to Data Files.

4. Select a location on your computer. 

5. Name the file LocalBackup.pst and click OK.

6. Go back to your Inbox.

7. Select the emails you want to move. Use Ctrl + A to select all emails in a folder. 

8. Drag and drop the emails into the new PST folder. 

9. Once moved, these emails are stored only on your computer, not on the mail server.

Solution 3: Keep Things Organized 

When you keep your Outlook Mail organized, you can have everything work faster and more smoothly. If any file or folder is taking too long to load, here’s what you should do: 

1. Open the folder that you notice is opening slowly. 

2. Locate the “By” option or sorting menu and click it.

3. Select the type of heading you wish to organize your contacts or messages. 

4. For contacts: sort by Name. 

5. For emails: sort by Date Received or Subject. 

Once this is done, Outlook will reorganize the folder as per your selection.

Solution 4: Run Outlook in Safe Mode 

If you think that an add-in is the reason for Outlook Mail to become slow, run the application in Safe Mode. To do that, you must first close Outlook completely and then follow these steps: 

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Type outlook.exe /safe in the given field and hit Enter.

The Outlook Mail will open in Safe Mode. See if it runs faster or not. 

Also Read:- How to Add a Disclaimer in Outlook?

To Sum Up

Maybe now your Outlook Mail is working smoothly. The solutions above can really help resolve performance issues and improve speed, stability, and overall functionality of your email software. Follow the steps discussed above, and you are good to go. No more lag or freezing. You can enjoy smooth email performance every day.