Find out Why Outlook Storage Full Even After Delete Emails

That dreaded warning notification – “Your Outlook is full” – is something we don’t want to see. It not only signals the potential loss of important emails but also disrupts daily productivity as it prevents new emails from coming in. It becomes more frustrating when you have already deleted the emails, and the warning still shows up. One of the overwhelming queries, like “Outlook storage full after deleting emails”, is proof of the widespread issue. Considering all the outcomes, we have multiple effective methods to resolve the problem once and for all.

It is important to understand that simply deleting the emails in Outlook does not immediately free up the storage space. The deleted emails go to the Deleted Items folder, which continues to occupy the storage until it is permanently removed. Additionally, other factors like attachments, overflowing Send Items, managed archive folder, etc. Whether you are using Outlook on a Windows PC, Mac or the web app, the guide covers all the necessary steps to help you identify the root cause and fix the Outlook storage full issue efficiently.

Strategies to Fix Outlook Storage Full After Deleting

Now we have underlined the causes behind the “storage full in Outlook” warning. Let’s explore the effective strategies to address this issue.

1) Empty the Delete Items Folder

Even after deleting the emails, the user must ensure to empty the Trash folder entirely without leaving behind any files.

How to Do it:

• Log in to Outlook.
• Go to the Trash Folder.
• Right-click and select Empty Folder.
• Confirm the deletion when prompted.

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2) Manage the Large Attachments to Fix Outlook Storage Full After Deleting Emails

• Delete Emails with large attachments: When there is no need for the emails or attachments, delete them. As attachments take up too much space.
• Extract: If you don’t want to delete the attachment, extract Outlook attachments in batches. Save the attachment to the computer, cloud storage, or any external drive. Then later, delete the emails with attachments entirely.

3) Check Archived Emails

If you are someone who manages emails by archiving within the account, it is recommended to review the archive frequently.

Steps to Manage the Archived Emails:

• Delete Old and Unnecessary Archived Items: We often archive emails for various reasons; therefore, just like the inbox, the emails can accumulate unnecessary archived items. Review and delete the emails that are no longer required.
• Backup or Save Archived Emails to a PST File: If you want to archive Outlook emails, then why not store them for the long term and free up the account storage space? Use the steps mentioned here for more details: Backup Outlook emails to Hard drive.

4) Disable Add-ins, if Outlook Storage is Full

Sometimes, the add-ins might cause issues with the storage. Try disabling them temporarily to see if it makes any difference.

How to do it:

• Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
• Go to the Manage and select “COM Add-ins“. Click “Go…“.
• Uncheck the add-ins you want to disable and click Ok.
• Now, check if the Outlook Storage Issue has been overcome.

5) Compact the Outlook Data File

Outlook storage is full after deleting; you can compact the data file. The data files can be larger; therefore, we can compact the data files to reclaim the space.

Steps to compact the Outlook Data File:

• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings…
• Select Data Files and double-click the account.
• Go to Advanced and select “Outlook Data File Settings“.
• Press “Compact Now“.

6) Clear the Outlook Cache

Outlook stores temporary data and cache files on the local system, which sometimes raise the storage usage and cause performance issues. Deleting the Outlook cache at times can resolve the Outlook storage issues in some cases.

1. Close Outlook entirely.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run Dialogue Box.
3. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook and press Enter.
4. A folder with cache and temporary files shows up.
5. Select the files with the .ost or .tmp extension and delete them.
6. Restart Outlook and let it rebuild the cache automatically.

How to clear cache in Mac Outlook:

1. Open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.Outlook and press Enter.
3. Delete the files in the folder.
4. Restart Outlook.

Note: Clearing the Outlook cache will not delete the emails. Outlook will re-sync the data from the server when it restarts.

7) Check the Outlook Account Storage Quota

If Outlook mailbox storage is full even after deleting emails and implementing the above steps, then consider upgrading the storage plan. Microsoft offers several options to expand the mailbox storage.

• Microsoft 365 Basic – 100GB mailbox storage + 100GB OneDrive storage.
• Microsoft 365 Personal – 100GB Outlook mailbox storage + 1TB OneDrive storage.
• Microsoft 365 Family – 100GB Outlook mailbox per person + 1TB OneDrive storage per person.
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic/Standard – 50GB mailbox storage per user
• Microsoft 365 Business Plans – up to 100GB mailbox storage per user.

How to Upgrade to if Outlook storage is full after deleting,

1. Go to microsoft.com and sign in to the account.
2. Navigate to Subscriptions and select Upgrade Plan.
3. Choose a plan that suits your needs and complete the purchase.

Tip: Before upgrading, always try the free methods mentioned above, as they most probably resolve the issue without any additional cost.

FAQs

Q) How long does Outlook take to update storage after deleting the emails?

A) Storage updates are usually instant, but in some cases, it may take a few minutes to reflect the changes.

Q) Why is my Outlook mailbox full even though I don’t have that many emails?

A) The mailbox is still full due to:

• Large attachments.
• Emails in Junk or spam folders.
• A hidden folder like Recoverable Items.
• Calendar items and sent emails.

Q) Do attachments still take up space after deleting emails?

A) Yes, if the email is not permanently deleted, attachments remain in Outlook storage until the email is fully removed from the folders.

Q) Why is my Outlook storage still full after deleting emails?

A) Even after deleting the emails, they can remain in the Deleted Items or Recoverable Items folders. In Microsoft Outlook, these hidden folders still count toward the storage until you permanently delete them.

Conclusion

When you are dealing with the Outlook storage full issue, it can be a frustrating experience. By understanding the reasons and implementing the strategies, we can resolve this issue, as it is one of the common and solvable issues among other issues. All the possible methods are here; ensure to follow the steps for each.