Split PST Files by Emails: Easy Outlook PST Splitter Guide

Summary: Microsoft Outlook is the trusted choice among users to handle personal as well as business emails. It keeps everything in PST files, such as emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks. But those PST files can become large after a while. And in some instances, they can be easily corrupted. In order to prevent such problems, ideally, the large PST files should be divided into smaller chunks. In this blog, we will discuss all the possible methods to split PST files by emails. Additionally, you can use the professional DRS PST Splitter Tool for a quick and reliable solution.

Why Split Outlook PST by Emails?

There are several reasons why users need to split Outlook PST file into smaller files by emails, such as:

  • Smaller PSTs are less likely to fail or become corrupted.
  • Outlook opens smaller files faster, with fewer slowdowns.
  • Also, easier to backup or send parts of your mailbox when needed.

Common Scenarios to Divide Outlook PST by Email Count

Splitting PST files becomes necessary in several situations. For instance:

  • When your mailbox exceeds Outlook’s recommended size (typically over 20 GB), it may lead to slow performance or file corruption.
  • If you want to archive old emails, splitting by date or emails makes data easier to manage and retrieve.
  • For IT teams managing large volumes of data, dividing PST files helps distribute emails across departments or user accounts.
  • Lastly, during mailbox migration, splitting PST content allows for secure transfer to a different Outlook account or another system.

Method 01: Split PST Files By Emails Using Outlook’s Import/Export Wizard

The simple method to split a large PST file is by using Outlook’s built-in Import/Export feature. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Firstly, open Outlook and go to File > Account Settings.
  2. Again, choose Account Settings and select Data files.
  3. Then, click Add and create a new PST file. Click OK.
  4. After that, the new PST file will appear in the list. Close the window.
  5. Now, go back to the File tab and click Open & Export > Import/Export.
  6. In the wizard, select Export to a file and click Next.
  7. Further, choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next again.
  8. Select the folder(s) you want to export and press Next.
  9. Click Browse to set the destination for the new PST file.
  10. Lastly, click Finish to complete the splitting process.

Note: You can repeat this process to create multiple PSTs based on your requirements.

Method 02: Split PST Files By Emails Using the Archive Feature

Outlook’s Archive feature also allows users to break large PST files by date:

  1. Again, open Outlook and go to the File menu.
  2. Click Info, then choose Tools > Clean Up Old Items.
  3. Then, select the folder you want to archive.
  4. Now, set a date in the Archive items older than field.
  5. Further, click Browse to choose where to save the archive file.
  6. In the end, click OK to start archiving.

Note: You can repeat this process to create multiple PST files based on different date ranges.

Limitations of Manual Methods

While both methods are free and built into Outlook, they have some drawbacks:

  • Very time-consuming for large or multiple PST files.
  • No option to split by file size (e.g., split every 2 GB).
  • Also, it cannot process orphaned or corrupted PST files.
  • No automation; every split has to be done manually.

Method 03: Dedicated Software to Split PST Files By Emails

For a quick & hassle-free solution, you can use the professional DRS Solution PST Splitter Tool. This top-notch utility is designed with advanced technology to split multiple PST files at once without data loss. It offers several options for splitting, such as: Split by size, date, folder, and sender. In addition, you can select the specific emails to reduce PST File Size in Outlook. Moreover, this tool has a simple interface, which means every user (Tech & Non-Tech) can use it. 

Along with that, it eliminates all the limitations of the manual procedures and offers you 100% accurate results. You can also apply a password to your resultant PST files for security. And choose Ignore Duplicate feature to exclude duplicate emails. Additionally, a free (Demo) version of this tool to evaluate its features & functions.

Simple Steps to Break PST File by Emails:

  1. Primary, download & install the DRS PST Splitter Tool.Download the DRS PST Splitter Tool
  2. Next, choose Add Files or Add Folder to browse the PST files.Add Files or Add Folder
  3. Then, you can preview the added PST files before splitting.preview the added PST files
  4. Now, choose Splitting options, like Split by Size and more.Split by Size
  5. Enable any advanced options that suit your specific requirements.Advanced options
  6. Lastly, browse the saving location and click Split.Click Split

Conclusion

Splitting large PST files into smaller parts is useful to organize and maintain your PST files. This technical blog post provided you with different methods to split PST files by emails. Well, you have two options: Manual techniques and a professional splitter tool. However, many experts highly recommend using the dedicated solution for quick and accurate results. Also, this utility offers several advanced features for effective outcomes.

Related Post: How to Split A PST File by Year

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.2 Is there a best tool to split PST files by emails?

Ans: The DRS PST File Splitter is highly recommended. It lets you split by email count, date, size, folder, or sender: automatically and securely.

Q.3 How long does it take to split a large PST file by emails?

Ans: With the reliable PST Splitter Tool, you can split multiple PST files within a few minutes without data loss.

About The Author:

I, Aaradhya Jain, a technical content writer at DRS Solutions, specializes in delivering clear, practical guides on data management, migration, and recovery tools. With a detail-oriented and user-first approach mindset, I transform complex processes into actionable insights for IT professionals and decision-makers.

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