Easy Ways to Split Large PST File into Smaller Parts or Files

Important Reasons to Break PST into Smaller Files

Before starting with the methods, it’s useful to understand why breaking Outlook PST files is necessary:

• Compact PST files are easier to back up without consuming excessive storage.
• Smaller PST files act as portable data and are easy to share or transfer.
• Many systems have PST file size restrictions. Therefore, smaller files ensure smooth operation.
• Split your PST files by categories to keep your mailbox organized and well-structured.
• To reduce the risk of data loss and improve Outlook’s performance, it is recommended to divide your PST files.

Method 01: Through Outlook’s Import/Export Feature

The following method uses no additional software to split large PST file into smaller parts. With the help of Outlook’s Import/Export feature, one can do it easily.

Follow the steps to initiate the process:

• Open Microsoft Outlook on your system.
• Next, go to the File tab and choose Open & Export > Import/Export.
• Then, select the Export to a file option and click Next.
• Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and press Next again.
• Now, select the desired Outlook mailbox folder you wish to import.
• Afterward, look for the location to save the resultant PST file.
• At last, tap Finish. You can also add a password to the new PST file.

Limitations: The user cannot split the files according to size automatically. Exporting the large PST files may impact Outlook’s performance. Also, there are chances of human error while exporting

Method 02: By Using the Outlook Archive Feature

The Archive feature lets users split Outlook PST file into smaller parts. Using this feature, users can automatically move older items into a separate PST file.

Let’s look at the steps to follow to carry out this process:

• Begin by launching the Outlook application.
• Now, head to the File tab and choose Info > Tools > Clean Up Old Items.
• From the options, select Archive this folder and all subfolders.
• Then, choose the folder that you want to archive.
• If needed, set the date range and the destination location to save the archive.
• Finally, click Ok to begin the process.

Limitations: Users cannot archive the folder based on file size or folder size. It does not support real-time syncing of the archive folders or files.

Method 03: A Trusted Solution to Split Large PST File into Smaller Parts

The Cigati PDF File Splitter is a one-stop solution that makes the PST splitting process simple. The software is capable of processing small to large documents, without any file size limit. It supports splitting by page range, file size, or even/odd pages. Also, it can remove a password from the PDF file, set a new one, or retain the existing one. Before starting the execution process, users can review the file properties and even modify them.

Steps to

• First, download and run the tool as an administrator.
• After that, press the Select PDF option, browse, and open the desired PST file to split.
• Now, review and verify the PDF File Information and press Next.
• Then, select PDF Split options as per your requirements.
• Next, set the output file properties, password, name, and destination of the resultant file.
• At the end, hit the Split button to start the process.

Conclusion

Summing up, we first define why PST files need splitting. Then, we walked you through the manual process to split large PST file into smaller parts, along with its limitations. After that, we explored a simpler approach, using a professional Cigati PST File Splitter. This tool simplifies the task and works independently of Outlook. By covering all these aspects, this blog might have given you a complete understanding of the entire process.