Can Outlook only download a set time period of messages

ted34 · 9 Jun 2009 at 12:37

I use Outlook and it currently syncs with all my email accounts. This leads to huge pst files. Is there anyway to set it so it only downloads messages for the past 3 months say and clears out old ones after 3 months?

Uhtred · 9 Jun 2009 at 12:42

it has an auto archive option if i understand the question correctly?

tools>options>other

ted34 · 9 Jun 2009 at 12:59

Have tried that but that just moves it to another pst file. Also it doesnt seem to work with hotmail and gmail accounts

Uhtred · 9 Jun 2009 at 14:27

ah are you talking about using imap? as far as i know you it should only store header info by default

ted34 · 9 Jun 2009 at 15:20

Have just deleted all email accounts and pst files and then re-set up all emails but only to download headers. This has reduced pst file size massively.

Only problem is in 3 months time I will have read and downloaded all the messages between now and then and so pst file size will be larger again. All I can think is to delete and re-set up accounts again. Anyway to set it to delete the downloaded message and keep the header after a set time period?

Jumping · 9 Jun 2009 at 16:28

delete the crap emails and only keep whats important will keep the file small.

miniyazz · 9 Jun 2009 at 21:13

If you can't keep only most recent messages, sort them by date and delete the older ones manually - hardly a chore, every few months.