Split PST File

Main features

• Supports all PST formats, modern Unicode and outdated ANSI. This means that you can split PST files created by any version of Outlook without being limited by the age or type of the source PST.
• Preserves original data and folder hierarchy. This ensures that you can easily navigate through the split PST files and find the data you need without any confusion.
• Splits Outlook PST file into smaller parts according to specified parameters. The utility offers multiple parameters for splitting a PST file into smaller parts. You can choose to split the PST file based on the date, sender/recipient email address, subject, size, or folder. This allows you to automatically organize the information into new PST files.
• Creates new smaller PST files or appends data to existing ones. This option allows you to manage the split data more effectively and helps you to avoid creating unnecessary data files.
• Attaches or detaches split data files to/from Outlook during the splitting process. This option provides a quick and easy way to manage your split data and ensure it is in the right place when you need it.
• Skips the Deleted Items folder if necessary. This helps reduce the size of the split files and guarantees that unnecessary data is not included.
• Splits PST created within a specified time period. This can be useful for users who need to split their data into smaller files for archiving or backup purposes.
• Provides command line and batch processing support in the Professional version of the tool. This is a convenient and efficient way to split large volumes of data from different profiles.
• Divides PST files directly within Outlook or from a standalone application without the need to launch Outlook. This feature makes the utility easier to use, saves time and increases efficiency by skipping unnecessary steps.

What is the PST format?

PST (Personal Storage Table or Personal Folder) is a format used by Microsoft Outlook to store mailbox data. It can store different mailbox items such as emails, contacts, calendar entries, and others in one data file.

PST has no limits on the number and type of Outlook items to be stored in one file, but it is limited in size, usually from 20 to 50 GB in modern Outlook versions.

Why split PST files?

It is important to maintain the optimal PST size to ensure maximum productivity when working in the Outlook application.

• PST files become larger over time, which slows down Outlook. When the data file reaches its limit, you can no longer send, copy, or move messages and other Outlook items. Splitting a large PST file into smaller parts helps improve the performance of Outlook.
• Large PSTs are prone to corruption. By splitting a PST into separate files, you reduce the risk of data loss if the file becomes damaged.
• An archived .pst file that is too large may be impossible to open in an Outlook account. A file that large usually means that it was created a long time ago and contains data that no longer needs to be included in your regular backups.
• An oversized PST file is hard to manage. Splitting a PST file allows you to organize your data into smaller, more manageable archives. This makes it easier to find and access the information you need.
• If you need to share your data with others, splitting PST can simplify the task. When the file is split into smaller ones, you can share only the relevant data with the people who need it.

How to split PST files manually

You can use Microsoft Outlook's built-in tools to manually split PST files. There are the following workarounds to export a portion of the data from a large PST to new smaller files.

• Move to Folder. Used to select particular mailbox items to move from a source data file to a new one.
  1. Add a new PST from the File > Account Settings > Account Settings… menu,
  2. Open the source PST via File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
  3. Select the messages or other Outlook items that you want to move.
  4. Right-click on the selected items, and from the context menu, Move > Other Folder - specify a folder in the newly created PST to move the selected items from the source data file.

• Import and Export. Allows you to move selected mailbox folders to another data file.
  1. Use the Import and Export Wizard to export the required Outlook folders from a PST file connected to your mailbox to a new PST.
  2. Then delete the exported folders from the source data file.

• Archiving. Allows you to move mailbox items that are older than the specified date.
  1. In the File > Info > Cleanup Tools > Archive menu, select the desired folder you want to archive and the date older than which you want to archive items.
  2. Specify the location and name of the new archive PST.

Manual methods of managing PST files have several downsides:

• Risk of data loss. You run the risk of permanently losing important information during the manual process. This can happen if you accidentally delete or overwrite the wrong file or folder. Besides, the data may not be copied completely with the manual method, resulting in lost properties and incomplete information.
• The manual way is tedious and requires a certain level of technical expertise. Users need to know which files and folders to transfer, how to transfer them, and where to store them. This can be a challenging and time-consuming process for those who are not familiar with the technical details of the process.
• The manual approach is complicated and error-prone, especially if you are dealing with a large amount of data. It can take a lot of time and attention to organize the data into smaller files and ensure that everything is properly backed up and stored. As a result, it is easy to make a mistake.
• Limited options. With the manual method, you cannot split the data according to specific parameters or choose how the files are stored and organized. This requires additional effort to effectively manage your data.
• Lack of support: When manually splitting a PST file, users may not have access to technical support or assistance if they run into problems. This makes it difficult to troubleshoot any issues that arise during the transfer.

How to split PST files automatically

This tool automatically splits any PST files stored on your computer. The utility offers advanced features, such as the ability to split PST by a required parameter and others.

Benefits of automatic PST splitting

Automatic PST splitting saves time and reduces the risk of data loss. This PST splitter is an efficient and easy way to divide large PST files into smaller parts while preserving all the necessary data.

The utility can not only reduce the size of large PSTs but also help you organize the data. Apart from size, it creates new smaller PSTs by different message fields, Outlook folders, mailboxes or file names. You can skip the Deleted Items folder or select only data for a specific period to split.

The command line app in the utility Professional Version allows you to split multiple PSTs from/into different locations at once.

Steps to split PST files automatically

1. Launch the utility from the Outlook ribbon or standalone launcher.
2. Locate the source PST.
3. Specify the folder path for the resulting files.
4. Optionally, select the macros from the drop-down list to split the PST according to the desired criteria.
5. If you want to split by size, enter the maximum final size in MB in the size field. 
6. The resulting files are attached to your Outlook profile by default when the split process is complete. Tick the appropriate box to detach them. 
7. Select "Skip Deleted Items" if needed. 
8. If required, you can specify the period for which new data files should be created.
9. Click Run to start the split.  

Advantages of splitting PST files in bulk

The command-line app in the Professional Edition of the utility allows you to split multiple PST files in bulk by supporting batch processing. This provides multiple advantages:

• Increased productivity. Splitting multiple PSTs in a single operation saves time and effort and increases efficiency when dealing with large numbers of files. You can focus on other tasks and priorities while the tool automatically handles your data files in the background.
• Improved accuracy. The command-line version helps you improve accuracy and reduce the risk of human error. This ensures that your data is properly managed.
• Scheduled tasks. PowerShell scenarios with Windows Task Scheduler can be used to schedule automatic split runs. You can set the tool to split data at specific times or on specific days so that it will always be up to date.
• Support for large data volumes. Handling large amounts of data can be a challenge when splitting PST files. This tool allows you to split any number of large PST files with ease and confidence.

FAQ

What is the maximum size for a PST file?

The maximum PST size depends on the Outlook version. In Outlook 2002 and earlier, it is limited to 2 GB. In Outlook 2003 and later, the maximum PST size can be set to more than 50 GB. However, it is recommended to keep the Outlook data files smaller than 10 GB for better performance.

How can I merge split PST files back together?

After you have split your files, you can use a Merge PST utility to combine any of them back together.

Can I split PST files that are in use by Outlook?

Yes, you can split PST used by Outlook. However, we recommend detaching the resulting files from the Outlook profile to avoid duplicates in your mailbox.

Is it possible to split PST without losing any data?

Yes, this tool is completely safe for your data. It accurately transfers all properties, attachments and original folder structure to the split PSTs. The source file remains unchanged for added security.

How do I split a PST file in half?

Use the "Maximum file size" field to reduce the PST size. Check the original size of the source PST and enter half of that value when configuring the utility.

How do I connect split PSTs to my Outlook mailbox?

The utility automatically adds newly created Personal Folders to Outlook. Make sure that the "Detach new PST files from the Outlook profile" option is disabled.

How do I organize PST files when splitting them?

You can select an option to base your split personal folders on when specifying the path to new PST files. Select a macro from the drop-down list and split Outlook PST file by

• date, time or year;
• sender's email or name;
• first recipient's email or name;
• message subject;
• Outlook folder;
• mailbox or data file name.

The final data will be placed in the folders named according to the selected criteria from the list. You can also set a folder name by current date/time or year only.

How to split PST file into smaller parts for the specified period?

In the "For" field you can set a time period for which new PSTs based on the desired categories will be created. Choose a standard period like date, week, month, or year, or set a specific period or a condition of your choice.

Can I split a PST file without starting Outlook?

You can reduce the size of large PSTs and organize new .pst files without launching Outlook. Start the utility from the standalone launcher application and select the required file to split.

Can I split PST files from multiple mailboxes?

The command line app in the Professional Edition of the utility allows splitting multiple PSTs from different locations. Create your batch scripts and PowerShell scenarios based on a size or a date. Command line enables splitting multiple .pst files into smaller ones in a single operation.