Summary: Outlook AutoArchive is a highly useful feature that helps to reduce mailbox size, organize mailbox, and lower the risk of corruption. In this blog post, we have provided several solutions to fix the ‘AutoArchive not working’ issue. We have also mentioned an advanced PST repair tool that you can use to repair PST in case that’s the reason why AutoArchive isn’t working.
Microsoft Outlook offers Archive feature to help you declutter the mailbox and create backups of your mailbox data. The application also offers AutoArchive feature to automate the archiving process as per a predefined frequency. Generally, Outlook users don?t face any issues when using these features. However, in some situations, Outlook Auto Archive doesn?t work. Below, we have mentioned some solutions to fix the Outlook Auto Archive not working issue.
How to Fix Outlook Auto Archive Not Working Issue?
If you?re not able to enable AutoArchive in Outlook, follow the given solutions:
1. Check AutoArchive Settings
To check Outlook Archive settings, go to the following locations:
- Outlook 2007: Tools > Options > Other > AutoArchive
- Outlook 2010 / 2013 / 2016 / 2019 / Microsoft 365: File > Options > Advance > AutoArchive Settings
Make sure you have configured the settings properly, mainly the frequency of auto archiving. Also, make sure that the Run AutoArchive every XX days checkbox is selected.
2. Repair Outlook Archive PST File
If your Outlook archive file is damaged or corrupted, Outlook can?t archive new data to that file. You need to repair the file by using the Inbox Repair Tool, which is a free PST repair tool provided by MS Outlook.
To use Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe), follow these steps:
- Launch Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe). It?s located in the following locations:
- 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office1X.
- 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office1X.
- 64-bit Outlook: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office1X.
- After running the tool, click Browse and provide the archive file?s location.
- Click Start to scan the archive PST for errors.
- After scanning is completed, click Repair to begin the PST repair process.
ScanPST may not be able to repair severely corrupt PST file. In such a case, you can use a third-party PST repair tool, such as Stellar Repair for Outlook.
About Stellar Repair for Outlook
Stellar Repair for Outlook is a highly advanced Outlook repair tool that repairs severely corrupt PST files. It can parse a PST file of any size and restore emails, contacts, calendars, and other mailbox items. Some key features of this PST file recovery tool are:
- Restores corrupt emails, attachments, tasks, etc.
- Displays a detailed preview of PST file before saving it
- Allows selective recovery of damaged Outlook data files
- Recovers deleted items from PST
- Offers quick and safe PST recovery
- Saves recovered PST data in PST, HTML, MSG, and other file formats
- Splits and compacts recovered PST (Technician edition)
- Exports repaired PST to an Office 365 account (Technician edition)
3. Archive Locally
Microsoft Office doesn?t support connecting to PST files stored on a network share. So, if you want to archive to a PST file that?s stored on a network share, you can?t.
This network share restriction is applied due to the risk of connection instability. The archiving process involves high disk activity which means if there are even minor interruptions in the network connection, the archiving process may fail and/or the archive PST may get corrupt.
If your Outlook Archive folder is currently located on a network share, then changing its location to a local folder can fix the issues related to auto-archiving.
4. Check Group Policy
If you can?t find the AutoArchive function in the Archive settings, it?s possible the function has been disabled by the admin under Group Policy. You can contact your manager or administrator regarding the same.
5. Review AutoArchive Exclusions
If an email or another mailbox item is excluded from the AutoArchive function, it won?t be archived. You can verify the status of the specific item by going to File > Properties. If the Do not AutoArchive this item checkbox is selected for the item, it won?t be archived. You can disable it if you want the item to be archived.
Conclusion
If Outlook Archive and Outlook Auto Archive are not working, you need to review the Archive settings. If the settings are correct but still the functions are not working, it indicates that PST file is corrupt. In such a case, you can repair the PST with ScanPST or an advanced tool such as Stellar Repair for Outlook. The software can repair severely corrupt PST file of any size in a few simple steps.
