Microsoft Outlook is one of the world’s most widely used email clients. And due to its frequent use—both for routine corporate communication and casual email ‘forwards’— the underlying PST file becomes oversized, which triggers errors at several levels viz. software performance, file integrity, and such…
One such error is “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved.” which typically occurs when a user attempts to move or copy a message from the Outlook Inbox to a public folder.
Therefore, it’s recommended to maintain smaller PST files — regular backups and archive will help— as the first measure to avoid Outlook-related problems (including PST file corruption).
This article presents specific aspects of this Outlook error— “Cant’ move the items…”— and outlines its key causes, resolution methods and tools. Read further to know detailed information…
Many Outlook users, despite being aware of the fact that the email client is prone to errors, don’t back up their data (PST file) and therefore get stuck when a problem arises through several different Outlook use scenarios.
For instance, the versatile email client displays an error “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved” while a user tries to copy/move a message from the personal folder or inbox to a public folder.
This hampers movement of crucial email messages and therefore warrants an effective and quick remedy to offset collaboration and productivity loss.
Like many other problems, this error can also be resolved with certain tried and tested troubleshooting methodologies and tools. However, before exploring the solutions to this issue, let’s first examine some of its key causes, as follows:
For the first three causes, the error should get fixed by closing all the programs that are in running mode and then restarting Outlook. Next, try to move or copy the files again from the personal folder to the public folder.
If the movement is smooth and without any error, then the issue is resolved. Or check with your Antivirus if that triggers with the file.
However, if the problem persists then the error is likely due to a corrupt Outlook PST.
A PST file may get corrupt due to several reasons, and one of the prominent reasons is oversized PST file.
>>>Skip this section if you already know your Outlook PST size. Or Follow these steps to verify/determine the PST size.
You will get the size of PST file.
Note: Though a PST file can technically grow up to 50GB size in Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019, it is recommended to reduce the size of individual PSTs to max. 80% of its limit.
If your PST file has grown larger than the recommended size limit, split it into smaller units — to avoid the risks of corruption— by using an advanced PST Repair tool. The tool also does PST splitting by Size, Date, etc. to save them at a defined location.
Now, besides the above-mentioned measure to ‘avoid file corruption’ by limiting PST file size, what to do when the PST file has already got corrupt and you’re facing the error “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved”?
Here are some of the solutions (methods and tools) to resolve the error.
Solution 1: Repair a corrupt Outlook PST file with Scanpst.exe (inbuilt utility)
In case the error persists, move on to Solution 2- create a new MS Outlook profile
Solution 2: Create an Outlook Profile
This method is useful when the error is due to another type of email account configured in Outlook along with the POP Account. The following steps will help you create a new Outlook profile:
Now open Outlook using the new Outlook profile and check whether the error has been resolved.
Sometimes, manual methods just don’t suffice to fix an error like “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved”.
Therefore, an advanced ‘purpose-built’ software is highly recommended to address such needs, with the added comfort of surety, speed, ease and comprehensive application scope. Read through the next solution inline to know more…
Solution 3: Use an advanced Outlook PST repair software
An advanced PST repair software says Stellar Repair for Outlook Technician can help you resolve the most challenging errors associated with corrupt PST files. Follow these steps to fix the Outlook error:
Open Microsoft Outlook and check if the error is fixed.
Selecting software for PST repair helps Outlook users to resolve the error faster and gain easy access to Outlook data with little effort. On the contrary, manual methods may or may not fix the error, leaving Outlook users frustrated for a long time.
Microsoft Outlook is such a widely used software but surprisingly many of its users forget to back up the files or simply don’t have a scheduled backup/archival plan. This leads to oversized PSTs with eventual risks of file corruption and performance lag.
There are several solutions – manual methods, inbuilt tool and powerful PST repair software – to address this problem at multiple levels, which have their own use cases and shortcomings.
For instance, a setback of manual methods or inbuilt software utility is that they may require more time and skill, without offering upfront surety that the job will be done until the efforts have been spent! And then there’s an innate risk of going the wrong esp. with using manual procedures to address a custom or niche use scenario.
In contrast, advanced software such as ‘Stellar Repair for Outlook’ not only offers a comprehensive fix for repairing corrupt PST files but also restores all email items in a new PST file. Further, the Technician edition of the software also exports the repaired PST file in Office 365 format.
Eric Simson is an Email Platform Consultant and is associated with Stellar Data Recovery from last 6 years. He writes about the latest technology tips and provides custom solutions related to MS Outlook, MS Exchange Server, Office 365, and many other Email Clients & Servers.
Most helpful info in 3 days of constant research! I think my problem is related to virus scanning.
After creating outlook profile and using Inbuilt utility, I’m facing same problem. Please suggest more methods.
You can also try these methods:
1. Split the oversized Outlook file
2. Reset local permission to the file
These methods cannot be effectual in most cases. Then you should try Outlook Repair Tool i.e. Stellar Repair for Outlook to repair PST file in a quick time.
I’m facing same error and my PST file size is 6.8 GB. Now, how to resolve this issue.
Your PST file size is too large. So, to resolve this issue & access all mail safely. Try Stellar Repair for Outlook and repair PST file within a couple of minutes.
How many systems, I can use Stellar Repair for Outlook technician software?
You can install this software on 3 systems.
Is this software save in .DAT format file after repair corrupt PST file?
Yes, you can easily save in .DAT format after repairing PST file.
I have tried Stellar Repair for Outlook Technician edition software to fix the outlook error “Can’t move the items. The item could not be move.” It has easily fixed the error as well as export the PST file in Office 365.
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