How to Increase PST File Size in Outlook? Use Free Solution
Due to receiving an error message, several business professionals want to increase PST file size in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003 editions. If you see a pop-up message like The Outlook data file PST has reached the maximum size. To reduce PST file size, permanently delete some items that are no longer needed.
The size of files is always a key concern, and it’s no different when it comes to OST and PST files in Outlook. If you’re an Outlook user, you’ve likely encountered issues related to file sizes. This is a problem that occurs to many Outlook users. We often share a large number of emails and attachments every day, surpassing our PST size limit. In this article, we will explore Outlook PST file storage in detail and learn how to increase PST file size limit.
Maximum Recommended Size of PST File by Microsoft
All versions of Microsoft Outlook, including Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, and 2002, support ANSI and UNICODE personal folders (.PST) files. However, the maximum size limit for non-UNICODE PST files is 2 GB across all Outlook versions. On the other hand, the maximum size limit for UNICODE PST files varies, depending on the Outlook version. Before we dive into increasing the PST file size, let’s take a look at the PST size limits for different Outlook versions:
| Outlook Version | PST File Size Limit |
| Outlook 97 – 2002 | 2 GB |
| Outlook 2003 and 2007 | 20 GB |
| Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021 | 50 GB |
Read these tables to understand the maximum recommended size of PST file by Microsoft.
Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
| Name | Type | Valid Data Range | Default |
| MaxLargeFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00000001 – 0x0000C800 | 0x0000C800 51,200 (50 GB) |
| WarnLargeFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00000000 – 0x0000BE00 | 0x0000BE00 48,640 (47.5 GB) |
| MaxFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x001F4400 – 0x7C004400 | 0x7BB04400 2,075,149,312 (1.933 GB) |
| WarnFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00042400 – 0x7C004400 | 0x74404400 1,950,368,768 (1.816 GB) |
Outlook 2003 and 2007
| Name | Type | Valid Data Range | Default |
| MaxLargeFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00000001 – 0x0000C800 | 0x00005000 20,480 (20 GB) |
| WarnLargeFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00000000 – 0x0000BE00 | 0x00004C00 19,456 (19 GB) |
| MaxFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x001F4400 – 0x7C004400 | 0x7BB04400 2,075,149,312 (1.933 GB) |
| WarnFileSize | REG_DWORD | 0x00042400 – 0x7C004400 | 0x74404400 1,950,368,768 (1.816 GB) |
Read Similar: Free Techniques to Compact OST Files
The Consequences of Oversized PST Files
Neglecting large PST files can have a detrimental impact on your workflow, and it may even lead to file corruption. To avoid such issues, it’s crucial to be aware of the default size limitations for PST files and find ways to maximize their size. By adding and modifying registry entries, it is possible to set maximum PST file size limit. If you add the registry value, you can maximize the size of approx 4 PB depending on the Outlook version. We have discussed below everything you need to know about the registry entry.
Understand Registry Entries to Increase PST Size in Outlook
Now that we know about the size limits in Outlook versions, let’s explore how we can increase PST file size limit. You have the option to modify the default maximum size of a PST file by editing the registry entries. Here are four registry entries that can be adjusted to limit the size in Microsoft Outlook:
- MaxLargeFileSize: This entry limits the extent to which the PST file can grow. Once the file reaches its maximum size, Outlook will prevent it from expanding further.
- MaxFileSize: Like MaxLargeFileSize, this registry entry applies to the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) PST file format.
- WarnLargeFileSize: This entry sets the maximum data size for the PST file. When the data reaches this limit, you cannot add more data.
- WarnFileSize: Similar to WarnLargeFileSize, this registry entry applies to the ANSI PST file format.
Read Also: Understand What to Do When Outlook Mailbox is Full
Use These Entries to Increase PST File Size Limit
Now that we understand the Outlook registry entries, let’s learn how to use these entries to increase the Outlook PST file size. But before getting started with the steps, we need to know some registry path of the policy location and the user-preference location required in each Outlook version to complete this process.
For Outlook 2003
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\PST
MS Outlook 2007
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\PST
For Outlook 2010
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\PST
MS Outlook 2013
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\PST
For Outlook 2016
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\PST
How to Increase PST File Size in Outlook Using Regedit
Follow the steps below to manually increase PST size in Outlook using the registry entries:
- Press Win+R on the screen. Type “regedit” and click “OK“.
- Now find the “Registry Editor” and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
- Expand the file and go to Software > Policies > Microsoft > Office > Outlook > PST.
- Under PST, you’ll find several options (MaxFileSize, WarnFileSize, MaxLargeFileSize, WarnLargeFileSize). Right-click on the entry associated with your Outlook account.
- Select “Modify” and enter the desired value in the Value Data Box. Click “OK“.
Note: If the registry value hasn’t been added already, you’ll need to configure it by going to PST > New > DWORD Value.
Important Considerations
The manual method is effective to increase PST size in Outlook, but it can be done only through best practices that are possible only by the technical experts to avoid any kind of issue such as data loss, file corruption, etc. Here we have described some important points that you need to consider before starting the manual method:
- Possibility of Errors or Data Loss: The manual method to increase PST size in Outlook requires technical expertise and accuracy. Making a mistake when entering these values can cause problems.
- PST File Corruption: It’s crucial to maintain at least a 5% difference between the Warn Large File Size and Max Large File Size. Oversized files can lead to file corruption.
- Outlook Performance Issues: This method can significantly decrease the performance of your Outlook application, resulting in it being stuck processing or not responding.
- User Expectations: Manual techniques do not guarantee breaking PST files according to the user’s expectations.
Best Solution to Resolve Maximum PST File Size Error
While the above method is suitable for increasing the maximum size of PST and OST files when performed by IT professionals with expertise in the field, it may negatively impact your workflow or lead to corruption if you’re not an IT expert. The best and safest option to increase file size in MS Outlook is to split PST file by year and date.
By using professional tools, you can expertly split PST files according to your needs without worrying about oversized PST files. BitRecover PST Split Tool is the all-in-one professional software to handle PST re-sizing issues with multiple features and options to divide your data to increase PST file size in Outlook. The best part is if you have downloaded it, you do not need to be an IT expert. You just need to give a few clicks and it will handle the rest of the process.
Advantages Of Recommended Software
- Prevents file corruption by dividing oversized files into multiple small parts.
- Provides multiple filters for dividing large PST files.
- Allows you to set the size for resultant PST files (e.g., 2 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, and 20 GB).
- Supports both ANSI and Unicode PST files.
Conclusion
Managing the size of PST files in Outlook is essential to ensure smooth workflow and prevent file corruption. While manual methods involving registry entries can be effective to increase PST file size in Outlook, they require technical expertise and come with potential risks. For users who are not IT experts or wish to avoid complications, using a reliable file splitter application is recommended. By splitting large PST file into smaller files, and manageable parts, users can increase their file size without compromising performance or risking file corruption.
Recommended: Large PST File Crashes Outlook When Starting