How to Clear Outlook Cache on Windows and Mac

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If you are wondering how to Clear Outlook Cache on Windows and Mac checkout this article. Outlook has its own cache, just like any other application. These are temporary files that your Outlook account uses to store temporary data. But if this cache isn’t cleared, it can cause problems over time. It could start showing out-of-date information, slow down Outlook, and mess up the way things look. To avoid these problems, you need to delete the Outlook cache.

Like any other app, Outlook makes and stores cache files on your computer to speed up how it works. These files help the app do some things on its own and get to the files it needs faster than if it didn’t have a cache. But sometimes you may want to clear the cache in Outlook. You’ll want to do this especially if you notice that the app is running slower than usual. This is often because a lot of cache files have been built up over time. As shown below, there are ways how to Clear Outlook Cache on Windows and Mac.

What is Outlook cache?

Outlook cache is a temporary place where Outlook stores copies of your emails, contacts, calendar items, and other mailbox items. This makes it easier for Outlook to get to your data, even when you’re not connected to the internet. When you turn on Cached Exchange Mode in Outlook, your computer makes a copy of your mailbox.

Feature	Description
Email	Send and receive email messages, manage your inbox, and create folders to organize your messages.
Calendar	Schedule appointments, meetings, and events, and track your availability.
Contacts	Store contact information for people, businesses, and organizations.
Tasks	Create and track tasks, set due dates, and assign tasks to others.
Notes	Take notes, create to-do lists, and store other information.
Journal	Keep a journal of your activities and thoughts.
Google Play Store	Download Now
iOS Store	Download Now

An Offline Storage Table (OST) file is what you call this copy. When you do something to your mailbox, like send an email or delete a contact, the OST file is updated. If you clear the cache in Outlook, the OST file will be lost. This will delete all of the cached data on your computer, including your emails, contacts, calendar items, and other mailbox items.

Why should you clear Outlook cache?

1. Performance Improvement: Over time, the cache can accumulate a large amount of data, including old and unnecessary files. Clearing the cache helps in optimizing the performance of Outlook by reducing load times and increasing responsiveness.
2. Space Saving: The cache can occupy a significant amount of storage space on your computer. By clearing it, you free up storage space, which is especially important if you’re running low on disk space.
3. Fixing Glitches: Cached data might sometimes become corrupted, leading to glitches or errors in Outlook’s operation. Clearing the cache can help to resolve these issues by forcing Outlook to re-download fresh data.
4. Privacy and Security: Cached email content, attachments, and other data can potentially pose a security risk if someone gains unauthorized access to your computer. Clearing the cache reduces the chances of sensitive information being accessed.
5. Syncing Problems: If you’re facing synchronization problems between your email client and the server, clearing the cache can often help to resolve these issues. This is because cached data might conflict with server data, causing syncing problems.

How to Clear Outlook Cache on Windows

Microsoft is getting ready to give Windows 11 users a new Outlook experience. But it’s not over yet. If you have problems with Outlook for Windows all the time, try the steps below.

1. Press the Windows and R keys together to open the Run menu.
2. Type the following command and hit Enter. %appdata%MicrosoftOutlook
3. Open the folder called RoamCache.
4. Pick all of the files from the next list. Right-click on them and select “Delete.”
5. Open the trash can and get rid of all the cache files completely.

Clear Auto-Complete Cache

Outlook saves your recipients’ email addresses so that the app can automatically fill in their email IDs. Follow the steps below if you just want to clear the auto-complete cache or stop it from acting that way.

1. Open Outlook on a Windows computer.
2. In the top left corner, click File.
3. Pick a choice.
4. Get your mail.
5. Uncheck the box next to Use Auto-Complete List to suggest names when typing in the To, Cc, and Bcc lines.
6. You can also delete the list by clicking the “Empty Auto-Complete List” button.

How to Clear Outlook Cache on Mac

1. Mac: Open Finder.
2. Press Command + Shift + G and navigate to /Library/Caches. Press Enter.
3. Right-click on the folder com.microsoft.Outlook and drag it to the Bin folder.

Use a third-party app to clear the app cache if you can’t find the Outlook folder in Finder. There are plenty of these kinds of useful apps for Mac. CleanMyMac X is our top choice because of how easy it is to use and how well it keeps your Mac running smoothly. Here’s how to use it to clear the cache in Outlook.

1. Buy CleanMyMac X from the site where it is sold. The software costs $29 when you buy it once.
2. Open CleanMyMac X and use the sidebar to choose System Junk.
3. Do a scan and look at the User Scanned Files folder. Click Check Details.
4. Uncheck all the boxes except the one for Microsoft Outlook.app Cache. At the bottom, choose Clean.

Conclusion

We made this guide to help you get rid of all the junk files that are stored in the Outlook cache and stop the program from running at its best. When you delete the cache, you also get rid of auto-complete data and other things. If you use Outlook often, you should always think about clearing the cache at least once a month. From our point of view, this task is not too hard to do.

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