Is Your Outlook 2016 Slow? 6 Easy Tricks To Troubleshoot It

Even though it is a powerful client, bearing plenty of features, integrations, and add-ins, there is a perpetual complaint of users saying that their Outlook 2016 is running Slow.

For a person who has to check emails and send some important ones as well, the Outlook client is an impressive resort. But, if it runs slow, it becomes inconvenient for the users and therefore, stirs annoyance.

Moreover, they cannot access the wide range of tools which Outlook delivers otherwise. Its exceptional features and seamless operation is what makes it so popular. But, when it runs slow, users cannot employ those tools and thereby deploy frustration in the users’ minds.

However, to troubleshoot this slow functioning of the Outlook, one must go through some steps. But, before that, the concerned users must also know the reasons behind the problem. When you know the factors which can induce the problem, you can easily troubleshoot it.

Therefore, stick through the entire guide which gives thorough information regarding the causes as well as the solutions.

More About the Slow Response of the Outlook 2016

The slow functioning of the Microsoft Outlook also triggers the client to not respond entirely. It tends to stop and become unresponsive for a long time. And immediate closing of the program doesn’t treat it at all.

However, to handle the issue comprehensively, you must know the potential causes which can induce it. There are certain conditions that can trigger the slow responding issue.

If your Outlook 2016 is running slow, then read the underlying situations or, rather, causes.

• Insufficient computer specifications
• Large Personal Folders files (.pst) or Offline Folder files (.ost)
• Absence of the latest service pack and updates for Outlook
• Third-party add-ins
• Your AppData folder is redirected to a network location
• Antivirus software interaction
• Incomplete closure of files like .pst or .ost
• Windows Search or Windows Desktop Search indexing
• RSS or Really Simple Syndication feeds
• Damaged Outlook messaging profile
• To-do bar and Online mode with Exchange server

These are thatituations which have the potential to crash the client and respond slowly. And the users seek immediate solutions, just to resolve it. Therefore, read the next section which holds six different tricks to troubleshoot the problem.

6 Tips to Solve the Slow Responsiveness of the Outlook 2016

When the Outlook is slow to respond, the users encounter obvious hindrances while working. The pace of work operation is compromised and frequent interruption becomes outright annoying. Therefore, you must stick through the underlying methods.

Each procedure holds dedicated steps that can treat the problem with ease. Simply implement them with care and caution. And if one method doesn’t work, then proceed to the one which succeeds the former one.

Also, if your Outlook 2016 is running slow, you can also employ the technical assistance of a professional.

Procedure 1: Disable Add-ins

In case the Outlook client runs slow, the add-ins are the ones to blame. And those which are third-party antivirus induced add-ins can create the most problems. 

However, in case you are not using add-ins, obviously, there is no requirement for you to disable it. Implement the underlying steps to locate your add-ins as well as the way to troubleshoot it.

• Firstly, click on the Start button. Then, right-click on the Microsoft Outlook 2016 program.
• After that, click on More followed by the option to Run as administrator.
• Next, click on File and then on Options, select Add-ins.
• Now, hit the Go option.
• Click on the checkbox which is present next to any option just so that the tick marks disappear. This indicates that the add-in has been disabled and then hit on OK.

In case you decide to never employ an add-in, you can entirely remove it. For this, click on an add-in that you want to erase. And then hit the Remove option and the add-in will no longer be present on the add-ins list.

Procedure 2: Disable Graphics Acceleration

Now, not everyone employs a stellar system for reading and sending emails in Outlook. It has an integrated graphics acceleration feature that may induce sudden freezes and poor performance in certain machines.

However, follow the underlying guide in order to disable it.

• Firstly, launch Outlook 2016 from the Start menu, taskbar or desktop. Then, click on File.
• After that, click on Options and then on Advanced.
• Make sure to check the box which is next to the statement Disable hardware graphics acceleration. For this, you may have to scroll down to locate this option. Finally, click on OK.

Is your Outlook 2016 slow even after attempting the aforementioned steps? Then, proceed to the next procedure. 

Procedure 3: Disable RSS Feed

There are people who keep themselves updated with the RSS feed in Outlook. And they may be compromising their performance. 

Also, you can proceed to disable the RSS feed of Outlook in order to see if it makes any difference. Now, even after this, if you don’t observe any change, you can always opt to re-enable it.

• Firstly, from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar, launch the Outlook 2016. After that, hit on File and then on Options. Next, click on Advanced.
• Now, hit on the checkbox which is beside the statement Any RSS Feed item that is updated… in order to remove the checkmark.
• Then, click on the checkbox which is beside the Synchronic RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List… in order to remove the checkmark. And then click on OK.

In this way, you can solve the annoying slow response of the Outlook 2016. However, if otherwise, you can move on to follow the next method which is sure to treat it.

Furthermore, you can always keep the option to consult a technical professional to troubleshoot it in a hassle-free manner.

Procedure 4: Archive Old Email

In your main folder, if you hold plenty of old emails, Outlook has to load as well as process all of those along with the new ones too when it opens. 

However, for this, there is an AutoArchive tool that is integrated into it for processing old emails. In an Outlook, PST data file holds these older emails and get saved which you can access anytime.

• At first, head to the Start menu, taskbar or the desktop, launch the Outlook 2016 and then click on File. After that, click on Options and then on Advanced. Therein, click on AutoArchive Settings.
• After that, click on the checkbox which is present next to the statement Run AutoArchive every X days.
• Then, click on the arrows of up or down which is next to the frequency that you want the AutoArchive to run.
• Next, click on the up or down arrows which are beside the age of emails which you intend to archive. Then, click on OK.

Also, you can experiment with the remaining settings for AutoArchive in case you aren’t happy with the defaults.

If the Outlook 2016 is running slow even after endeavoring this procedure, make sure to proceed to the next method. 

Procedure 5: Compact your PST Files

The Outlook PST files hold messages, as well as other information, saved safely on the system. Now, when you delete some emails, the space they took up tends to remain. And it continues to grow unless it reaches 20% of the file’s total size.

Now, when it reaches this point, Outlook tends to compact the file while running. In case you have erased plenty of emails, you may intend to compact the PST files immediately that too.

• Firstly, head to the Start menu, or the taskbar and then launch the Outlook 2016.
• Then, proceed to click on the option File which is present on the left corner at the top of the window. After that, proceed to the dropdown arrow which is present beside Account Settings.
• Next, click on Account Settings and click on the tab of Data Files which is also at the top of the window.
• Then, double-click on the PST file and click on Compact Now. However, this is a process that might take a while. When the process finishes, hit the OK button.

This method is sufficient to solve your problem entirely. But, if nothing comes up, then proceed to follow the underlying method. 

Procedure 6: Update Outlook and Windows 10

This is a procedure where you need to update either Outlook or Windows 10 or both of them in order to solve the issue. For the steps, have a look at the following section. 

Windows Update

In case the program is out of date, proceed to update it. First of all, update the Windows 10. Follow the underlying steps and implement them with caution.

• At first, click on the Start button. Then, head to the Settings button. 
• After that, click on Update & Security. Next, proceed to click on Check for updates.

In case Windows 10 turns out to be out of date, you will receive a window asking you to install the latest version. For this, follow the on-screen instructions and steps to complete the process. However, after you update the Windows 10 successfully, proceed to update the Outlook.

Outlook Update

Now that you have updated the Windows 10, proceed to do the same for the Outlook 2016. For this, adhere to the underlying steps.

• Click on File and then on Office Account. Click on the dropdown arrow which is present beside the Update Options.
• Then, click on Update Now. Now, if there is an update available, it will download now.
• Finally, follow the steps on the screen to complete the update process.

This method will completely solve the problem if your Outlook 2016 is running slow.

Wrapping Up

With these steps and procedures, you can easily solve the issue. Also, the problem won’t appear again if implemented properly. Also, proceed to take the assistance of an expert only if you find no result.