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Outlook 2003 Automatic E-mail Archiving

In order to have Outlook automatically archive your e-mail, you will need to first set up Outlook Personal Folders.

Once you have set up Outlook Personal folders, use the following steps to begin using Outlook's AutoArchive feature.

  1. In Outlook click on the Tools menu, then click Options.

    2. auto archive screenshot1

  2. Click the Other tab, then click AutoArchive.

    3. auto archive screenshot2

  3. Choose how often you would like to archive your e-mail by placing a check mark on Run AutoArchive every and entering the number of days.
  4. If you would like to be notified before the items are archived, select the Prompt before AutoArchive runs check box.
  5. Fill out the During AutoArchive section:
    • Set the e-mail expiration by setting a number for Clean out items older than.
    • Choose to either delete expired items, or to move it to your Outlook Personal Folders.

    auto archive screenshot3

    • If you would like additional help with the settings on this screen, click the button, then click the option you would like help with.
  6. Click OK.

Outlook is configured to automatically archive e-mail items using the schedule you set.

Did you Know?

You can set autoarchive settings on each individual folder in your Folder List by following these steps:

  1. Right-click on a folder then choose Properties.
  2. Click on the AutoArchive tab.
  3. Choose from 3 choices of how to archive items in the particular folder.
    • Do not archive items in this folder - Will not archive any items in the specified folder.
    • Archive items in this folder using the default settings - Will archive items according to the options you set in steps 1 - 6 above.
    • Archive this folder using these settings - set custom archive settings on that folder.

Updated: 9/18/2006