Manage Outlook storage
Keep your mailbox clean, improve Outlook performance, and make sure your important email history stays accessible from any device.
What is the Outlook Online Archive?
The Outlook Online Archive, also known as an In-Place Archive, is a specialised cloud-based mailbox that stores older emails separately from your primary mailbox.
It helps free up primary storage space, improves Outlook performance, and allows you to access historical messages from any device without needing a local .pst file.
The folder structure of your Online Archive will remain similar to that of your primary mailbox.
What should I do?
The default archive policy automatically moves email items older than 6 months to the Online/In-Place Archive.
You can override the default policy retention period at either the folder or email level by modifying the properties of the respective folder or email item.
Best practice
Regularly clean up both your primary mailbox and your Online/In-Place Archive mailbox.
This keeps Outlook running smoother and helps you stay organised.
Where to find my Online/In-Place Archive mailbox
Outlook Desktop App
In the left-hand folder pane, scroll past your regular mailbox folders. Expand the Online Archive section to view mirrored folders such as Inbox, Sent Items and other folders.
Outlook on the Web
Sign in to Outlook on the Web. Scroll to the very bottom of your left-hand folder list to locate and expand In-Place Archive.