Best Way to Fix Outlook AutoArchive Not Working Issue

Why is AutoArchive Not Working in MS Outlook?

AutoArchive is a quite simple tool in Outlook to clear the older emails and maintain space effectively without actual deletion. However, it is quite conditional and depends on multiple factors like profile settings, folder-level rules, Outlook behavior, and mailbox storage settings. Some common reasons for which AutoArchive may not be working are: 

• The AutoArchive feature is disabled globally or for a specific folder 
• Archive retention policies are misconfigured for the mailbox 
• Conflicts occur with the Cache Exchange Mode
• Issues with PST file size or corruption 
• Archive policies may reset with Outlook updates 
• Poor networks, faulty add-ons, and wrong policies 
• Incorrect AutoArchive settings and permissions 

All of the following can result in significant issue resulting in various difficulties for the users. 

How to Fix the Outlook AutoArchive Not Working Issue?

There are some basic manual solutions to resolve this issue. But if the cause of this issue goes beyond general problems to severely damaged or corrupted PST. Then we have an ultimate professional tool for recovery and fixing. You can explore all the following methods below. 

Troubleshoot Microsoft Outlook Not Archiving Emails

Below are some easy-to-follow free solutions to resolve the issue and resume proficiency in Outlook tasks. These are: 

#1: Verify AutoArchive Settings 

1. Start MS Outlook and from File, in Options, tap Advanced. 
2. Then, press AutoArchive Settings and check these:

• “Run AutoArchive after every XX days” is enabled
• Archive or delete older items is checked 
• Valid location for PST Archive is selected 

3. If yes, then tap OK and restart Outlook to see if it works. 

#2: Identify Folder-Level Archive Settings 

1. Initially, right-click on your affected Outlook folder. 
2. Then, select Properties and browse to AutoArchive. 
3. Further, opt for “Archive items in this folder using the default settings”.
4. Or, define your own custom retention rules, click Apply, and close Outlook. 

#3: Check Microsoft Outlook Updates

It is also possible that the Microsoft Outlook AutoArchive Not Working Issue is due to an outdated version, which is fixable by:

1. From the Outlook File, go to Office Accounts. 
2. Next, click on Update, and if any exist, press Update Now. 
3. Restart Outlook once updates are complete and verify autoarchive settings. 

#4: Start Outlook in Safe Mode

1. First, press Win + R and type outlook.exe /safe. Hit Enter. 
2. If Auto-Archive functions here, add-ins are the real blockers. 
3. Further, go to File >> Options and select Add-ins. 
4. After that, in front of Manage COM Add-ins, click Go and disable all. 
5. Later, enable them one-by-one to identify the deflecting one. 
6. At last, click OK and restart Outlook normally. 

#5: Handle ArchiveIgnoreLastModifiedTime Registry Key

It forces Outlook to use the send/receive date for archival instead of the modification date to resolve the issue. Steps are:

1. Press Win + R, input regedit, and click OK. 
2. Next, move to the path below:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Version\Outlook\

Preferences

3. Afterward, in the Edit menu, click New and select the DWORD (32-bit) Value. 
4. Furthermore, type ArchiveIgnoreLastModifiedTime. Click Enter to add. 
5. Now, right-click it, select Modify, and set the value to 1. Tap OK. 
6. Finally, close the Registry Editor and restart Outlook to apply changes. 

#6: Fix Corruption in MS Outlook Profile 

1. In Outlook’s File tab, click Account Settings to open it. 
2. Then, find and select your profile email address for which AutoArchive doesn’t work. 
3. In the end, click Repair and wait until any errors that remain are fixed. 
4. Run Outlook again to check if AutoArchive functions smoothly now. 

#7: Repair PST Data File Corruption 

When the file structure is damaged, AutoArchive doesn’t work, and casual troubleshooting may not help with it. The Inbox Repair Tool is the free solution here. Follow these steps:

1. First, close the MS Outlook application completely on the device. 
2. Next, find the Inbox Repair Tool at the following locations: 

3. Once located, double-click ScanPST.exe to run it and tap Browse. 
4. Further, select your Outlook Data File (PST) and add it. Tap Scan.
5. If any corruption prevails, click Repair to fix it and restart Outlook. 

#8: Disable Cache Mode for Exchange Users

1. Within Outlook, from File, open Account Settings.
2. Again, tap Account Settings and choose your email account. 
3. Next, click Change and uncheck “Use Cache Exchange Mode”.
4. At last, click Next and then Finish to save. Restart Outlook. 

Smart Fix Microsoft Outlook AutoArchive Not Working Issue

The basic troubleshooting may help resolve the issue to some extent, but if it’s due to severe corruption, then none of the above methods works. In such a case, download SysInfo PST Recovery Tool to instantly repair your corrupted PSTs with unique recovery modes and an easy-to-use interface. Whether technical or non-technical user, you can easily handle PST corruption with a few simple clicks. Additionally, it ensures 100% accuracy during recovery and preserves the PST data with ease. Moreover, it has advanced filter options for rescanning and handling errors. 

Steps to Handle AutoArchive Not Working in MS Outlook

1. Launch the PST Repair Tool on Windows OS and click Open. 
2. Next, browse the PST files for repair and select Standard/Advanced/Deep recovery.
3. Further, check other options and click OK to initiate the folder scanning. 
4. Later, select the folders after the data preview and click Save from the top. 
5. Finally, select a destination, pick the desired format, apply filters, and click OK to recover. 

Conclusion 

Outlook AutoArchive Not Working isn’t a deprived feature, but it’s conditional, and when those specific conditions aren’t met, it fails. Manual fixes can handle configuration issues, settings, and PST corruption at a minor level. But it isn’t a go-to solution as you need technical awareness for them, and it doesn’t offer any verification or support for large mailboxes. Thus, using the SysInfo PST Recovery Tool is the ideal choice to deal with severe PST corruption, large Outlook mailboxes, and fix the AutoArchive issue manually. Get the Demo Version to check out the functionalities and features. 

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About The Author:

Simran Bhatia

Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.