Fix “Outlook Mailbox Is Full Can’t Send Messages”

We are living in an era where email messages are the primary medium of work communication. It is also true that majority of executives across the globe work on Outlook email client. Sometimes, due to the high inflow of email messages, users often encounter an error with a “Mailbox is Full” message. It means that the size of your mailbox has reached its storage limit. There are multiple factors that can lead to this issue. Sometimes it is caused by large attachments and the huge influx of spam emails, while in some cases it happens because of a faulty auto-archive setting. This error also leads to a scenario where the normal operations like search, sending/receiving email messages, etc. take usually longer time. If you are also wondering why is Outlook so slow then this guide is just for you. This post will shed light on how to fix “Outlook mailbox is full can’t send messages.

Understanding the Error:

In this part of the section, we will explore reasons why the email client shows “Mailbox is Full” message. Following are the main reasons:

• When the storage quota is exhausted: Every Outlook account comes with a specific storage capacity. Like the Microsoft 365 has a 50GB mailbox limit or Outlook.com has a 15GB storage limit. When this limit is exhausted, this error message pops up.
• Large attachments: Sometimes a profile demands sending and receiving emails with large attachments. For example a graphic designer shares high-rise images to the creative team. In such a scenario, the mailbox space fills up quickly, leading to this error.
• Old emails not deleted: If the user is not following the rule of cleaning older and non-important emails on regular basis, this error message will pop up.
• Full deleted items folder: When the Outlook user fails to empty deleted mailbox folder on regular basis, this problem may happen.
• Spam emails: Sometimes “Outlook mailbox is full” message is also caused by frequent spam email messages, which exhaust the storage quota.
• Auto-archive issues: Any error in the auto-archive settings may also lead to this issue.

How to Fix “Outlook Mailbox Is Full Can’t Send Messages?”

As discussed earlier, mailbox is full message is triggered when is the Outlook PST file exhausted its storage limit. The step-by-step guide to fix this issue is mentioned below:

Method 1: Archive Older Items:

First and foremost, reduce the mailbox by archiving older items. Follow the below steps for the same:

• Explore the Outlook app.
  • If the user works on the 2013 Outlook version: Browse “File”>” Info”>” Cleanup Tools>” Archive.
  • In case the user is working on the 2016 Outlook version, go to the “File”>” Info”>” Tools”>” Clean up old items”.

• Choose “Archive this folder and all subfolders” option to proceed.
• After this choose the folder that requires to be archived.
• Proceed to “Archive items older than” option and give a date.
• Tick the box that says “Include items with ‘Do not AutoArchive'” to archive specific folders
• Click the “Ok” tab.

Method 2: Delete Every Item in the “Deleted Items” & “Junk Email” Folders:

Follow the below steps to execute this task:

• Browse “Files”>” Options”>” Advanced” tab.
• After this locate the “Outlook start and exit” option.
• Now choose “Empty Deleted Items folder when exiting Outlook.”
• Press the “Ok” tab to apply.

Method 3: Save Mail Attachments Outside the Mailbox:

Outlook user can also try saving email attachments outside the mailbox like in document folder. Follow the below steps:

• Browse the Outlook application.
• Hover on the cursor on the attachment the user needs to save outside your mailbox.
• Choose the “Save As” option.
• Now select the location on the hard disk where the attachment needs to be saved.
• Delete the respective attachment in Outlook after moving it to the assigned space.

Method 4: Delete Email Messages & Attachments:

To optimize space in the mailbox, the user needs to get rid of non-important email messages and attachments. See below steps to learn the process of deleting unwanted emails and attachments:

• Browse the Outlook app.
• Navigate to the Folder list
• Select “Search folders”
• Then click on the “New Search folder”.

• Investigate the list and select “Large mail” under ‘Organizing Mail”.
• Press “Choose” under “Customize Search Folder”.

• Set the size in the “Show mail greater than” box and click “Ok.”

• Click “Ok” again, and a folder called “Larger Than (Size)” will appear under “Search Folders.”
• Whenever you face a “mailbox full” error, go to Search Folders, press the new folder, and delete any unimportant emails.

Method 5: Check for Corrupted Mailbox:

A corrupted Outlook data file (.pst) may lead to this error. We can use built-in ScanPST.exe to find the corrupted mailbox file. This utility scans, diagnoses and repairs the damaged file. Follow the below process:

• Locate and run scanpst.exe.
• Press Browse to select the Outlook data file (.pst).
• Hit on the “Start” tab to initiate scanning for errors.
• The utility will provide a detailed report.
• If errors are found, click Repair.

What If Nothing Works Out?

In case none of the above-discussed methods work, then the user needs to take the help of some professional PST repair tool. Such tools are user-friendly and quick. One of such PST repair tools is Stellar Repair for Outlook. It is powered with great features. The USP of this software is its quick repair speed. This software will help you resolve the “Outlook Mailbox Is Full” error with a few clicks. It offers users the option of previewing repaired data files before saving them. Additionally, it offers the option of selective mailbox recovery.

Conclusion:

Space optimization is crucial in Microsoft Outlook. The absence of such a mechanism will create chaos and trigger multiple error messages, including “Outlook Mailbox Is Full Can’t Send Messages.” We have discussed multiple factors that can contribute to this issue. In addition to this, we have also explored five methods to fix the issue. In case nothing works and the corruption issue is posing a great threat to the business-sensitive data, then we need to utilize some PST repair tool. One of such tools is Stellar Repair for Outlook. This software is fast, quick, and reliable. It would let you preview the results of the repaired files.