How to Boost Your Outlook Mail Client’s Performance by Clearing Your Cache

Note: This article was last reviewed in November 2022. We do our best to keep all of our blogs up to date to offer the best, most accurate guidance possible. If you notice something missing, please drop a comment so we can update this article. Thank you!

Nothing is worse than waiting for your email to s…l…o…w…l…y load, especially when you’re on the go or working hard to meet a tight deadline.

Whether you’re tired of watching that dreaded email update icon load or you’re always the last one to get a real-time update, you may need to rethink how your computer uses Outlook’s email cache.

Originally designed to help Outlook users have a smooth, responsive email experience, the Outlook cache may actually be the root cause of your snail-like email.

So, what is Outlook cache, how can it be slowing down your day, and—most importantly—what can you do about it?

Let’s dive in!

What is an email cache?

The concept of a cache is not just for email; it is a feature operating systems use to help streamline users’ experiences by temporarily storing files locally on a device for an application to access more quickly.

The same applies to your Microsoft Outlook client on your local computer.

Sounds great, right? 

Well, like anything in life, there can be too much of a good thing, and the same applies to cached files.

For example, if you've noticed a slowdown in your Outlook client’s performance or if old data comes up as suggestions from Outlook AutoComplete when performing searches of your mailbox or when typing in addresses when composing an email, it might mean that the amount of cache stored on your local computer is getting to be too large. 

If that’s the case, then it is time to do some cache cleanup.

The steps to delete the Outlook cache are surprisingly easy and can be performed at two different levels depending on your preferences: 

• Just your email cache
• Your Outlook AutoComplete cache
• Both your email cache and Autocomplete cache

Whichever you choose, just remember that cleaning up your cache will not delete emails, contacts, or other useful information.

Ready to get started? Then follow these steps if you are using Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, or Outlook for Office 365:

Note: Once you open the Outlook application again, new cache files will appear in the RoamCache folder.

Need help? Click the chat in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.

If you want to clear your Outlook AutoComplete cache – where Microsoft prompts you with suggestions to complete your entry – you have two options:

• Turn off auto-complete so the cached data doesn't display, or
• Delete the auto-complete cache completely.

Adjusting Your Outlook AutoComplete Settings

In the Outlook Options dialog box, select OK.

That's it! That wasn't so bad, was it?

Loving using Office 365? Consider using Microsoft 365 instead. Read our blog 👉Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365 to learn why.

How do you clear your AutoComplete cache in the Outlook web application?

If you are using Outlook’s web application to check your email, you can clear your Outlook AutoComplete cache there, too.

1. Open a new email, and start to type the email address or contact name you would like to delete.
   
   
2. When the email address you want to delete appears in the list, mouse over the address you would like to delete. Click the X button to delete the address.