If you’re a regular MS Outlook user, then you might also be facing issues with duplicate notes in your mailbox. Apart from Outlook emails, contacts, calendar, Outlook notes are also important features.
If your Outlook account is configured on multiple devices, importing PST files more than once, or syncing problems, then you are very likely to see the same note more than once. Duplicate notes not only clutter your notes folder, but they also make it more difficult to manage relevant information. In this article, we’ll discuss why duplicates occur and how to fix them using manual and automated methods.
Why Do Duplicate Notes Appear in Outlook?
Before diving into the solution, it’s important to know the reasons:
- Syncing Issues: If you’ve configured your profile on many devices, then it’ll result in redundant notes in your Outlook.
- Import/Export Errors: Avoid importing your data file more than once, as it will result in duplicated notes.
- Improper Shutdowns: If your Outlook crashes while working or the system shuts down, then your entries will get duplicated.
- Manual Duplication: Sometimes users accidentally copy & paste the same notes without knowing their existence already.
- Third-Party Add-ons: Using an unreliable third-party tool often leads to duplication of items in Outlook.
Read more: How to Remove Duplicate Contacts in Outlook?
Problem Caused by Duplicated Notes
If there are duplicate notes, it looks very minor issue, but ignoring that will create a drastic change, like:
- Chaotic Notes Folder: It’ll become a more challenging task to identify important tasks.
- Unwanted Storage Space: Unnecessary data files will slow down the performance of Outlook.
- Syncing Errors: the more accounts you configure accounts devices, the more duplicates will appear.
To keep your Outlook organised, it’s important to remove duplicate emails in Outlook.
Best Methods to Delete Duplicate Notes in Outlook
In the following section, we'll discover effective solutions to solve the error.
- Sort & Delete Manually
- Use Outlook's Search Option
- Export & Re-import Notes
- Try the Advanced Method
Let's understand their working one by one:
Method 1: Sort & Delete Manually
Steps:
- Open Outlook > Navigate to Notes Folder.
- Sort the Notes by applying a filter of subject, date, etc.
- Verify the similar notes with the duplicate ones.
Limitations: It's practical only for a few duplicates. If you're working on large data, then it'll take a lot of time.
Method 2: Use Outlook's Search Option
Steps:
- Go to the Search box in notes folder to enter keyword of notes.
- Now, Outlook will show you all notes which contain that term.
- Check & Delete duplicate notes in Outlook.
Limitation: Search is useful, but still requires manual checking.
Method 3: Export and Re-import Notes
Steps:
- Export your notes into a text file, like CSV
- Eliminate duplicate notes in Excel or in which you’ve opened.
- Then, import your file again into Outlook
Limitation: Risk of data loss or corruption if not handled carefully.
While using manual methods as they free, they have many disadvantages, like a time-consuming process, & most of the time it doesn't support large data files. So if you want to avoid these mistakes, then use the recommended software mentioned below.
How to Delete Duplicate Notes in Outlook using Professional Tool
If you're tired of using manual methods, then you should use the SysTools Outlook Duplicate Remover tool, which is an automated utility which scans and deletes duplicate notes in Outlook without losing important data.
It’s for the users who want their results with a trusted, reliable, accurate tool. Then it’s the best choice for them. Know more features of this removal tool.
- Deletes duplicate notes, emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and journals.
- Supports multiple Outlook versions, including 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, and older.
- Supports bulk PST, OST, and BAK file scanning.
- Allows removal based on fields like subject, creation date, and content.
- Maintains Outlook folder structure and data integrity.
Step Instructions to Use this Proactive Tool
- Download & run this redundant removing software on your os.
- Press on Add Files & Folder option to import your file.
- This tool offers two options within a folder or across folders to upload the file.
- In select item type, choose notes options.
- Apply the filters related to notes.
- Browse your destination path to save the cleaned output file.
- Click Ok button to start the removal process.
Tips to Prevent Duplicate Notes in Outlook
After you delete duplicate notes in Outlook, it’s wise to follow preventive measures to avoid facing the same issue again:
- Avoid Multiple Imports: Do not import the same PST file multiple times.
- Sync Carefully Across Devices: Ensure your Outlook is synced properly with mobile devices or other applications.
- Use Reliable Tools: If you use third-party sync utilities, choose trusted software to prevent duplication.
- Regular Maintenance: Periodically check your Notes folder for duplicates.
- Backup Data: Always keep a backup of Outlook data before major syncs or migrations.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve discussed how to delete duplicate notes in Outlook using both manual and automated methods without losing important data. While manual methods such as sorting, searching, or exporting notes can help, they are not practical for users dealing with large PST files.
The most effective solution is to use a dedicated utility like SysTools Outlook Duplicate Notes Removing tool, which can quickly scan, detect, and eliminate duplicate notes in Outlook without data loss. This ensures your Outlook Notes remain clean, organised, and efficient for daily use.