HOW to Fix Duplicate Folders in Outlook
Let’s look at an issue with Outlook user facing Duplicate Folders in Outlook.
Issue Description:
Duplicate folders in your Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox when view the Outlook folder list.
1st Troubleshooting that can solve the issue:
Check OWA if the issue not present; so try to recreate the Outlook profile.
Resolution:
The issue is caused by a mobile device or a third-party server application that synchronizes with the Exchange Server mailbox may unexpectedly introduce the duplication and it will be resolved by providing and instructing the customer to perform the steps outlined below.
- Exit Outlook and close OWA on all workstations that are connected to the user mailbox.
- Use MFCMapi to identify the duplicate folders. To do this, follow these steps:
- Download MFCMAPI from http://mfcmapi.codeplex.com
- Run MFCMAPI.exe.
- Click on the Tools menu, then click Options.
- Click to enable the following option:
- Use MDB_ONLINE when calling OpenMsgStore
- Click OK.
- On the Session menu, click Logon.
- If you are prompted for a profile, select your profile name, and then click OK.
- In the top pane, locate the line that corresponds to your mailbox, and double-click it.
- In the navigation pane (left-side pane), expand Root Container, and then expand Top of Information Store.
-
To identify the duplicate folder, click one of the duplicate folders on the left pane. In the right pane, locate the Value column for the PR_CREATION_TIME property. Compare this value to the duplicate folder with the same name. The duplicate folder will have a newer creation date and time. Work with one pair of folders at a time (for example, start with the two Calendar folders that appear).
- Use MFCMAPI to copy any items from the duplicate folder to the original folder. These are items created after the duplicate folders were created. This can include email that was received in the Inbox, Contacts that were created, Calendar appointments that you scheduled and meetings that you accepted, follow these steps:
- In the left pane of MFCMAPI, double-click on the duplicate folder, which has the newer creation date and time.
- On the window that opens, click on the top pane, then press CTRL + A to select all items.
If no items appear in the top pane, the folder is already empty; skip to step 7.
- Click on the Actions menu, then click the Copy Messages command.
- Close the folder window, then double-click on the original folder, which has the older creation date and time.
- Click on the Actions menu, then click the Paste Messages command.
- Click to enable the MESSAGE_MOVE checkbox, then click OK.
- Close the folder window.
- In MFCMAPI, switch back to the duplicate folder, which is now empty. Use MFCMAPI to delete it.
- Right-click the duplicate folder, and then select Delete Folder.
-
Click to enable the Hard Deletion option, and then click OK.
Repeat steps 2 through 4 for other common Outlook folders (Contacts, Deleted Items, Drafts, Inbox, Journal, Junk E-mail, Notes, Sent Items, and Tasks).
Close MFCMAPI.
Press WinKey+R to bring up the Run dialog box then input “C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice12OUTLOOK.EXE” followed by a space and then the switch /resetfolders as below:
“C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice12OUTLOOK.EXE /resetfolders ”
Ratish Nair
Microsoft MVP | Office Servers and Services
Team @MSExchangeGuru
