Outlook: delete old calendar entries

To clean up your Outlook, you can delete old calendar entries with AutoArchive. This practical tip shows you how to tidy up the calendar.

Open calendar properties

Depending on the version of Outlook, the calendar properties are well hidden. How to find it:

• Open the overview of all calendar elements with the key combination [Ctrl] + [2]. Alternatively, you can find the calendar via the "Switch to" tab in the general navigation bar.
• On the left in the menu column you will see your Outlook calendar under "My calendars". Now right-click on the entry and select "Properties" in the context menu (see figure).

Delete old calendar entries via AutoArchiving

• In the settings you will find the "AutoArchiving" tab in third place. Select the item "Use the following settings for this folder".
• Below you specify the period in which you want to delete the calendar entries.
• Finally, use the bottom point to specify that you "permanently delete old elements".
• Outlook deletes old calendar entries the next time it is auto-archived.

Start calendar archiving manually

To perform archiving directly, follow the steps above. Then start archiving according to the following scheme:

• Click on "File" in the top menu bar and select "Archiving". define the folders to be archived and the period.
• Now determine which folders you want to clean and at what point in time Outlook should start archiving.
• Outlook takes over all other settings from the AutoArchiving.

This guide is based on Micorosoft Outlook 2007, but works analogously with Outlook 2010.