Outlook: Improving Load Time and Performance

Many folks complain about how long it takes for Microsoft Outlook to load. There IS something you can do to reduce the time it takes Outlook to open: disable unneeded add-ins or extensions.

These instructions have not been tested on all versions of the Windows operating system, so your results may vary.

Disable Unneeded Add-ins on Outlook 2007 and Earlier

When Outlook is installed, quite a few "Add-ins" are enabled by default. Additional add-ins may be installed and enabled when you install other software that can interface with Outlook.

The more Add-ins that are enabled or active, the longer it takes Outlook to finish loading.

The following list is typical of an Outlook 2007 installation, but many are also applicable to earlier versions of Outlook. If your Outlook has add-ins enabled that are not discussed here, look them up on the Internet.

To access the add-ins:

1. Open Outlook and wait for Outlook to finish sending and receiving email.
2. Click Tools | Trust Center
3. On the left sidebar, click the Add-ins tab

When you click on each Add-in, the publisher, location on disk - including the file name, and a description display at the bottom of the window.

To deactivate the add-ins, keep "COM Add-ins" in the "Manage" field, and click click Go.... Then click to uncheck add-ins that you would like to make inactive.

Microsoft Access Outlook Add-in for Data collection and Publishing: This add-in allows companies to send emails with data collection forms attached. When the forms are completed and returned, the data is passed to the pre-defined Access table. Can be disabled by most home users.

Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging: Only applicable to users of Microsoft Exchange Server - a feature used by some companies. The add-in allows companies to configure the server to receive email, voice, and fax messages to the user's Exchange inbox. Can be disabled by most home users.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Colleague Import Add-in: This add-in is applicable only to folks using Microsoft Office SharePoint to communicate with work colleagues and is optional even for them. Can be disabled by most home users.

Microsoft Outlook Mobile Service: this add-in provides the capability of sending and receiving text messages in Outlook, and to allow certain information from your mobile phone, such as reminders, to be sent to Outlook - depending on your phone provider. Can be disabled by most home users who don't interface Outlook with their cell phone.

Microsoft VBA for Outlook Addin: VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications. It is a Microsoft application that can be utilized by users of Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, and Outlook. This add-in provides the capability of an Outlook user creating Visual Basic modules and macros directly from Microsoft Outlook. Can be disabled by most home users.

No Name provided: You many have one or more add-ins named "no name provided." When you click on the add-in on the "Trust Center" winsow, you can see the file name in the "location" field displayed below. Look up the file name on the Internet. If you are unsure, do not disable the add-in.

One add-in without a name is located at "mscoree.dll." This add-in is used by the Microsoft .NET Framework engine and, to be safe, should NOT be disabled.

PDFMOutlook: This add-in is included and enabled in Outlook if you have Adobe Acrobat version 6.x or later installed. It is used by the "Attach As PDF" feature for Outlook. This is how you can use this feature:

• Create a new email message in Outlook and click the "Adobe PDF" tab at the top
• Click the "Attach as Adobe PDF" button in the upper left corner
• Browse for the file and click Save. Outlook will convert the selected file to PDF format
• Complete the email and send

There are issues with this add-in described in kb925761. If you do not want to use this feature, disable PDFMOutlook.

Disable RSS Feeds on Outlook 2003

In Microsoft Outlook 2003 and earlier versions, RSS Feeds may be enabled by default. This feature allows the user to let Microsoft Outlook manage RSS feeds and display these feeds, in folders, beneath the email folders on the main Outlook window.

To disable this program, open Outlook. Click Tools | Options and click the "Mail Setup" tab. Click Send/Receive and click All Accounts. Click Edit | RSS and click to uncheck the box.

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