# 📧 Outlook Mailbox Auto Archive (In-Place Archive)

## Overview
When your Outlook mailbox reaches **96% of its storage capacity**, the system will automatically move older emails to your **Online Archive (also known as In-Place Archive)**. This helps prevent mailbox overflow and reduces the need for manual cleanup.

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## How It Works
- Once your mailbox hits **96% capacity**, Outlook triggers an **automatic archiving process**.
- **Older emails** are moved from your primary mailbox to your **Online Archive**.
- This process runs in the background and requires **no user action**.

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## Where Do Archived Emails Go?
- Emails are moved to your **Online Archive mailbox**, which appears in Outlook as a separate folder tree.
- You can access it in:
  - **Outlook Desktop App** (left-hand folder pane under “Online Archive”)
  - **Outlook Web (OWA)**

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## Important Notes
- ✅ The Online Archive is **still part of your overall storage allocation** (not external storage).
- ✅ Archived emails are **fully searchable** and accessible anytime.
- ✅ This process helps keep your **primary mailbox performant and under quota**.
- ❗ Moving emails to the archive does **not free unlimited space**—it simply redistributes usage within your account.

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## Benefits
- Reduces risk of **mailbox full errors**
- Improves **Outlook performance**
- Minimises need for **manual cleanup or PST files**
- Keeps older emails accessible without cluttering your inbox

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## What You Should Do
- No immediate action is required when this happens.
- However, you may want to:
  - Regularly review and delete unnecessary emails
  - Empty Deleted Items and Junk folders
  - Be mindful of large attachments

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