How to Fix “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved” Error
Summary: While moving email from Outlook inbox to another folder, you may encounter errors such as “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved.” In this write-up, you will learn about this error its causes and methods to fix it.
Let’s get started with understanding the factors due to which we cannot move the items in Outlook.
Why users can’t Move Items in Outlook?
1: If the emails selected for copying or moving are already available in the destination folder.
2: When the emails which the user is trying to move are in use by some other instance.
3: Oversized Outlook data file.
4: Virus or Malware Threat.
4: Due to corruption of PST File in Outlook mailbox.
Now, we have known the reasons why we can’t move emails to folders in Outlook. Now, its time to find out the resolution to this error.
Manual Workarounds to Resolve “can’t move the items Outlook, The item could not be moved”
Here are some of the manual ways that help to resolve “The item could not be moved. It was either already moved or deleted or access was denied.” error.
Method 1: Check the size of your PST
First of all, you should check the size of your PST, follow the steps to verify/determine the PST size.
1: Open Microsoft Outlook and click on File.
2: Next, click on the Account Settings.
3: Now, select the Data Files tab available in Account Settings window.
4: Select the Outlook data file (.PST) and click on Open File Location.
5: Right-click on PST file followed by Properties.
6: Then, there you will get the size of the Outlook PST file.
Important Points To Remember
1: Even though a PST file can technically increase up to 50GB size in Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. But, it is recommended to reduce the size of individual PSTs to avoid corruption.
2: If your PST file exceeded the recommended size limit then it is better to split the PST file into smaller units to avoid the risks of corruption.
Method 2: Create an Outlook Profile
When the error is caused due to another type of email account configured in Outlook along with the POP Account then this approach is suitable. Follow the steps will help you create a new Outlook profile:
1: Open the Microsoft Outlook.
2: Select Account Settings followed by Manage Profiles.
3: Select the option ‘Show Profiles’ and click on Add button.
4: Type a new name for the Profile in the Profile name box and hit OK.
Now open Microsoft Outlook with the newly create profile and check whether the error has been resolved. However, if the issue is still there then the error is likely due to a corrupt PST file.
Method 3: Repair PST by Using Scanpst.exe
A PST data file in Outlook may get corrupt due to several reasons, and one of the major reasons is an oversized PST file.
1: Firstly, exit Outlook application.
2: Locate Scanpst.exe at these specific locations:
Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office19
Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
3: Once you have located the scan.exe, open the tool. Once you have located the scan.exe, open the tool.
4: Select the Browse button to open the corrupt PST file.
5: Click on the Start button to begin scanning.
6: In case errors are detected, click on Repair to start fixing the errors.
7: Once the file is repaired, relaunch the MS Outlook to verify whether the error is resolved.
This tool will only repair minor corruption issues. If manual techniques can’t fix the error “Can’t move the items. The item could not be moved” caused due to severely damaged Outlook data files. Therefore, automated software is highly recommended to recover corrupted PST with precision and ease.
Advanced Solution to Resolve “Can’t Move the Items Outlook, The item could not be moved”
Here we come up with a professional tool that is being used by most of the IT experts. This Outlook software helps users to repair severely corrupted files. Moreover, utility has ability to recover deleted data. It has the finest tool to restore recovered data in multiple file.
Final Verdict
In this blog, we have explained the reasons for getting “can’t move items, The item could not be moved in Outlook. After that, we have discussed the manual workarounds that may help you to troubleshoot the issue. However, the manual requires more time and skill, without offering upfront surety that the error will be resolve until the efforts have been spent! And then there’s a risk of data loss. Alternatively, the above-mentioned software will help you to overcome this issue or other PST corruption issues.
