Microsoft account.microsoft.com How to delete your Microsoft account
Sign in to the account you want to close, follow Microsoft's close account page, tick each warning, choose a 30 or 60 day reopen window, pick a reason and mark the account for closure. Microsoft deletes your data once the window ends.
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- Delete an account
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Step by step
- 1
Check what the account is connected to
Closing it cuts off Xbox, Skype, OneDrive, Outlook.com and other Microsoft services tied to it. Your email and contacts are deleted and can't be recovered, and you lose any saved BitLocker recovery keys.
- 2
Sign in to the account you want to close
You need to be able to sign in. If you've reset all your sign-in verification details, Microsoft makes you wait 60 days before you can close the account.
- 3
Confirm it's the right account
Follow the steps in Microsoft's How to close your Microsoft account and check the page shows the account you mean.
- 4
Tick each box to acknowledge the warnings
Read the list of consequences and tick every box.
- 5
Choose 30 or 60 days
Pick how long the account stays recoverable. During this window you can reverse the closure.
- 6
Pick a reason and mark the account for closure
Choose a reason from the drop-down, then mark the account for closure.
Watch out for
- Once the 30 or 60 day window ends, Microsoft deletes your data and content.
- To keep the account open, sign in during the window to cancel the closure.
- Microsoft can close accounts left unused: sign in at least once in two years to keep one active.
- Subscriptions, Xbox purchases and anything stored in OneDrive go with the account. Back up what you need first.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Close only your Outlook.com email
Microsoft has a separate article, Close your Outlook.com account, for the email side.
What stays out there
Closing your Microsoft account removes your data from Microsoft once the reopen window passes. Your name, old addresses and phone number can still be listed by people-search sites and data brokers, and email addresses from old breaches stay in circulation.
A Microsoft email address often ties together years of sign-ups, so it's worth checking where else it shows up. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them. See how it works at serus.ai.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to delete a Microsoft account?
You choose a 30 or 60 day reopen window when you close it. After the window passes, Microsoft deletes your data and content.
Can I recover a closed Microsoft account?
Yes, during the reopen window. Sign in to cancel the closure.
What do I lose if I close my Microsoft account?
Access to linked services such as Xbox, Skype and OneDrive, your email and contacts, and any saved BitLocker recovery keys.
Why can't I close my Microsoft account right away?
If you've reset all your sign-in verification details, Microsoft makes you wait 60 days before you can close it.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
