Microsoft Outlook outlook.com How to delete your Outlook account
Outlook.com has no separate delete button. You close the Microsoft account behind it: sign in, confirm the account, tick the checklist, pick a 30 or 60 day reopen window, choose a reason and select Mark account for closure.
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Step by step
- 1
Make sure you can sign in
Microsoft says you need to be able to sign in to close the account. If you can't, use Microsoft's Sign-in helper first. If you forgot your account info and had to reset your security info, you have to wait 60 days before you can close the account.
- 2
Save what you need
Closing the account ends access to Outlook.com and other Microsoft consumer services tied to it, including OneDrive, Skype and Windows sign-in. Back up emails, files and anything else you want to keep first.
- 3
Sort out subscriptions and credit
Cancel active subscriptions before you close. For Skype, Microsoft says auto-recharge keeps charging you until the account is permanently closed if you don't cancel it first. Use up any Skype Credit too.
- 4
Open the account closure page
Follow Microsoft's article How to close your Microsoft account to reach the closure page and sign in with the account you want to close.
- 5
Check the account and click Next
Make sure the page shows the correct Microsoft account, then click Next.
- 6
Tick the checklist
Read the list of things that stop working and tick the checkbox next to each item to confirm you've read it.
- 7
Choose the reopen window
Pick whether the account can be reopened for 30 days or 60 days. During that window the account is only marked for closure.
- 8
Pick a reason and confirm
Choose an explanation in the Select a reason drop-down list, then click Mark account for closure. Once the window passes, Microsoft deletes your data and content.
Watch out for
- Deleting Outlook means closing the whole Microsoft account. You also lose Outlook.com email, OneDrive, Skype and Windows sign-in on that account.
- The account isn't gone straight away. It's marked for closure and stays recoverable for the 30 or 60 days you pick.
- If you reset your security info after forgetting your account details, you must wait 60 days before closing.
- Cancelling is on you. Active subscriptions and Skype auto-recharge aren't cleared just because you start closing the account.
- Menus and wording change. If a screen doesn't match, follow the current version of Microsoft's article.
What stays out there
Closing your Microsoft account stops Microsoft from holding your account data once the waiting period ends. It doesn't touch copies elsewhere. An Outlook address that you used to sign up for shops, forums and newsletters can already sit in marketing lists, and in data broker and people-search profiles that tie your email to your name and address.
To see how that works and clear it yourself, read our guide to removing your information from data brokers. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them, but it doesn't close accounts or change settings for you.
Frequently asked
Can I delete only my Outlook email and keep my Microsoft account?
Microsoft's closing steps apply to the whole Microsoft account. Closing it ends access to Outlook.com and other Microsoft consumer services tied to that account.
How long does it take to delete a Microsoft account?
You choose a reopen window of 30 or 60 days when you mark the account for closure. After that window, Microsoft deletes your data and content.
What if I can't sign in to my Outlook account?
Microsoft says you need to be able to sign in to close the account. If you can't, start with its Sign-in helper.
Will deleting my account stop charges?
Not by itself. Cancel active subscriptions first. For Skype, Microsoft says auto-recharge can keep charging you until the account is permanently closed.
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.
