What happens when you delete an Outlook email account

Deleting an Outlook email account removes it from your device or web browser, but does not erase the account itself from Microsoft's servers. When you delete the account from Outlook, you lose access to that email on that particular device — but the account still exists, and you can add it back later if you change your mind. If you want to permanently close the account so nobody can use it, you need to take a separate step through Microsoft's account settings.

Most people who say they want to "delete" their Outlook account actually want one of two things: either they want to stop seeing it in Outlook (removing it from the app), or they want to shut it down completely so it no longer works. This guide covers both, starting with the simpler removal process.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing an Outlook account from your device or browser does not close the account — it only hides it from that app, and you can add it back anytime.
  • To remove Outlook from Windows, go to Settings, select Accounts, choose Email & Accounts, find the account, and click Remove.
  • To remove Outlook from a web browser, sign out and delete the account from your browser's saved passwords, or use a private browsing window.
  • To permanently close an Outlook account so it cannot be used anywhere, you must go to the Microsoft account security page and close the account there.
  • Closing an Outlook account is permanent after 60 days — Microsoft gives you a grace period to reopen it if you change your mind.

Remove Outlook from Windows 10 or 11

If you use Outlook on a Windows computer and want to stop seeing a particular email account there, you can remove it without affecting the account itself. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Accounts on the left side, then select Email & Accounts.

Find the Outlook account you want to remove in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Remove button. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Remove again. The account disappears from Outlook on that computer, but the account still exists at Outlook.com, and you can add it back to any device whenever you want.

Remove Outlook from the web browser

If you use Outlook through a web browser at Outlook.com, you cannot "remove" it the way you can on Windows — you can only sign out. Go to Outlook.com, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Sign out. You are now logged out, but the account still exists.

If you want to make sure the account does not automatically log back in, you should also delete it from your browser's saved passwords. In Chrome, click the three-line menu, go to Settings, select Autofill and Passwords, then Passwords. Find the Outlook entry, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. In Edge, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, select Passwords, find Outlook, click the three dots, and select Delete. In Firefox, click the menu button, go to Settings, select Privacy & Security, scroll to Logins and Passwords, click Saved Logins, find Outlook, and click Remove.

Permanently close your Outlook account

If you want to shut down the Outlook account completely so it cannot be used anywhere, you need to close it through Microsoft's account settings. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Outlook email address you want to close. Click Security on the left side, then scroll down and look for Advanced Security Options. Click it, then select Close Your Account.

Microsoft will ask you why you are closing the account — you can select any reason or skip this. Read the warning carefully: closing the account means you lose access to all Microsoft services tied to that email, including OneDrive, Skype, and any Xbox or Game Pass accounts. If you have important files in OneDrive, read them first. If you use this email for two-factor authentication on other websites, change those settings before you close the account.

Click Next, then enter your password to confirm. Microsoft will send a confirmation email to a backup email address on file (if you have one). Click the link in that email to complete the closure. The account is now in a 60-day grace period — if you change your mind, you can reopen it by signing in again within 60 days. After 60 days, the account is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

What to do before you close the account

Before you permanently close an Outlook account, take these steps to avoid losing access to important things. First, read any files stored in OneDrive — sign in to OneDrive.com, select the files you need, click the read button, and save them to your computer. Second, if you use this email address to sign into other websites or apps, change those passwords and update the email address on file to a different email you still use.

Third, check whether any subscriptions are tied to this account — Microsoft 365, Game Pass, or any paid services. You will lose access to these when the account closes. If you want to keep a subscription, contact the service to transfer it to a different email address first. Fourth, if anyone sends you important emails, ask them to resend them to a different email address, or forward important messages to another account before closing.

Reopen a closed Outlook account within 60 days

If you close your Outlook account and then change your mind, you have 60 days to reopen it. Go to Outlook.com and try to sign in with the email address and password you used before. Microsoft will show you a message saying the account is closed and offer you the option to reopen it. Click Reopen, and the account is active again with all your emails and files restored.

After 60 days, the account is gone permanently — you cannot reopen it, and nobody else can create an account with that same email address. If you think you might want the account back, do not close it. Instead, just remove it from your devices and browsers, which keeps the account alive in case you need it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I remove Outlook from my computer, will my emails be deleted?

No. Removing the account from your computer only hides it from that device. Your emails stay on Microsoft's servers, and you can add the account back to any device and see all your messages again. The emails are not deleted unless you permanently close the entire account.

Can I delete just one email from Outlook without deleting the whole account?

Yes. Open the email, click the trash or delete button, and it moves to your Deleted Items folder. After 30 days, Outlook automatically empties the Deleted Items folder. If you want to delete an email permanently right away, go to Deleted Items, find the email, and click Delete again.

What if I forget my password and cannot close the account?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account?" at the bottom of the sign-in page. Follow the steps to verify your identity — you can use a backup email, phone number, or security questions. Once you regain access, you can close the account normally.

Will closing my Outlook account affect my Gmail or other email accounts?

No. Closing an Outlook account only affects that specific email address and any Microsoft services tied to it. Your other email accounts remain completely separate and unaffected.

Can someone else use my email address after I close the account?

Not when ready. For at least 90 days after you close the account, nobody can create a new account with that email address. After that period, Microsoft may allow someone else to use it, but this is not may provide.