Deleting an Outlook account removes your email, calendar, and contacts

When you delete an Outlook account, Microsoft removes your email address, all messages, your calendar, contacts, and any files stored in OneDrive connected to that account. The deletion is permanent — you cannot recover the account or its contents after 60 days. If you use your Outlook email to sign into other services (banking apps, social media, shopping sites), you will lose access to those accounts unless you change their recovery email first.

Microsoft gives you a 60-day window to change your mind. During those 60 days, you can contact Microsoft support to restore the account. After 60 days, the account and everything in it is gone for good. This is different from deactivating, which temporarily hides your account but keeps your data — deletion is the permanent option.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting your Outlook account is permanent after 60 days, so back up any emails or files you want to keep before you start.
  • Change the recovery email on any other accounts that use your Outlook address before you delete, or you will lose access to them.
  • You will need to sign in with your Microsoft password during the deletion process, and Microsoft may ask security questions to confirm your identity.
  • The deletion takes effect when ready, but you have 60 days to contact support and reverse it if you change your mind.

Back up your email and files before you delete

Before you start the deletion process, read any emails or attachments you want to keep. Open Outlook on the web, select the messages you need, and use the read option to save them to your computer. For files stored in OneDrive (the cloud storage linked to your Microsoft account), sign into OneDrive.com, select the files, and read them to your computer.

If you have a large amount of email, consider exporting your mailbox using Outlook desktop software or a third-party tool. This takes longer but captures everything in one file. Write down any important information from your calendar or contacts — phone numbers, addresses, meeting details — that you do not have elsewhere.

Change the recovery email on accounts that use your Outlook address

Before you delete, go through any services that use your Outlook email as the login or recovery email: banking apps, email subscriptions, social media accounts, shopping sites, work systems. For each one, sign in and change the recovery email to a different address you control (a Gmail account, Yahoo account, or another email provider). This step takes time but prevents you from being locked out of those accounts.

If you cannot remember which services use your Outlook email, search your email inbox for password reset links or account confirmation messages from those services. Look for emails from banks, retailers, and apps you use regularly. Make a list and update each one before you proceed with deletion.

Delete your account through the Microsoft account settings page

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Outlook email and password. Click on "Your info" in the left menu, then scroll down and select "Delete account." Microsoft will ask you to confirm your password again and may ask security questions to verify you own the account.

Read through the information about what will be deleted — your email, calendar, contacts, OneDrive files, and any Microsoft subscriptions tied to the account. If you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription (paid Office software), you will lose access to it. Check the boxes to confirm you understand what is happening, then click "Delete account."

What happens during the 60-day recovery window

After you delete your account, you have 60 days to change your mind. During this time, your email address is locked — no one else can create a new Outlook account with that address. If you decide you want your account back, contact Microsoft support through the account.microsoft.com help page and explain that you want to restore your deleted account. Have your password ready and be prepared to answer security questions.

After 60 days pass, Microsoft permanently removes all your data from their servers. The email address becomes available for someone else to use. You cannot recover anything after this point, so if you think you might want your account back, reach out to support before the 60 days are up.

If you only want to stop using Outlook without deleting everything

Deletion is permanent and removes all your data. If you want to keep your email and files but just stop using Outlook, you have other options. You can change your password to something you do not know, stop checking the account, or set up an auto-reply saying you no longer use that address. You can also switch to a different email provider and update your important contacts to use your new address instead.

Another option is to keep the account but remove it from your phone or desktop email client. This way you still own the account and can access it if you need to, but you are not actively using it. This approach gives you flexibility if you change your mind later without the permanent consequences of deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else use my Outlook email address after I delete my account?

Not when ready. For 60 days after deletion, your email address is locked and unavailable. After 60 days, Microsoft releases the address and someone else can create a new account with it. If you want to prevent this, you can keep the account but stop using it instead of deleting it.

Will deleting my Outlook account delete my Microsoft 365 subscription?

Yes. If you pay for Microsoft 365 (Office software, extra OneDrive storage, or other services), deleting your account cancels the subscription and you lose access when ready. If you want to keep using Office, do not delete the account. You can cancel the subscription separately and keep the free account instead.

What if I forgot my password and cannot sign in to delete my account?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account." Follow the steps to verify your identity using a recovery email, phone number, or security questions. Once you regain access, you can proceed with deletion. If you cannot verify your identity, contact Microsoft support for help.

Does deleting my Outlook account delete my Xbox, Skype, or other Microsoft services?

Yes. Your Outlook account is your Microsoft account, which is the login for all Microsoft services. Deleting it removes access to Xbox, Skype, OneDrive, and any other service linked to that account. If you use any of these services, you will lose access to them.

Can I delete my account if someone else has access to it?

You can delete it if you know your password and can answer security questions. If someone else has taken over your account and changed your password, use the "Can't access your account" option to regain control first, then delete it. If you cannot regain access, contact Microsoft support and report the account as compromised.