You can delete a Microsoft account from Windows 10 in Settings, but the process depends on whether you want to remove it from just this computer or close the account entirely

Removing a Microsoft account from Windows 10 takes about five minutes and happens in Settings. The steps are straightforward: you sign in as an administrator, go to Accounts, select the account you want to remove, and choose the delete option. Windows will ask whether you want to keep or delete the files associated with that account — this choice matters, so read the prompt carefully before confirming.

Deleting the account from your computer does not close your Microsoft account itself. Your email, OneDrive, Outlook calendar, and other Microsoft services stay active. If you want to close the account completely — so nobody can sign in with that email address anywhere — that requires a separate step on Microsoft's account recovery page.

Key Takeaways

  • Removing an account from Windows 10 happens in Settings under Accounts and takes about five minutes.
  • You must be signed in as an administrator to delete another user account from the computer.
  • Windows will ask whether to keep or delete the files on that account; choose carefully because deleted files cannot be recovered.
  • Deleting the account from Windows does not close your Microsoft account — your email and OneDrive stay active unless you close the account separately.
  • To permanently close a Microsoft account, you must visit the Microsoft account recovery page and follow the closure process there.

How to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 10

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left sidebar. On the left, select Other people (or Family & other people depending on your Windows version).

Find the account you want to delete in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Remove button that appears below. Windows will show a dialog asking what you want to do with that account's files. If you want to keep documents, photos, or other files, choose Keep files — Windows will move them to a folder on your desktop. If you want to delete everything associated with that account, choose Delete account and data. Click Delete account and data again to confirm.

The account is now removed from this computer. Any other computers where that person signed in will still have the account unless you remove it from those machines separately.

What happens to files when you delete an account

If you choose Keep files, Windows creates a folder on the desktop named after the deleted account. All documents, photos, downloads, and desktop items from that account go into this folder. You can then move these files to another account or delete them yourself later. This option is useful when someone is leaving a shared computer but you want to preserve their work.

If you choose Delete account and data, everything is removed permanently — documents, photos, downloads, email saved on the computer, and all other files. This cannot be undone. Choose this option only if you are certain the files are not needed or have been backed up elsewhere.

Removing your own account versus removing someone else's

If you want to delete your own account from the computer, you must first create a different administrator account or switch to an existing one. You cannot delete the account you are currently signed into. Sign out, sign in as the other administrator, then follow the steps above to remove your account.

If you are removing someone else's account, you need administrator rights on the computer. If you do not have administrator access, ask whoever does to perform these steps for you.

The difference between removing an account and closing it

Removing an account from Windows 10 only removes it from this one computer. The Microsoft account itself — the email address, OneDrive storage, Outlook calendar, and all Microsoft services tied to that email — remains active. The person can still sign in to Microsoft.com, access their email, or use that account on another computer.

If you want to permanently close the Microsoft account so it cannot be used anywhere, you must visit the Microsoft account recovery page at account.microsoft.com/profile/account-info. Sign in with the account you want to close, scroll down, and select Close your account. Microsoft will ask you to confirm your identity and explain why you are closing the account. After you confirm, the account is scheduled for closure — Microsoft typically completes this within a few weeks, and the email address cannot be used to sign in anywhere after that.

What to do if you forgot the account password

If the account you want to delete is password-protected and you do not know the password, you can still remove it from Windows without the password. In Settings, go to Accounts, select the account, and click Remove — Windows does not require the password to delete an account from the computer.

However, if you want to close the Microsoft account itself (not just remove it from Windows), you will need to reset the password first. Go to account.microsoft.com, click Sign in, then click Can't access your account. Follow the steps to verify your identity and reset the password. Once you have access again, you can close the account from the recovery page.

Removing a Microsoft account from a shared computer

On a shared computer, removing an account is straightforward as long as you have administrator rights. The account is deleted from that computer only — it does not affect the account on other computers or devices the person uses. If the person signs in again on this computer, they will be asked to set up the account from scratch.

Before you delete an account from a shared computer, make sure the person knows and has backed up any files they want to keep. If you choose Keep files, the files will be on the desktop, but they may be overlooked. It is better to ask the person to back up their own files first, then delete the account with the Delete account and data option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo deleting a Microsoft account from Windows 10?

No. Once you delete an account from Windows, it is gone from that computer. However, the person can sign back in with the same email address and password, and Windows will set up the account again. If you chose Delete account and data, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Will deleting my Microsoft account from Windows delete my email?

No. Removing the account from Windows does not affect your email, OneDrive, or any Microsoft services. Your email stays active and you can access it from any web browser or another computer. To close the email account itself, you must close the Microsoft account separately on the account recovery page.

What if I only want to sign out instead of deleting the account?

Signing out is different from deleting. To sign out, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, click Sign out, and the account stays on the computer. The next time someone turns on the computer, they will see the sign-in screen with that account listed. If you want the account to disappear from the sign-in screen entirely, you must delete it.

Do I need the password to delete an account from Windows 10?

No. You do not need the account password to remove it from Windows as long as you are signed in as an administrator. However, if you want to close the Microsoft account itself, you will need the password to sign in at account.microsoft.com.

What happens to OneDrive files when I delete a Microsoft account?

Deleting the account from Windows does not delete OneDrive files. They stay in your OneDrive storage and you can access them by signing in from another computer or from OneDrive.com. If you close the Microsoft account entirely, OneDrive access will be disabled after a grace period, but Microsoft typically keeps the files for a limited time before permanent deletion.