You can delete your Xbox profile without closing your Microsoft account

Your Xbox account and your Microsoft account are separate things, even though they are linked. Deleting your Xbox profile removes your gaming history, achievements, and friends list from Xbox services. Your Microsoft account — the email address and password you use for Outlook, OneDrive, Windows, and other Microsoft services — stays active and unchanged. This separation exists because Microsoft accounts handle far more than gaming.

The process takes about ten minutes and happens through your Xbox settings or the Xbox website. Once deleted, the gamertag becomes available for someone else to use after 30 days. You cannot recover the profile or its data after deletion, so read anything you want to keep first.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting your Xbox profile removes only your gaming data and gamertag, not your Microsoft email account or other Microsoft services.
  • You can delete your Xbox profile through Xbox settings on a console, through the Xbox app on Windows, or through the Xbox website.
  • read your Xbox data before deletion if you want to keep records of achievements, game clips, or screenshots.
  • After deletion, your gamertag becomes available for reuse after 30 days, and you cannot recover the profile or restore its data.
  • If you change your mind within 30 days, you can sign back in with your Microsoft account and the profile will reactivate.

Delete your Xbox profile from a console

On an Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One, or Xbox 360, go to Settings, then Account, then Remove accounts. Select your gamertag from the list. Choose Remove to delete the profile from that console only — this does not delete your Xbox account across all devices. To fully delete your Xbox account, you need to remove it from every console where it is signed in, then complete the deletion through the Xbox website.

If you only want to remove the profile from one console but keep it active on others, stopping here is enough. The profile will still exist on your other devices and online. If you want to delete the account entirely, continue to the website method below after removing it from all consoles.

Delete your Xbox profile through the Xbox app or website

Go to account.xbox.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Select your profile picture in the top right, then choose Account. Under Personal info, select Edit profile. Scroll down and look for the option to delete your profile — the exact wording and location varies slightly depending on your region, but it is always in the account settings area.

Click Delete profile or Delete Xbox profile. Xbox will ask you to confirm and may show a warning about losing your data. Read the warning carefully — once you confirm, the deletion is permanent. Your gamertag will be reserved for 30 days while Xbox processes the deletion, then it becomes available for anyone to claim.

read your Xbox data before you delete

Before you delete, visit account.xbox.com/profile and read your data package. This file contains your achievements, game clips, screenshots, and play history. Xbox gives you a compressed folder that you can save to your computer. This does not prevent deletion — it just gives you a record of what you accomplished.

You can also take screenshots of your profile page, your friends list, or any game clips you want to remember. Some players screenshot their achievement list or their most-played games. This step takes five minutes and costs nothing, but it is the only way to keep any record after deletion.

What happens to your Microsoft account and email

Your Microsoft account remains completely unchanged. You can still use the email address to sign into Outlook, OneDrive, Windows, Office, or any other Microsoft service. Your password stays the same. Your contacts, files, and email history are untouched. Only the Xbox-specific data — your gamertag, friends, achievements, and game library — disappears.

If you want to use Xbox again later, you can sign back in with the same Microsoft account and create a new gamertag. You will start fresh with no achievements or friends, but your email and Microsoft services continue as if nothing happened.

Reactivate your profile within 30 days if you change your mind

For 30 days after deletion, you can sign back into Xbox with your Microsoft account and your profile will reactivate. All your data — achievements, friends, game library, and gamertag — returns exactly as it was. After 30 days, the profile is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

This grace period exists because Xbox understands people sometimes delete accounts by mistake or change their minds. If you think you might want your profile back, do not wait past the 30-day mark. After that, the only way to play Xbox again is to create a brand new profile with a different gamertag.

What to do if you cannot find the delete option

If you are looking at your Xbox profile and do not see a delete button, check that you are signed in as the account owner. You cannot delete someone else's profile. Also check your region — some countries have different privacy laws that change where the delete option appears or whether it is available at all.

If you are still stuck, visit support.xbox.com and search for "delete profile" or "remove account". Xbox support can walk you through the exact steps for your region or help if your account has restrictions that prevent self-service deletion. Have your Microsoft account email address ready when you contact them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting my Xbox account delete my Microsoft account?

No. Your Microsoft account is separate from your Xbox profile. Deleting Xbox removes only your gaming data and gamertag. Your email, password, and access to Outlook, OneDrive, Windows, and other Microsoft services remain unchanged.

Can I keep my gamertag if I delete my Xbox profile?

No. Deleting your profile releases the gamertag. After 30 days, anyone can claim it. If you want to keep the name, create a new profile with a different gamertag instead of deleting.

What happens to my games and Game Pass if I delete my Xbox profile?

Games you own digitally stay tied to your Microsoft account, not your Xbox profile. If you sign in again with the same Microsoft account, you can redownload them. Game Pass subscription also stays with your Microsoft account, so you keep access if you reactivate.

Can I delete my Xbox profile from my phone?

You can view your profile and some settings through the Xbox app on your phone, but you cannot delete your profile from a mobile device. You must use a console, the Xbox app on Windows, or the Xbox website at account.xbox.com.

What if my Xbox profile is linked to a child account?

Child accounts have restrictions on deletion. You may need to sign in as the parent or guardian account to remove it. If you cannot delete it yourself, contact Xbox support with proof that you are the account owner or parent.