What happens when you delete an Xbox profile

Deleting an Xbox profile removes your account from that console, but it does not close your Microsoft account or remove your profile from Xbox's servers. When you delete a profile from a console, you lose access to your games, achievements, and saved data on that specific device. If you want to permanently close your Xbox account across all devices and services, you need to close your Microsoft account instead — a separate process that takes longer and affects everything tied to that email address.

Most people delete a profile because they are selling a console, sharing it with someone else, or cleaning up old accounts they no longer use. If you are just stepping away from gaming temporarily, you do not need to delete anything — you can straightforward stop using the profile. If you want to come back later, your profile and games will still be there.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a profile from your console removes it from that device only and does not affect your Microsoft account or your profile on other Xbox devices.
  • Your games, achievements, and saved data tied to that profile will no longer be accessible on that console after deletion.
  • The deletion process takes about two minutes and requires you to be signed in as the profile owner or as an administrator on the console.
  • If you want to permanently close your Xbox account everywhere, you must close your Microsoft account through the Microsoft account website, not through the Xbox console.

Delete a profile from your Xbox console

Start by turning on your Xbox and going to the home screen. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide menu on the left side of the screen. Scroll down and select Settings, then choose Account.

Select Remove accounts. You will see a list of all profiles on that console. Find the profile you want to delete and select it. The console will ask you to confirm that you want to remove the profile — select Yes to proceed. The profile and all its local data will be deleted from that console within a few seconds.

If you are removing someone else's profile and the console asks for a password, you will need the administrator password for that console. This is the password set when the console was first set up, not the profile's Xbox password.

Delete a profile from an Xbox One or Series X/S

The steps are nearly identical on newer consoles. Press the Xbox button, go to Settings, then Account. Select Remove accounts, choose the profile, and confirm deletion. The profile disappears when ready.

On Series X and Series S consoles, you may see an option to Keep games and data before deletion. If you select this, the console will keep the game files and saved data even though the profile is gone. This is useful if you plan to reinstall the profile later or if another profile on the console wants to use those games. If you select Remove everything, the profile and all its associated data are deleted.

Delete a profile from an older Xbox 360

On an Xbox 360, the process is slightly different. Go to Settings, then System Settings. Select Storage or Memory, then Profiles. Find the profile you want to remove and select it. Choose Delete, and the console will ask you to confirm. Select Yes.

The Xbox 360 will delete the profile from that console only. If the profile was connected to a Microsoft account, you can still sign in with that account on another console or on the Xbox website.

Permanently close your Xbox account

If you want to close your Xbox account completely — not just delete it from one console — you need to close your Microsoft account. This is a permanent action that affects everything connected to that email address, including Outlook, OneDrive, Office subscriptions, and any other Microsoft services you use.

Go to the Microsoft account website and sign in with the email address and password for the account you want to close. Select Security in the left menu, then scroll down to find Advanced security options. Look for the option to close your account. Microsoft will ask you to confirm your identity and will give you a important date to read your data if you want to keep it. After that important date, your account and all associated data are permanently deleted.

Before you close your Microsoft account, read any photos, documents, or other files you want to keep. You will not be able to recover them after the account is closed.

What to do before you delete a profile

If the profile has games you paid for, check whether you want to keep playing them. Once the profile is deleted from the console, you cannot access those games unless you reinstall the profile later. If another profile on the same console wants to play those games, you may be able to set the console as your Home Xbox first — this lets other profiles on that console play your games even after your profile is deleted.

To set your console as your Home Xbox, sign in with the profile that owns the games. Go to Settings, then General, then Personalization, and select My home Xbox. Choose Make this my home Xbox. Now other profiles on that console can play the games you own.

If you are selling or giving away the console, delete all profiles except one, and make sure you remove your Microsoft account from the console entirely. Go to Settings, Account, and Remove accounts to delete your profile, then sign out of any other services like Netflix or Spotify that are tied to your account.

Recover a deleted profile

If you deleted a profile by mistake, you can recover it within a short window. The deleted profile is not gone when ready — it stays on Xbox's servers for a limited time. Sign in with the profile you want to recover on the same console or on another Xbox console. The console will recognize the profile and ask if you want to restore it. Select Yes, and your profile, achievements, and saved data will come back.

This recovery window is not permanent, so do not wait too long. If you cannot recover the profile through the console, you can contact Xbox Support through the Xbox website and explain what happened. They can sometimes restore a profile if enough time has not passed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting my profile delete my games?

Deleting a profile from a console removes that profile's access to its games on that device. The game files stay on the console's hard drive, but only the deleted profile cannot play them. Other profiles on the same console can still play the games if the console is set as your Home Xbox. If you delete the profile and no other profile has access, the games become unplayable on that console.

Can I delete my profile if I have pending achievements or unsaved progress?

Yes, you can delete a profile at any time. Any unsaved progress will be lost, and achievements will no longer be tied to that profile. If you want to keep your achievements, do not delete the profile — just stop using it. Your achievements are permanent once they are recorded.

What is the difference between deleting a profile and closing my Microsoft account?

Deleting a profile removes it from one console only. Closing your Microsoft account permanently shuts down your entire account across all services, including Xbox, Outlook, OneDrive, and anything else tied to that email. Closing your account is irreversible after a certain period, so only do this if you are certain you will not need the account again.

If I delete my profile, can I create a new one with the same email address?

Yes. Deleting a profile from a console does not close your Microsoft account, so you can sign in with the same email address on any Xbox console at any time. Your profile, games, and achievements will be there waiting for you.

Do I need to delete my profile before selling my Xbox?

Yes, you should delete your profile and sign out of all services before selling or giving away your console. This prevents the new owner from accessing your games, saved data, or personal information. You should also remove the console as your Home Xbox if you set it that way, so the new owner's games do not depend on your account.