You can delete a Microsoft account, but you need to know what you're losing first

Deleting a Microsoft account closes your access to Outlook email, OneDrive cloud storage, Xbox Live, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and any games or apps you bought through the Microsoft Store. The account itself becomes inactive after 60 days, and after that point Microsoft permanently removes your data. If you use your Microsoft account to sign into Windows, you'll need to create a local account or a different Microsoft account before you delete the one you're using now — otherwise you won't be able to log into your computer.

The deletion process takes place on Microsoft's account management website, not in Windows settings or Outlook. You start the deletion, Microsoft sends a confirmation email, and you have a limited window to confirm before the process completes. Once it's gone, you cannot recover the account or any data associated with it.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a Microsoft account removes access to Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and the Microsoft Store permanently after 60 days.
  • If you use the account to sign into Windows, create a local account or switch to a different Microsoft account before deletion, or you'll be locked out of your computer.
  • The deletion starts on account.microsoft.com and requires you to confirm via email within a set timeframe.
  • You can read your data (emails, files, photos) before deletion if you want to keep copies of anything stored in that account.

Back up your data before you start

Microsoft gives you the option to read everything associated with your account before deletion — your Outlook emails, OneDrive files, photos, calendar events, and contacts. This takes place through the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard, a separate tool from the deletion process itself.

Go to account.microsoft.com/privacy, sign in with the account you're about to delete, and look for "read your data." You can choose what to read: emails, files, photos, or everything. Microsoft packages it as a ZIP file and emails you a link. The link stays active for 30 days. If you don't read anything, all of it disappears 60 days after you start the deletion process.

Switch away from the account if you use it to sign into Windows

If your Microsoft account is the one you use to log into Windows, you must create a different way to sign in before you delete it. Windows will not let you delete the account you're currently logged in with, and if you somehow did, you'd be unable to access your computer afterward.

You have two options: create a local account (a username and password stored only on your computer, not connected to Microsoft) or switch to a different Microsoft account. To create a local account, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people, click "Add account," and choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information," then "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Give it a username and password. Once that account exists and has administrator rights, sign out of your current Microsoft account, sign into the local account, and then proceed with deletion.

Start the deletion on the account management website

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the account you want to delete. Click your name or profile picture in the top right, then select "View account settings." On the left side, look for "Account info" and click it. Scroll down to find "Delete account or data" and click "Delete account."

Microsoft will ask why you're deleting it (the answer doesn't affect whether deletion happens) and will show you a list of what will be removed: Outlook email, OneDrive files, Xbox profile, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and anything in the Microsoft Store. Read through this list carefully. If you're certain, click "Mark account for deletion."

Confirm the deletion through your recovery email

After you mark the account for deletion, Microsoft sends a confirmation email to the recovery email address on file for that account. Open that email and click the confirmation link. You usually have a few days to confirm, though the exact window can vary.

Once you click the link, the deletion process officially starts. Your account becomes inactive when ready, but Microsoft doesn't permanently erase the data for 60 days. During those 60 days, you can sign back in and cancel the deletion if you change your mind. After 60 days, everything is gone and cannot be recovered.

What happens to services tied to your Microsoft account

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription (Office, Word, Excel, OneDrive storage), deletion cancels the subscription and you lose access to those programs. If you have an Xbox Live account linked to your Microsoft account, that Xbox profile becomes inaccessible. Any games or apps you bought through the Microsoft Store cannot be reinstalled on that account, though if you own them on another device, you may still be able to use them there depending on the app's licensing terms.

Outlook email addresses associated with the account cannot be recovered or reassigned to someone else. If you use that email address for password resets on other websites or services, you'll need to update those accounts with a different email address before deletion, or you may lose access to them.

If you want to keep the email address but close everything else

If you only want to stop using Outlook or OneDrive but want to keep the email address for recovery purposes on other accounts, you don't need to delete the whole Microsoft account. Instead, you can change your password to something you won't remember, remove payment methods, and straightforward stop using it. The account will sit inactive but won't be deleted.

Alternatively, you can create a new Microsoft account with a different email address and migrate your important data there, then delete the old account once everything is moved. This takes more time but gives you a clean break without losing access to services you might still need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel the deletion after I've started it?

Yes, for 60 days after you confirm the deletion email. Sign back into the account and look for an option to cancel the deletion. After 60 days, the account and all associated data are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.

What happens to my Outlook email address after deletion?

The email address is deactivated and cannot be used to sign into Microsoft services. Microsoft does not reassign deleted email addresses to new users, so the address remains inactive indefinitely.

Will deleting my Microsoft account delete my Windows files?

No. Deleting your Microsoft account only removes your access to Microsoft online services like Outlook and OneDrive. Your local files on your computer stay where they are, as long as you've switched to a different sign-in method (local account or different Microsoft account) before deletion.

Can I delete a Microsoft account if someone else uses it?

Only the account owner can delete it. You need to sign in with the account's password and confirm deletion through the recovery email address. If you've forgotten the password, you'll need to reset it first using the account recovery process.

What if I need my OneDrive files after deletion?

read them before you start the deletion process using the Microsoft Privacy Dashboard. After deletion begins, you have 60 days to recover the account and access the files. After 60 days, OneDrive files are permanently deleted.