Deleting a Hotmail account removes it from Microsoft's servers

When you delete a Hotmail account, Microsoft closes it permanently after 60 days. During those 60 days, you can still sign back in and cancel the deletion if you change your mind. After 60 days, the account and all its contents — emails, contacts, calendar events, OneDrive files — are gone for good and cannot be recovered.

The deletion process is straightforward, but you need to know what happens to your data and what you should do beforehand. If you use the same Microsoft account for other services like Xbox, Skype, or OneDrive, deleting your Hotmail account will affect those too, since they all run through the same login.

Before you start, take time to back up anything you need to keep. Once the 60-day window closes, there is no way to get your emails or files back.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 60 days after deletion to change your mind and restore your account by signing back in.
  • Deleting your Hotmail account also closes your Microsoft account, which affects Xbox, Skype, OneDrive, and any other Microsoft services tied to that login.
  • read or forward your emails to another account before you delete, because they cannot be recovered after 60 days.
  • If you want to keep using Microsoft services but stop using Hotmail, you can change your email address instead of deleting the whole account.

Back up your emails and files before deletion

The easiest way to save your emails is to forward them to another email account you control. Open Hotmail, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right), select "Forwarding" under Mail, and enter the address where you want your emails sent. Turn on forwarding and choose whether to keep a copy in Hotmail or delete it after forwarding. This way, new emails will go to your new account automatically.

If you have files in OneDrive linked to this account, read them to your computer first. Sign into your OneDrive, select the files you want to keep, and click read. If you have a lot of files, you may need to read them in batches or as a compressed folder.

Check what other services use this Microsoft account. If you use Xbox Live, Skype, or Microsoft 365 (Office), those will be affected too. If you want to keep using those services, you will need to switch them to a different Microsoft account or email address before you delete this one.

The steps to delete your Hotmail account

Go to the Microsoft account security page at account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Hotmail credentials. On the left side, click "Security" and scroll down to find "More security options." Under that section, look for "Close your account."

Click "Close account" and Microsoft will ask you why you are leaving. You do not have to answer, but the feedback helps them. Read the warning about what will happen — your emails, files, and access to Microsoft services will all be removed. Check the two boxes to confirm you understand, then click "Mark account for closure."

Microsoft will send a confirmation email to your Hotmail address. Open that email and click the link to confirm the deletion. Your account is now marked for closure and will be permanently deleted in 60 days.

What happens during the 60-day waiting period

For the next 60 days, your account is closed but not erased. You can still sign in at outlook.com or hotmail.com using your old password. If you do sign in, your account will be restored and the deletion will be cancelled. This gives you time to change your mind if you realize you need something from the account.

During this period, your emails and files are still there, but nobody else can access them. New emails sent to your Hotmail address will bounce back to the sender. If you have automatic forwarding set up, those emails will still go to your backup account.

After 60 days, Microsoft permanently deletes everything. The email address itself may become available for someone else to use, though this can take longer.

Alternatives if you want to keep using Microsoft services

If you only want to stop using Hotmail but keep your Xbox, Skype, or OneDrive account, you do not need to delete your entire Microsoft account. Instead, you can change your sign-in email address to a different one.

Go to account.microsoft.com, click "Your info," and look for "Manage your Microsoft account email." You can add a new email address and set it as your primary sign-in. Once you do that, you can remove the Hotmail address from the account. This way, your Microsoft services stay active under a new email, and you can let the Hotmail address sit unused or delete it separately later.

This option is useful if you have years of Xbox achievements, Skype contacts, or OneDrive files you want to keep. It takes a few minutes and avoids losing access to those services.

What to do if you cannot access your account

If you have forgotten your password or cannot sign in, you will need to recover your account before you can delete it. Go to account.live.com/password/reset and follow the recovery steps. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using a backup email or phone number you set up earlier.

If you no longer have access to your backup email or phone, the recovery process takes longer. Microsoft may ask you security questions or request other proof of identity. Be honest and specific — the more details you provide, the faster they can help.

Once you have regained access, you can proceed with the deletion steps above. If you are locked out and cannot recover the account, you can contact Microsoft Support, but be prepared to wait for a response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else use my Hotmail address after I delete it?

Eventually, yes. Microsoft does not reserve deleted email addresses forever. After some time, the address may become available for someone else to register. This is why you should not use a deleted Hotmail address as a recovery email for other accounts — if someone else takes it, they could use it to reset your passwords.

Will deleting my Hotmail account affect my Microsoft 365 subscription?

If you pay for Microsoft 365 (Office), deleting your account will cancel your subscription and you will lose access to Word, Excel, and other apps. If you want to keep using Office, switch your subscription to a different Microsoft account before you delete this one. You can do this in the Microsoft 365 settings.

What if I delete my account but then need an old email?

If you did not forward your emails or back them up before deletion, you cannot recover them after the 60-day window closes. This is why forwarding to another account before you delete is so important. If you are still within the 60 days, sign back in and your emails will be restored.

Can I delete just the Hotmail inbox without deleting the whole account?

You can delete individual emails or empty your inbox, but you cannot delete just the email part of your Microsoft account. If you want to stop using Hotmail but keep other Microsoft services, change your sign-in email to a different address instead of deleting the account.