You can delete a Microsoft account from Windows 10 in about five minutes, but the steps depend on whether it is your only account or one of several

Deleting a Microsoft account from Windows 10 means removing the account and its associated data from your computer. The process is straightforward if you have another account to log into, but if the Microsoft account is the only one on your machine, Windows requires you to create a local account first. Either way, you will use the Settings app, and the whole process takes less than ten minutes.

The account itself — your email, OneDrive files, and Microsoft services — is not deleted from Microsoft's servers. You are only removing it from this particular computer. If you want to close the Microsoft account entirely across all services, that is a separate step done through your Microsoft account online.

Key Takeaways

  • If you have more than one account on your computer, you can delete the Microsoft account directly through Settings without creating anything new.
  • If the Microsoft account is your only account, you must create a local account first, then delete the Microsoft account, or Windows will not let you proceed.
  • Deleting the account from your computer does not close your Microsoft account or delete your email — it only removes access from this device.
  • Windows will ask you to back up your files before deletion; do this if you have documents, photos, or other data in that account's user folder.

How to delete a Microsoft account when you have another account on the computer

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then click the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Other people (or Family & other people depending on your Windows 10 version).

Find the Microsoft account you want to remove in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Remove button that appears below. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Delete account and data. The account is now gone from your computer.

How to delete a Microsoft account when it is your only account

If the Microsoft account is the only one on your computer, you cannot delete it without creating a local account first. Windows will not let you remove the last account on the machine.

Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other people. Click Add someone else to this PC. Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give the account a name and a password (or leave the password blank if you prefer). Click Next, then Finish.

Log out of your Microsoft account and log into the new local account. Once you are logged in as the local account, go back to Settings, then Accounts > Other people. Click the Microsoft account, then click Remove. Confirm the deletion.

What happens to your files when you delete the account

When you delete a Microsoft account from Windows 10, the system asks whether you want to keep or delete the files in that account's user folder (usually C:\Users\[account name]). If you choose to keep the files, they stay on your hard drive but are no longer tied to any account — you may need administrator permission to access them later.

If you choose to delete the files, everything in that user folder is removed: documents, downloads, desktop items, photos stored locally, and browser history. OneDrive files are not affected because they live on Microsoft's servers, not on your computer. Before you confirm deletion, make sure you have backed up anything you want to keep.

The difference between removing an account from your computer and closing it entirely

Removing a Microsoft account from Windows 10 only affects this one computer. Your Microsoft account still exists, your email still works, and you can still log into other devices or websites with that email and password.

If you want to close the Microsoft account completely — so the email address no longer works and you lose access to OneDrive, Outlook, and other Microsoft services — you need to do that separately through the Microsoft account website. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for the option to close your account. That is a different process and cannot be undone.

What to do if you forget the password for the account you are deleting

If you have another account on the computer with administrator rights, you can delete the Microsoft account without knowing its password. Just follow the steps above — Windows does not ask for the password when you delete from Settings.

If the Microsoft account is your only account and you do not know the password, you cannot create a local account to replace it because Windows will ask you to sign in first. In this case, you will need to reset the Microsoft account password using another device or computer. Go to account.live.com, click Can't access your account, and follow the recovery steps. Once the password is reset, you can sign back into Windows and proceed with deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the account from Windows delete my Microsoft email?

No. Removing the account from your computer does not affect your email or any Microsoft services. Your email address, OneDrive, and Outlook will continue to work on other devices and in web browsers. To close the email account entirely, you must do that through the Microsoft account website separately.

Can I delete a Microsoft account if I do not know the password?

Yes, if you have another account on the computer with administrator rights. Windows does not ask for the password when you delete from Settings. If the Microsoft account is your only account, you will need to reset the password first using another device, then create a local account before you can delete it.

What happens to my OneDrive files if I delete the account?

OneDrive files stay on Microsoft's servers and are not deleted. You can still access them by signing into OneDrive.com with your Microsoft email and password on any other device. Files stored only on your computer in the user folder may be deleted depending on which option you choose during the removal process.

Do I need to uninstall anything before deleting the account?

No. You do not need to uninstall programs or disconnect services before removing the account from Windows. Programs installed under that account will remain on your computer and can be used by other accounts on the machine.

Can I undo a deleted account?

Once you confirm deletion, the account is removed from your computer and cannot be undone. However, you can add the same Microsoft account back to the computer at any time by going to Settings > Accounts > Other people and signing in with that email and password.