Removing an email account from your iPhone
To delete a mail account from your iPhone, open Settings, tap Mail, then Accounts, select the account you want to remove, and tap Delete Account at the bottom of the screen. The account disappears from your Mail app when ready, though the account itself still exists with your email provider — you are only removing it from this device.
This process takes about one minute and does not affect your email on other devices or computers. If you sign back in later, all your old messages will reappear. Deleting an account from your iPhone is useful when you no longer check that email on your phone, when you are selling or giving away the device, or when you want to clean up a cluttered inbox list.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a mail account from your iPhone removes it only from that device, not from your email provider's servers or from other devices you own.
- The fastest route is Settings > Mail > Accounts > select account > Delete Account, which takes about one minute.
- You can delete multiple accounts one at a time using the same steps, and you can add any account back later by signing in again.
- If you delete an account by mistake, you can restore it when ready by going back to Mail > Accounts and signing in with your email and password.
- Deleting an account does not delete your emails from the provider's servers, so your messages remain safe if you sign back in on another device.
Step-by-step: removing an account
Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen — it is the gray icon with gears. Scroll down and tap Mail. You will see a list of options including Accounts, Mailboxes, and Threading.
Tap Accounts. You will see every email account currently set up on your iPhone. Find the one you want to remove and tap it once. The account details page opens, showing your email address and the mail server information.
Scroll to the very bottom of this page. You will see a red button labeled Delete Account. Tap it. A confirmation message appears asking "Delete account?" with two options: Cancel and Delete. Tap Delete to confirm. The account is now removed from your iPhone.
What happens to your emails after deletion
When you delete an account from your iPhone, the emails you downloaded to that device are removed from the Mail app. However, your actual emails remain on your email provider's servers — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or whoever hosts your account. Nothing is permanently lost.
If you sign back into that account on your iPhone later, all your old messages will read again and appear in your Mail app. The same is true if you check your email on a computer, tablet, or the web — your messages are still there. Deleting an account from your iPhone is purely a removal from that one device.
Deleting multiple accounts at once
If you have several accounts cluttering your Mail app, you can delete them one by one using the same steps. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap each account you want to remove, scroll to the bottom, and tap Delete Account. There is no way to delete multiple accounts in a single action, but the process is quick for each one.
A common reason to do this is before selling or giving away your iPhone. Removing all your email accounts ensures the new owner cannot access your messages. However, you should also sign out of iCloud and erase the device completely using Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to fully protect your privacy.
How to add an account back if you delete it by mistake
If you delete an account and when ready realize you made a mistake, you can restore it right away. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts and look for an Add Account button at the bottom. Tap it, select your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Other), and sign in with your email address and password. Your account reappears with all your messages intact.
This works because your emails are still on your provider's servers. You are straightforward reconnecting your iPhone to them. The process takes a few minutes because your iPhone needs to read your message list again, but nothing is lost.
Removing accounts from other Apple devices
If you use Mail on an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, each device stores its own copy of your accounts. Deleting an account from your iPhone does not remove it from these other devices. You need to delete it separately on each one using the same steps adapted for that device.
On a Mac, open System Settings, click Mail, then Accounts, select the account, and click the minus button. On an iPad, use Settings > Mail > Accounts > select account > Delete Account, just like the iPhone. This separation means you can keep an account on your Mac for work email while removing it from your iPhone to reduce distractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting an email account from my iPhone delete the account itself?
No. Deleting an account from your iPhone only removes it from that device. Your account still exists with your email provider, and you can sign back in anytime on any device. Your emails remain on the provider's servers.
Will my emails be deleted if I remove the account from my iPhone?
Your emails on the provider's servers will not be deleted. However, any emails you downloaded to your iPhone will be removed from the Mail app. If you sign back in later, those messages will read again and reappear.
Can I delete an account without knowing the password?
Yes. You can delete an account from your iPhone without the password — you only need the password to add it back. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the account, scroll down, and tap Delete Account. The account is removed when ready.
What if I delete an account and then want to use it again on my iPhone?
Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap Add Account, select your email provider, and sign in with your email and password. Your account reappears with all your messages. This takes a few minutes while your iPhone downloads your message list again.
Does deleting an account from my iPhone affect my email on my computer?
No. Each device manages its own accounts separately. Deleting an account from your iPhone does not affect your Mac, iPad, or any other device. You would need to delete it separately on each device if you want to remove it everywhere.