What you're actually deleting in Outlook

When you delete an email address from Outlook, you're removing a secondary email account that you've connected to the program — not erasing your main Outlook inbox or deleting individual messages. Outlook lets you add multiple email accounts (from Gmail, Yahoo, your work server, or other providers) so you can read them all in one place. Deleting an address means Outlook stops syncing with that account and stops showing its messages in your inbox list.

Your actual email account still exists on the provider's servers. If you added a Gmail address to Outlook, that Gmail account keeps running normally — Outlook just stops checking it. The messages stay in Gmail. You're only removing the connection between Outlook and that other account.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting an email address from Outlook removes the account connection but does not erase the actual email account or its messages anywhere else.
  • The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook on Windows, or Outlook on Mac.
  • You will need to know your Outlook password to confirm the deletion on the web version.
  • After deletion, you can always add the same email address back to Outlook later if you change your mind.

Deleting an email address from Outlook on the web

Open Outlook.com in your browser and sign in with your main Outlook account. In the top right corner, click the gear icon, then select "View all Outlook settings." Click "Mail" in the left sidebar, then find and click "Accounts" or "Connected accounts" — the exact wording depends on your region.

You will see a list of all email addresses connected to your Outlook account. Find the one you want to remove and click on it. A panel will open showing that account's details. Look for a "Delete" or "Remove account" button, usually near the bottom. Click it. Outlook will ask you to confirm by entering your main Outlook password. Type it in and click "Delete" again. The account is now removed from Outlook.

Deleting an email address from Outlook on Windows

Open the Outlook desktop program on your Windows computer. Click "File" in the top left corner, then select "Account Settings" and click "Account Settings" again from the dropdown menu. A window will open showing all your connected email accounts.

Find the email address you want to remove and click on it once to select it. Click the "Remove" button near the top of the window. Outlook will ask "Are you sure?" Click "Yes" to confirm. The account is now deleted from Outlook on this computer. If you use Outlook on multiple Windows devices, you will need to repeat this step on each one.

Deleting an email address from Outlook on Mac

Open Outlook on your Mac. Click "Outlook" in the top menu bar, then select "Preferences." A new window will open. Click "Accounts" (it looks like an envelope icon). You will see a list of all connected email accounts on the left side.

Click the email address you want to remove to select it. Click the minus sign button (−) at the bottom left of the accounts list. Outlook will ask you to confirm. Click "Remove" or "Delete." The account is now removed from Outlook on your Mac.

What happens to your messages after deletion

Messages from that email address will no longer appear in your Outlook inbox. However, the messages themselves are still stored on the original email provider's servers. If you added a work email to Outlook and then delete it, those work messages stay in your work email account — they just stop showing up in Outlook.

If you later add that same email address back to Outlook, you will see those messages again. Outlook will re-sync with the account and pull in the messages that are still there. Nothing is permanently lost by removing the account from Outlook.

Removing a secondary Outlook address versus a connected account

If the email address you want to delete is a secondary Outlook address — meaning it's an @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, or @live.com address that you created within Outlook itself — the process is different from removing a connected account. You cannot delete these through the account settings menu. Instead, you must go to your Microsoft account page at account.microsoft.com, sign in, and manage your aliases there.

Click "Your info," then "Manage your Microsoft account," then look for "Email & accounts" or "Aliases." You can remove secondary addresses from that page. This is separate from the steps above because secondary Outlook addresses are part of your Microsoft account itself, not external accounts you've connected to Outlook.

If you cannot find the delete button

On Outlook.com, if you do not see a delete option, the account may be your primary account — the one you use to sign into Outlook itself. You cannot delete your primary account from within Outlook. You would need to delete your entire Microsoft account through account.microsoft.com, which is a much larger step and will erase everything associated with that account.

If you want to stop using a primary Outlook account but keep your other accounts, create a new Microsoft account first, add your other email addresses to it, and then delete the old account. This way you keep access to your other email without losing them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting an email address from Outlook delete the account itself?

No. Deleting it from Outlook only removes the connection. The actual email account continues to exist on its provider's servers. Your Gmail, Yahoo, work email, or other accounts keep running normally. You are only stopping Outlook from checking them.

Can I add the same email address back to Outlook later?

Yes. You can add it back anytime by going to account settings and selecting the option to add a new account. You will need to sign in with that account's password again, but all your old messages will reappear once Outlook syncs.

What if I delete an email address by mistake?

Add it back when ready using the same steps you used to add it the first time. Your messages are still on the original provider's servers, so they will return once Outlook reconnects to that account.

Do I need to delete an email address before I can change its password?

No. Changing the password on the original account (like changing your Gmail password) does not require you to delete it from Outlook. However, after you change the password, Outlook may ask you to sign in again with the new password the next time it tries to sync.

If I delete an email address from Outlook on my phone, does it delete from my computer too?

No. Each device has its own Outlook settings. Deleting an account from Outlook on your phone does not affect Outlook on your computer or on the web. You must delete it separately on each device where you use Outlook.