The fastest way to log out depends on which version of Outlook you use
If you use Outlook on the web (the version you access through a browser), look for your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the screen, click it, and select "Sign out". If you use the Outlook desktop process on Windows or Mac, go to the File menu, select "Account Settings", then "Account Settings" again, find your email address, and click "Remove". On a phone or tablet, open the Settings app on your device, find the Outlook or Mail app, and remove the account — this logs you out without deleting your emails.
The reason these steps matter: logging out is different from just closing the app. Closing Outlook leaves you signed in, which means anyone with access to your computer or phone can read your emails, send messages from your account, or change your password. A proper logout removes that access until you sign back in with your password.
Key Takeaways
- On Outlook web, click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Sign out".
- On the Outlook desktop app for Windows or Mac, use File > Account Settings > Remove to log out completely.
- On phones and tablets, remove the account through your device's Settings app, not through Outlook itself.
- Closing the Outlook app does not log you out — you must follow these steps to actually sign out.
- Logging out is especially important on shared computers, work devices, or public wifi networks.
Logging out of Outlook on the web
Open Outlook in your web browser and look at the top right corner of the screen. You will see either a circular profile picture or a circle with your initials inside it. Click on it once.
A small menu will appear with a few options. Look for the word "Sign out" near the bottom of that menu and click it. Your browser will return to the Outlook login page, and your session will end. If you close the browser tab without clicking "Sign out", you will remain logged in — the next person to open that browser will see your inbox.
Logging out of the Outlook desktop process on Windows
Open Outlook and look at the top left of the window. Click on "File" in the menu bar. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.
Select "Account Settings" from that menu, then select "Account Settings" again from the submenu that appears. A window will open showing all the email accounts connected to Outlook on your computer. Find the email address you want to log out from, click on it once to select it, then click the "Remove" button. Outlook will ask you to confirm — click "Yes". The account is now removed from Outlook, and you are logged out.
Logging out of the Outlook desktop process on Mac
Open Outlook and click on "Outlook" in the menu bar at the very top of your screen. From the dropdown menu, select "Preferences".
In the Preferences window, look for "Accounts" on the left side and click it. You will see a list of email accounts. Click on the account you want to remove, then look for a minus sign (−) button at the bottom of the account list and click it. Outlook will ask you to confirm the removal. Click "Remove" to log out of that account.
Logging out on your phone or tablet
The Outlook app on phones and tablets does not have a built-in logout button. Instead, you remove the account through your device's settings. This logs you out and removes the account from the Outlook app.
On an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app (not Outlook), scroll down and tap "Mail", then tap "Accounts", find Outlook or the email address you want to remove, tap it, and select "Delete Account". On an Android phone, open Settings, go to "Accounts" or "Users & Accounts", find the Outlook or email account, tap it, and select "Remove Account". Your phone will ask you to confirm — tap "Remove" or "Delete". The account is now logged out and removed from your device.
Why logging out matters on shared or public devices
If you use Outlook on a computer or device that other people also use — a family computer, a work computer you share, or a public computer at a library — logging out is a security step, not just a convenience. When you close Outlook without logging out, your email account stays open. The next person to use that device can read your emails, send messages pretending to be you, or change your password and lock you out of your own account.
On public wifi networks, the risk is different but real. If you close Outlook without logging out while using wifi at a coffee shop or airport, someone on that same network could potentially intercept your session and gain access to your account. Logging out closes that door.
What happens after you log out
After you log out, Outlook will no longer show your emails, calendar, or contacts on that device. Your emails remain on Microsoft's servers — logging out does not delete them. The next time you open Outlook on that device, you will see the login screen and will need to enter your email address and password to sign back in.
If you have multiple email accounts in Outlook and you remove only one, the others will remain logged in. You can remove them one at a time using the same steps, or leave them in place if you use them regularly on that device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does logging out delete my emails?
No. Your emails stay on Microsoft's servers. Logging out only removes access from that device. When you log back in from any device, your emails will be there.
What if I forget to log out on a shared computer?
You can log out remotely. Sign into your Outlook account from another device, go to Settings, find "Security", and look for "Active sessions" or "Where you're signed in". You can end the session on the shared computer from there, which logs you out without needing physical access to that device.
Is logging out the same as uninstalling the Outlook app?
No. Uninstalling removes the app from your device entirely. Logging out removes your account from the app but leaves the app itself on your device. If you reinstall Outlook later, you can sign back in. Uninstalling is more thorough if you are giving away or selling a device.
Can I log out of Outlook on one device without affecting other devices?
Yes. Logging out on your phone does not log you out on your computer, and vice versa. Each device has its own login session. You must log out separately on each device where you use Outlook.
What should I do if I can't find the logout option?
The location of logout options varies slightly between Outlook versions. If you cannot find it using these steps, check which version you are using — web, desktop, or mobile — and search for the specific version number. Microsoft's support site has screenshots for each version.