What happens when you delete an Outlook email account

Deleting an Outlook email account removes your access to that email address and all messages stored in it. Microsoft distinguishes between closing just the email account and closing your entire Microsoft account — which also removes access to OneDrive, Office subscriptions, Xbox, and other services tied to that login. Most people want to close only the email, not the whole account.

Before you delete, understand that the process is not instant. Microsoft typically keeps your account data for 60 days in case you change your mind and want to reactivate it. After 60 days, the account and all its contents are permanently removed. You cannot recover messages, contacts, or calendar events after that window closes.

If you use Outlook for work or school, you cannot delete the account yourself — your IT department or administrator controls it. The steps below apply only to personal Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Live accounts.

Key Takeaways

  • You can close an Outlook email account without closing your entire Microsoft account, which keeps your OneDrive, Office, and other services active.
  • Microsoft holds your account data for 60 days after deletion, during which you can reactivate it; after 60 days, everything is permanently gone.
  • The deletion process happens through the Microsoft account security page, not through Outlook itself.
  • Work or school Outlook accounts cannot be deleted by the user — contact your IT department or administrator instead.
  • Before deleting, download or forward important emails, export your contacts, and update any services that use that email address to log in.

Steps to close your Outlook email account

Go to the Microsoft account security page at account.microsoft.com/security. Sign in with the Outlook email address you want to delete. If you use two-factor authentication, complete that step.

Once logged in, look for the section labeled "Your info" or "Account settings" on the left side. Click "Advanced security options" or scroll down to find "Close your account." The exact wording varies depending on your account age and region, but the option is always in the security settings area, not in Outlook itself.

Click the close account option. Microsoft will show you a list of what will happen: your email will no longer work, any OneDrive storage tied to that email will be inaccessible, and any subscriptions or services using that email will lose access. Read this list carefully — if you have an Office 365 subscription or important files on OneDrive, you may want to transfer them first.

Microsoft will ask you to confirm your reason for leaving and may offer options to keep your account instead. If you still want to proceed, enter your password again and click the final confirmation button. The account is then marked for deletion and will be permanently removed after 60 days.

What to do before you delete your account

Download or forward your emails. Use Outlook's download option or forward important messages to another email address you control. Outlook does not have a built-in "export all emails" button like some other email services, so forwarding is often faster for a few important messages. If you have thousands of emails, consider using a third-party tool designed for Outlook backup, though these often cost money.

Export your contacts. Go to Outlook.com, click the grid icon in the top left, and select "People." Click "Manage" and choose "Export contacts." This downloads a file you can import into Gmail, Apple Mail, or another email service. Do this before you delete the account — you cannot access contacts after the account closes.

Update passwords and recovery information. Search your email for password reset confirmations and account recovery links from banks, social media, shopping sites, and any other service that uses your Outlook email to log in. Change those accounts to use a different email address or phone number for recovery. If you do not do this, you may lock yourself out of those accounts.

Cancel subscriptions. Check whether you have an active Office 365 subscription, Xbox Game Pass, or other paid services tied to this account. Cancel them or transfer them to a different Microsoft account before deletion.

How to reactivate your account within 60 days

If you change your mind after deleting, you have 60 days to reactivate. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the email address you deleted. Microsoft will recognize it and offer to reactivate the account. Click the reactivation option, and your email, contacts, and calendar will be restored.

After 60 days, reactivation is no longer possible. The account and all its data are permanently deleted from Microsoft's servers. There is no recovery option after this point, even if you contact Microsoft support.

Closing only the email without closing your Microsoft account

If you want to keep using OneDrive, Office, Xbox, or other Microsoft services but stop using Outlook, you do not have to delete your entire account. Instead, you can simply stop using the email address and create a new Outlook email tied to the same Microsoft account.

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Your info." Look for "Manage your Microsoft account email" or "Email addresses." You can add a new email address and set it as your primary login. The old Outlook email will still exist but will no longer be your main account email. This keeps all your other services running without interruption.

This approach is useful if you want to abandon an old email address but keep your Microsoft account active. It is cleaner than deleting the whole account and then recreating it.

What happens to emails sent to your deleted account

Once your Outlook account is deleted and the 60-day recovery window closes, emails sent to that address will bounce back to the sender with a message saying the account does not exist. The sender will receive a delivery failure notification, usually within a few hours.

If you plan to delete your account, notify anyone who regularly emails you and provide them with a new email address. Update your email signature at work, on social media profiles, and anywhere else you have listed it publicly. This prevents people from wasting time sending messages to an address that no longer works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover my Outlook account after 60 days?

No. After 60 days, the account and all its data are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Microsoft does not restore accounts beyond this window, even if you contact support. If you think you might want the account back, reactivate it within the 60-day period.

Will deleting my Outlook account affect my OneDrive or Office subscription?

Only if you delete your entire Microsoft account, not just the email. If you close only the Outlook email while keeping your Microsoft account active, OneDrive and Office remain accessible. Check the deletion confirmation screen to see what will be affected before you proceed.

What if I forgot the password to the Outlook account I want to delete?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account." Follow the recovery steps using a phone number or backup email address associated with the account. Once you regain access, you can proceed with deletion.

Can I delete a work or school Outlook account myself?

No. Work and school accounts are managed by your organization's IT department or administrator. Contact them to request account closure. They control when and whether the account is deleted.

If I delete my account, can someone else use that email address?

Not immediately. Microsoft typically reserves deleted email addresses for a period of time before making them available again. Even after that period, the address may not become available for new signups. You cannot may provide that someone else will be able to claim it.