Deleting an Outlook account removes it from Microsoft's servers

When you delete an Outlook account, Microsoft closes the email address permanently and removes all messages, contacts, and calendar data associated with it. The account cannot be recovered after 60 days. If you use the same Microsoft account to sign into Windows, OneDrive, Xbox, or other Microsoft services, deleting your Outlook account will not affect those — but if Outlook is your only Microsoft service, the entire account will be deleted.

The deletion process takes place through your Microsoft account settings, not through Outlook itself. You will need to confirm your identity and have access to a recovery email or phone number on file. Microsoft gives you 60 days to change your mind; after that, the account and all its data are permanently removed from their systems.

Key Takeaways

  • You delete an Outlook account through your Microsoft account settings at account.microsoft.com, not through the Outlook app or website.
  • All email messages, contacts, calendar events, and files stored in OneDrive linked to that account will be deleted permanently after 60 days.
  • If you use the same Microsoft account for Windows, Xbox, or other services, deleting only the Outlook account will not affect those services.
  • You have 60 days to cancel the deletion; after that, Microsoft cannot restore the account or any of its data.
  • Before you delete, download or forward important emails and export contacts, because recovery is not possible after the 60-day window closes.

Back up your data before starting the deletion

Once your Outlook account is deleted, you cannot retrieve old emails or contacts. Before you proceed, export anything you need to keep. Open Outlook on the web, select all messages in a folder, and use the "Move" option to forward them to another email account, or download them as a .pst file using Outlook desktop software.

For contacts, go to People in Outlook on the web, select all contacts, and choose "Export" to download them as a .csv file. If you use Outlook on your phone or desktop, sync your contacts to your phone's native contacts app first — this creates a backup independent of your Outlook account. Calendar events can be exported the same way: open your calendar, select all events, and export them as an .ics file.

How to delete your account through Microsoft settings

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Outlook account you want to delete. Click "Your info" in the left menu, then scroll down and select "Delete account." Microsoft will ask you to confirm your reason for leaving and will show you what will be deleted — your email, contacts, calendar, photos in OneDrive, and any subscriptions tied to that account.

Click "Next" and Microsoft will ask you to prove your identity. You can verify using a recovery email address or phone number on file. Enter the code Microsoft sends you, then confirm the deletion one more time. At this point, your account enters a 60-day grace period. You will receive a confirmation email at your recovery address.

What happens during the 60-day grace period

For 60 days after you request deletion, your Outlook account is closed but not yet permanently erased. You cannot sign in, and no one can send mail to that address. However, Microsoft has not yet deleted your data from its servers. If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion by signing back in with your Microsoft account credentials — the system will recognize the deletion request and offer you the option to restore it.

After 60 days, the account and all associated data are permanently deleted. Microsoft does not keep backups, and there is no way to recover emails, contacts, or files after this point. If you think you might need anything from the account later, do not let the 60-day window close without downloading or forwarding what you need.

Deleting Outlook without deleting your entire Microsoft account

If you use your Microsoft account for other services — Windows login, OneDrive, Xbox, Skype, or Microsoft 365 — deleting your Outlook account will not affect those. Your Microsoft account itself will remain active. However, any OneDrive files, photos, or documents linked specifically to that Outlook account will be deleted along with it.

If you want to keep your Microsoft account but stop using Outlook, you have another option: instead of deleting the account, you can simply stop using it. Remove Outlook from your phone and desktop, and do not sign in. Your account will remain on Microsoft's servers but inactive. This is safer than deletion if you think you might need access to old emails or files in the future.

Removing Outlook from your devices after deletion

If you have Outlook installed on your phone, tablet, or computer, deleting your account through Microsoft settings does not automatically remove it from those devices. After the account is deleted, you will see an error when the app tries to sync. Remove the account manually from each device to clean up.

On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts, find the Outlook account, and select "Delete." On Mac, open Mail, go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts, select the Outlook account, and click the minus button. On iPhone or Android, open the Outlook app, go to Settings, select the account, and choose "Remove account." This prevents the app from repeatedly trying to sync a deleted account.

What to do if you cannot access your recovery email or phone

If you no longer have access to the recovery email address or phone number on your account, you cannot complete the deletion process through the standard method. Microsoft will ask you to verify your identity using one of these methods, and if both are unavailable, the deletion cannot proceed.

Contact Microsoft Support through account.microsoft.com/security. Explain that you want to delete your account but cannot access your recovery information. Microsoft may ask you to verify your identity through other means — such as answering security questions, providing a credit card number associated with the account, or uploading a photo of your ID. The process takes longer but is possible if you can prove ownership of the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else use my Outlook email address after I delete it?

No. Once you delete your Outlook account, that email address is reserved and cannot be claimed by anyone else, even after the 60-day grace period ends. Microsoft keeps deleted addresses off the market permanently to prevent impersonation and fraud.

Will deleting my Outlook account delete my Microsoft 365 subscription?

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription tied to that account, deleting the account will cancel the subscription. You will lose access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps. If you want to keep the subscription, do not delete the account — instead, create a new Microsoft account and transfer the subscription to it first.

What happens to emails people send to my address after I delete it?

Emails sent to a deleted Outlook address will bounce back to the sender with a message saying the address no longer exists. The sender will receive a delivery failure notification. No one can send mail to that address, and no one can recover it.

Can I delete my Outlook account and keep my OneDrive files?

Files stored in OneDrive through that Outlook account will be deleted along with it. If you want to keep the files, download them to your computer or move them to a different cloud storage service before you delete the account. After deletion, there is no way to recover them.

How long does it take for my account to be completely deleted?

Your account is closed immediately after you confirm the deletion, but the data remains on Microsoft's servers for 60 days. After 60 days, the deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. The entire process is automatic — you do not need to do anything during the waiting period.