The fastest way to log out of Outlook
To log out of Outlook on your desktop, click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the window, then select Sign out from the menu that appears. The application closes immediately and you are returned to the sign-in screen. This works the same way in Outlook for Windows and Outlook for Mac.
If you do not see a profile picture, look for a circular icon or your email address in the top right. Clicking it opens a dropdown menu where Sign out appears near the bottom. After you sign out, your email, calendar, and contacts remain stored on Microsoft's servers — signing out only removes access from that particular computer.
For shared computers or public devices, signing out is the standard security step. If you want to remove your account entirely from the device so someone else cannot access it later, you will need to remove the account from Windows or Mac settings instead, which is a separate process covered below.
Key Takeaways
- Click your profile picture or initials in the top right corner and select Sign out to log out immediately.
- Signing out removes access from that computer but does not delete your email or account from Microsoft's servers.
- On shared computers, you should also remove the account from your operating system settings to prevent others from signing back in.
- If Outlook freezes or will not respond, you can force it closed through Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac, then sign in again.
- Signing out of Outlook on desktop does not sign you out of Outlook.com in your web browser — you must do those separately.
Removing your account from Windows or Mac entirely
Signing out leaves your account configured on the computer, which means someone else can click Sign in and your account name will appear as an option. To prevent this on a shared device, you need to remove the account from your operating system.
On Windows: Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Email & accounts. Find your Outlook account in the list and click it, then select Remove. Windows will ask you to confirm. This removes the account from your computer entirely, and Outlook will no longer show it as an option when you open the application.
On Mac: Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), go to Internet Accounts, find your Outlook or Microsoft account in the list on the left, and click the minus sign at the bottom. Mac will ask you to confirm which data you want to keep or remove. After this, Outlook will no longer have access to that account on your Mac.
What happens when you sign out
When you sign out of Outlook on your desktop, the application closes and your computer no longer has access to your email, calendar, or contacts. Your data remains on Microsoft's servers and is not deleted. The next time you open Outlook, you will see the sign-in screen and can enter your credentials again.
Any drafts you were working on are saved to your account, so you can open them again after signing back in. However, any files you downloaded or saved to your computer stay on that computer — signing out does not remove local files you created.
If you have multiple email accounts set up in Outlook, signing out removes access to all of them at once. You cannot sign out of just one account while keeping another active in the same window.
Signing out when Outlook is frozen or not responding
If Outlook stops responding and the sign-out button does not work, you can force the application to close through your operating system and then sign in again.
On Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find Outlook or Microsoft Outlook in the list, click it, and select End task. Outlook closes immediately. When you open it again, you will be at the sign-in screen.
On Mac: Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window. Select Microsoft Outlook from the list and click Force Quit. Outlook closes, and you can open it again to sign in.
Signing out of Outlook.com separately from desktop Outlook
Signing out of the Outlook desktop application does not sign you out of Outlook.com in your web browser. These are separate sessions, and you must sign out of each one independently.
To sign out of Outlook.com, open your web browser, go to Outlook.com, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Sign out. You will be returned to the Outlook.com sign-in page. If you use the same Microsoft account for both the desktop application and the web version, signing out of one does not affect the other.
This matters on shared computers: if you sign out of Outlook on your desktop but leave Outlook.com open in the browser, someone else can still access your email through the web version. Close your browser or sign out of Outlook.com as well to fully disconnect your account.
Why you might want to sign out regularly
On a personal computer that only you use, signing out is optional — you can leave Outlook running and signed in. On a shared computer, a work device you are returning, or a public computer, signing out is a security step that prevents others from reading your email or accessing your calendar.
Signing out also stops Outlook from syncing new messages to that computer. If you are traveling or using a temporary device, signing out when you leave ensures your account is not left open on a machine you will not see again.
Some workplaces require employees to sign out of email applications at the end of the day as part of their security policy. Check with your IT department or employee handbook if you are unsure whether your organization has this requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does signing out of Outlook delete my emails?
No. Your emails, calendar, and contacts remain on Microsoft's servers. Signing out only removes access from that computer. When you sign back in on any device, all your data will be there.
Can I sign out of Outlook without closing the application?
No. When you select Sign out, Outlook closes automatically. You cannot stay in the application while signed out. To use Outlook again, you must open it and sign in with your credentials.
What is the difference between signing out and removing my account?
Signing out logs you out but leaves your account configured on the computer — someone else can click Sign in and see your account name as an option. Removing the account from Windows or Mac settings deletes it from the computer entirely, so it will not appear as an option anymore.
If I sign out of Outlook, will I still get email notifications?
No. Once you sign out, Outlook stops running and will not check for new messages or send notifications. You will only receive notifications again after you sign back in and Outlook is running.
Do I need to sign out of Outlook before shutting down my computer?
No. Shutting down your computer automatically closes all applications, including Outlook. You do not need to sign out first, though it is good practice on shared devices to sign out before leaving the computer.