Want to delete your Outlook email account? Closing the mailbox, removing an email address, and disconnecting the app are three different actions. Permanent Outlook.com or Hotmail deletion requires closing your Microsoft account, which also affects other Microsoft services and saved BitLocker recovery keys. Start with permanent closure below, or jump to the steps for the address or device you want to remove.
Close your Outlook.com account permanently
This deletes your personal Microsoft account and its mailbox after a 30- or 60-day reopening window.
Open Microsoft's Outlook.com account closure page. Select Close your account. Then sign in to the Microsoft account you want to close.
Complete identity verification if prompted. Check that the account shown is the one you intend to delete. Select Next. Acknowledge every checklist item, including the consequences for your Microsoft account.
Choose a 30- or 60-day reopening window. Choose an explanation under Select a reason. Finally, select Mark account for closure to schedule deletion after that window expires.
Keep your account but remove an email address
Use alias removal when you want to drop an email address while keeping your Microsoft account. The shared mailbox stays in place.
Sign in to Microsoft's alias management page to edit Your info. Select Remove beside the address you want to remove. Follow any confirmation prompts that appear.
To keep the address but block it from signing in, sign in at your Microsoft account. Open Your info > Sign-in preferences. Choose which aliases are allowed to sign in.
Select Save. The address, account, and mailbox remain; only sign-in permissions change.
Disconnect an account in new Outlook for Windows
Removing an account from new Outlook disconnects it from the app. Start at View > View settings, or use the alternate entry point at File > Account info.
Open Accounts > Your accounts. Then select Manage for your address under Email accounts.
Select Remove under Account details. For non-Microsoft providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud, choose device-only removal or Remove from all devices when those options appear. The all-devices option also removes associated Microsoft Cloud data across Outlook clients; neither option starts permanent Outlook.com account closure.
Remove an account from classic Outlook
Select File. Open Account Settings > Account Settings. Select the email account you want to remove.
Click Remove. Select Yes to confirm.
Before removing the last or only account, remember that classic Outlook requires another data location; your email account stays active with its provider.
Take your account off your phone or tablet
Your mailbox stays active after phone removal because deleting the app or its account connection does not close your Microsoft account.
In Outlook for Android, iPhone, or iPad, open Settings > Accounts. Select the email account you want to remove. Then tap Remove Account.
For an account set up in Apple Mail, open your iPhone or iPad's Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts. Select your Outlook or Exchange account. Tap Delete Account. Despite the button's name, this removes the device's mail configuration and leaves your Microsoft account active.
Clear the account connection on your Mac
In Outlook for Mac, open Tools > Accounts. Select the account you want to remove. Then choose Manage > Remove Account > Continue to finish.
For an account configured through macOS, use System Settings > Internet Accounts > your account > Delete Account > OK. This removes the account's features from participating Mac apps. An account configured separately in Outlook still needs Outlook's own removal procedure.
Ask your administrator to delete a work or school mailbox
Your organization controls deletion of a work or school mailbox. The personal Microsoft account closure process does not apply.
Contact your organization's administrator to request mailbox deletion. A deleted mailbox is normally recoverable for 30 days, and your organization's retention policies can preserve its content longer.
To disconnect the account from a Windows 11 device, open Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Expand the account's dropdown. Select Disconnect.
Choose Yes. This disconnects the device; the organization's mailbox remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is account closure delayed after I reset my verification details?
Microsoft requires you to be able to sign in before closure, and you may be prompted to verify your identity. Resetting all your sign-in verification details can trigger a separate 60-day waiting period before you can close the account.
Will leaving my Outlook account unused guarantee deletion?
No. Microsoft's inactivity policy uses a two-year period without sign-in, but exceptions include purchases, active subscriptions, and account balances. Leaving the account unused does not guarantee closure.
How long does signing out of my Microsoft account everywhere take?
Microsoft allows up to 24 hours for the sign-out to take effect. Xbox consoles are excluded. This ends sessions without deleting your account.
Can I uninstall classic Outlook without removing the rest of Office?
Microsoft says an app installed as part of a Microsoft 365 or Office suite generally cannot be uninstalled individually. Separately purchased standalone Outlook can be uninstalled on its own. Neither action closes your online email account.