How to Remove a Microsoft Account From Windows 11

To remove a Microsoft account from your Windows 11 sign-in while keeping your profile, open Settings > Accounts > Your info and select Sign in with a local account instead. Removing another Windows user deletes that user’s sign-in information and local data, so back up their files before using Other users from a different administrator account. These steps use Windows 11 menus.

Your Windows login, saved app accounts, and individual app sessions are separate connections. Choose the removal method that matches what you want to keep. Sign in only through Microsoft’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.

Switch your Windows login to a local account

Choose this method when you want to keep your existing Windows profile while changing how you sign in. It applies to Windows 11 Home and Pro when your current Windows user signs in with a Microsoft account. Microsoft apps can retain their own account connections afterward.

Open Settings, select Accounts, then open Your info. Select Sign in with a local account instead. Enter a local username, password, and password hint, then select Next.

The next action ends your current Windows session while preserving your profile. Select Sign out and finish, then sign back in using your local account. If the Microsoft account is saved only for apps, use the saved-account removal steps instead.

Create a replacement local administrator

Create a replacement account when you want a separate Windows profile instead of converting your existing one. Keep a working administrator account before deleting the old user. The replacement creates a new profile rather than preserving the old profile in place.

Open Settings > Accounts > Other users and select Add account. If the category appears as Other user, open that entry instead. Select I don't have this person's sign-in information, then select Add a user without a Microsoft account. Finish creating the local user.

Expand the new user, select Change account type, choose Administrator, and select OK. Sign in to that replacement account before removing the old user. Deleting the old user removes their sign-in information and local data, so back up their files before continuing.

Remove another Windows user and their data

Deleting a Windows user removes that person’s sign-in information and data from this PC, so back up their files first and retain a working administrator account. Their online Microsoft account remains intact. Use this route when you want to delete a separate Windows profile.

Sign in using a different administrator account, then open Settings > Accounts > Other users. Choose Other user instead if your PC uses the singular label. Expand the unwanted user and, beside Account and data, select Remove. Review any confirmation Windows presents before completing removal.

If the account you want to remove is your current Windows login, switch it to a local account to preserve the profile. To delete that profile instead, create and sign in to a replacement administrator first. Then return to Other users and remove the old account.

Fix an account that still appears in apps

A personal account can remain saved for shared app sign-in after you change your Windows login. Removing that entry removes the saved account from Windows app sign-in settings. Individual apps can still retain their own sessions.

Open Start > Settings > Accounts > Your accounts. Select the unwanted account and, beside Remove account, select Remove.

Check individual apps next if they still retain the account. For example, signing out of Teams can leave other apps with access to the same account. Use each app’s sign-out or unlink option to end those remaining connections.

Disconnect a work or school account

A work or school account is an organizational connection, separate from a personal Microsoft account. Disconnecting it removes that connection from the PC. On a managed device, you may need help from your organization’s IT administrator.

Open Settings > Accounts > Access work or school and expand the relevant account. Select Disconnect, then select Yes. If device management prevents you from completing the disconnection, contact your IT administrator.

Disconnect OneDrive and other Microsoft apps

Unlinking OneDrive ends its account connection on this PC; downloaded files remain locally, while online-only files remain accessible through OneDrive on the web. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, then open Help and Settings > Settings > Account. Select Unlink this PC, then select Unlink account.

Signing out of Teams ends that app’s session without deleting your Windows user. In Teams, select your profile picture, then select Sign out.

Signing out of Microsoft Edge stops account syncing and is separate from deleting its browser profile or locally stored browsing data. Open Settings and more > Settings > Profiles, then select Sign out.

Signing out of Microsoft 365 can affect editing and activation functionality, which may require you to sign in again. In a desktop Office app, open File > Account and select Sign out; classic Outlook uses Office Account. Close all Microsoft 365 or Office apps afterward. Unlink OneDrive separately if you also want to end its sync connection.

Remove the account from Outlook

Removing a Microsoft-hosted email account from new Outlook deletes its offline cached content from the app. Open View > View settings, or open File > Account info. Go to Accounts > Your accounts, then under Email accounts, select Manage beside the account.

Under Account details, select Remove, then select Return to accounts page when finished. If you are following older Windows Mail, Calendar, or People instructions, use the new Outlook procedure instead. Microsoft has retired those older apps.

In classic Outlook, removing an email account deletes its offline cache without deleting the online mailbox or Windows user. Open File > Account Settings > Account Settings, select the account, then select Remove. Review the offline-cache warning and select Yes. If you are removing the last account, you may need to create a new Outlook data-file location first.

Remove the PC from your online device list

Removing a device online ends its association with your Microsoft account, but it does not delete the PC’s Windows user or erase its files. Sign in to your Microsoft account device list and find the PC. Open Show details > More actions > Remove.

If the device page offers Remove device directly, select that instead. Select the box to confirm removal (on the Show details route it reads I'm ready to remove this device), then select Remove. Complete this separate cleanup step when selling or giving away the computer.

Reset or reinstall Windows before handing over the PC

Resetting with Remove everything deletes all local users, apps, settings, and files on the Windows volume, so back up your files and obtain your BitLocker recovery key if applicable. If the PC has more than one drive volume, you can choose to remove data from all volumes or only the Windows volume, so choose all volumes before handing the PC over. Use this whole-PC removal method when selling, gifting, or starting over. If you want to keep your profile or remove only one user, use the relevant account settings above.

To reset Windows and remove everything, open Settings > System > Recovery and select Reset PC. Select Remove everything, then choose Cloud download or Local reinstall. Turn on Clean data when preparing the PC for disposal, then complete the reset wizard.

If normal desktop access is unavailable, you can access the Windows Recovery Environment by holding Shift while selecting Power > Restart. With desktop access, you can also open Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and select Restart now. BitLocker recovery may be required.

The recovery reset also deletes local users, apps, settings, and files on the volumes it cleans, so back up anything you need before proceeding. In recovery, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, then choose to remove everything. Complete the reset prompts and turn on Clean data when preparing the PC for disposal.

Reinstalling while keeping nothing removes personal data, settings, and apps, so back up the PC before choosing this alternative. With functioning desktop access, prepare compatible official Windows installation media to reinstall Windows and choose what stays. Open setup.exe from the media and select Yes.

Select Change what to keep > Keep nothing > Next, then select Install. This replaces the Windows installation rather than selectively disconnecting one account. For a PC you are handing over, also remove its online device association using the preceding steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to close your Microsoft account to remove it from one PC?

No, removing it from one PC does not require closing your online Microsoft account. Account closure is a separate, much broader action.

Can you remove a Windows user remotely by signing out everywhere?

No, Microsoft’s remote session sign-out revokes browser and app sessions without deleting the Windows user or its local data. Xbox consoles are excluded from that session sign-out.

Is the Microsoft Store device allowance separate from the device list?

Yes, Microsoft Store content uses a separate device association. Unlinking that association is distinct from removing the PC from your general Microsoft account device list or deleting its Windows user.

Does removing someone from Microsoft Family Safety delete their Windows profile?

No, removing someone from a Microsoft family group changes family membership and shared benefits. Deleting their Windows profile requires a separate action on the PC.

Does uninstalling OneDrive remove your Microsoft account from Windows?

No, uninstalling OneDrive removes the sync application. It does not remove your Windows sign-in or delete your online Microsoft account.