Several groups have been added to my personal outlook. I don't recognize the group names, and I never joined them. How do I leave these groups. I've tried all the suggestions I got through copilot.

Question

Several groups have been added to my personal outlook. I don't recognize the group names, and I never joined them. How do I leave these groups. I've tried all the suggestions I got through copilot.

Steve Little 15

t00dle55ara 20 Reputation points

2026-01-13T18:37:26.18+00:00

I just figured out how to stop this. You actually have to log in to Microsoft Teams and manage your privacy settings within there. You can toggle off non-contacts from adding you to groups. I also went ahead and made my details unsearchable in the "Manage How People Can Find Me." I feel like this is a huge problem as scammers are utilizing this feature to try and gain access to personal info. This is my private email and don't wish to use "Teams" or create "Groups." I hope you are able to find these settings.
LeeDonahue-7650 40 Reputation points

2026-01-24T00:34:30.8966667+00:00

As usual, actual users are far more helpful than Microsoft ever is. Thank you t00dle55ara for posting the question and your solution. While looking for that setting, I also noticed that Microsoft decided my personal phone number and email should be public knowledge without my consent. Take a look at "Manage how people can find you" and see if you're satisfied with their default settings.

I will happily jump on the first class action lawsuit fighting this nonsense. I'm already finally making the switch to Linux.
Sonia D. Williams 0 Reputation points

2026-02-28T20:21:07.8833333+00:00

Same here...LeeDonahue-7650. Big SHOUTOUT to t00dil55ara.

Thank you for posting this solution. Initially, I tried to leave the groups under Groups in Outlook according to the instructions I found on the Microsoft support page. Only one of the groups showed the members and the other 4 didn't. The same 4 that did not show the members, I was not able to leave the group. I came across your solution. I changed the "Manage How People Can Find Me" settings. I had multiple chats that have been there since 2024, with most now showing as deactivated accounts. I only use Teams when I set up a meeting; most include me via Zoom to meet. I deleted the chats and blocked them. Went down to another list of names I didn't know, blocked them. When back to the Groups on Outlook and tried it again. The four that did not show names now were showing names and I was able to leave the group...

Again...Thank you sooooo much!!!! You are a ROCK STAR!!!
Tom 0 Reputation points

2026-05-01T11:50:53.6366667+00:00

Thanks for posting the solution. Worked for me. I can't believe MS allows anyone by default to add a person to a group. Or maybe I do believe it.

3 answers

Your answer

t00dle55ara 20 Reputation points

2026-01-13T18:37:26.18+00:00

I just figured out how to stop this. You actually have to log in to Microsoft Teams and manage your privacy settings within there. You can toggle off non-contacts from adding you to groups. I also went ahead and made my details unsearchable in the "Manage How People Can Find Me." I feel like this is a huge problem as scammers are utilizing this feature to try and gain access to personal info. This is my private email and don't wish to use "Teams" or create "Groups." I hope you are able to find these settings.
LeeDonahue-7650 40 Reputation points

2026-01-24T00:34:30.8966667+00:00

As usual, actual users are far more helpful than Microsoft ever is. Thank you t00dle55ara for posting the question and your solution. While looking for that setting, I also noticed that Microsoft decided my personal phone number and email should be public knowledge without my consent. Take a look at "Manage how people can find you" and see if you're satisfied with their default settings.

I will happily jump on the first class action lawsuit fighting this nonsense. I'm already finally making the switch to Linux.
Sonia D. Williams 0 Reputation points

2026-02-28T20:21:07.8833333+00:00

Same here...LeeDonahue-7650. Big SHOUTOUT to t00dil55ara.

Thank you for posting this solution. Initially, I tried to leave the groups under Groups in Outlook according to the instructions I found on the Microsoft support page. Only one of the groups showed the members and the other 4 didn't. The same 4 that did not show the members, I was not able to leave the group. I came across your solution. I changed the "Manage How People Can Find Me" settings. I had multiple chats that have been there since 2024, with most now showing as deactivated accounts. I only use Teams when I set up a meeting; most include me via Zoom to meet. I deleted the chats and blocked them. Went down to another list of names I didn't know, blocked them. When back to the Groups on Outlook and tried it again. The four that did not show names now were showing names and I was able to leave the group...

Again...Thank you sooooo much!!!! You are a ROCK STAR!!!
Tom 0 Reputation points

2026-05-01T11:50:53.6366667+00:00

Thanks for posting the solution. Worked for me. I can't believe MS allows anyone by default to add a person to a group. Or maybe I do believe it.

Answer 1

LeeDonahue-7650 40

It's a scam attempt because Microsoft sucks at security. Unbelievable that this is enabled by default.

J Jerry 5 Reputation points

2026-01-26T03:25:49.39+00:00

I'm having the same problem which I just discovered. I have two groups I did not add to my outlook.com account. I have not been able to find a way to remove them. I don't know how much of my personal information has been compromised. I'm already signed into outlook.com but it asks me to sign in again to access my microsoft account but it doesn't let me sign in. It's really disappointing microsoft allows this to happen to your account with no reasonable solution.

Answer 2

Arlene D 36,045 Independent Advisor

Hi there! Are these groups in Outlook on the web or the desktop app? To remove them, sign in to Outlook on the web, go to Groups in the left menu, select the group you don’t recognize, and click Leave group. If the group keeps appearing, it might have been added by someone with access to your Microsoft 365 account, so you should contact the group owner.

Oiluj 5 Reputation points

2026-03-25T19:00:36.1633333+00:00

Thanks, Arlene D. and t00dle55ara for the replies. It worked.

Answer 3

Hornblower409 8,855

Not a Solution. But one way you can provide feedback to Microsoft on this issue.

You can Vote for and Comment on this Feature Request.
(You must "Sign In" at the top right of the Feedback page before you can vote).

Add an option to block being added to Outlook Groups without consent
https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/a17de24f-8ce6-f011-92b9-7c1e5244b89c

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Several groups have been added to my personal outlook. I don't recognize the group names, and I never joined them. How do I leave these groups. I've tried all the suggestions I got through copilot.

3 answers

Your answer