How do I delete a Hotmail address permanently?

Hi Lynn, my name is Neil, and I'm an Outlook user like you.

You need to close the Hotmail/Microsoft Account here: https://account.live.com/closeaccount.aspx?

Sign in at the link above with each email address you want to close. Microsoft give you 30 or 60 days in case you change your mind (select 30 or 60 from the drop down box). After these 30 or 60 days have passed, these accounts will be closed.

To read more about closing your accounts, see the following link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-bil...

I hope this answers your question.

Kindest regards,

Neil

Hi Neil,

I appreciate your response! Unfortunately, I can't log in to those accounts because APPARENTLY (not 100% sure, because there is zero language or help to get clarity - just an indication that the email address is not recognized by their system) MS - in their great wisdom and without any information or instructions to me - seems to have already canceled them...but I have no way to verify that, let alone challenge their decisions about each email involved. They don't provide, from what I can tell, ANY way to actually COMMUNICATE with them about these matters. Yes, they sent a vague email to each address about "New Terms" with a link to a seemingly endless document (unsearchable for the word "Hotmail" - OF COURSE!). But between being in total overwhelm and the addition of COVID disruptions, I never saw those emails in a timely manner...specifically because I don't USE those addresses any more!

I'm guessing you will say that if their system isn't recognizing an email address, that in itself is confirmation that they've deleted it. But there is no way to confirm that, or request changes to which addresses I can or can't retain.

All I want is to be able to communicate directly with SOMEONE - human, bot or otherwise! - about which addresses I don't want any more (and CONFIRM that they are indeed deleted from MS's roster of what I have as active), AND - more importantly - which ones I want to KEEP, and confirm that they will continue to be active - and find out if I need to update how I manage or use them.

That sort of clear, direct communication is not an option at Microsoft these days, apparently!

I find that very ironic, seeing as how they have been such a leader in creating the ability for people to communicate quickly and easily for many decades now!

Oh well!

SORRY for the long reply - I'm just so fed up with the ridiculous struggle over something that SHOULD be SO EASY!!

Best regards,

Lynn

Hi Lynn,

As per Microsoft's Account Activity Policy, to keep your Microsoft account active you must sign in to the account at least once every two years.

As stated in Microsoft's Account Activity Policy it says "...you must sign in to your Microsoft account at least once in a two-year period to keep your account active. If you don’t sign in during this time, Microsoft will consider your account to be inactive. Any account that has been locked for more than two years will also be considered "inactive" and will be closed."

The Account Activity Policy can be seen here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/micro....

So any emails that have remained inactive for two years without being signed into will be closed automatically.

However, if you want to talk to someone about a current Microsoft Account, sign into your account here: https://outlook.live.com/

Click on the ? Help icon on the Outlook toolbar.

Search help for your issue by typing in the help search box and pressing Enter on your keyboard.

If none of the provided answers work for you, scroll to the bottom and it will say "Still need help?". Click "Yes" here.

It will then say "Choose a support option" and one of them should be "Provide your email address and a support agent will contact you". Click on this.

You can then write a description of your problem and enter your email address and someone from Outlook Support will contact you by email.

See pic below for the steps you need to follow.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Kindest regards,

Neil