Deleted outlook email still exists

Question

I removed an email address in my Outlook due to issues, and then tried to reinstall it but it keeps telling me "Account already exists" when type the email address to add it.

So the deleted email address/account is still in the system somewhere. I need this account by-passed so i can re-add it.

How can this be done?

Answer 1

Hello

On your computer, can you please type regedit in the search on the taskbar and press enter to launch Registry Editor, then go to this path:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity\Identities

Under the Identities folder on the left pane, do you see folder named after your email address? If so, right click and delete it.

Restart Outlook, and see if you can add it this time.

Answer 2

The behavior depends on what was actually removed.

1. If the address was removed as an alias from a Microsoft account

• When an alias from a Microsoft-owned domain (for example @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, @msn.com) is removed from the account, that alias is permanently deleted and cannot be associated with any Microsoft account again.
• In this case, the address cannot be “bypassed” or re‑added; it no longer exists as a usable sign‑in or mailbox identity.
• This is documented under “Remove an email address”: removing such an alias permanently deletes it and it cannot be reused on any Microsoft account.

2. If the address is still an alias but Outlook for Windows is looping or stuck

• For Outlook profile issues (for example, Outlook saying an account already exists or looping on setup), one effective workaround is to:
  1. Add a different email account in the Outlook app.
  2. Open Outlook, go to account settings inside the app, remove the problematic account from the profile.
  3. Add the original account again from scratch.
  4. Optionally remove the temporary account.
• This clears the local Outlook profile entry while keeping the online account/alias unchanged.

3. If the address was removed and now no longer sends/receives

• If the address was removed as an alias (for example an @msn.com or @hotmail.com address) and now cannot send/receive and cannot be added back, it is treated as permanently deleted and cannot be restored or reused.

To check which situation applies, review the aliases for the Microsoft account at the “Manage how you sign in to your account” page referenced in the alias documentation. If the address no longer appears there and was from a Microsoft domain, it cannot be re‑added; a new alias must be created and used instead.

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References:

• Add or remove an email alias in Outlook.com
• Deleted hotmail email address from account - can I get it back? - Microsoft Q&A
• MSN email issues - Microsoft Q&A
• Cant get into outlook - Microsoft Q&A