delete account

Question

Hi, I want to permanently delete my Microsoft account please.

Answer 1

Hi Hashem Moradi

Closing an Outlook.com account means closing the full Microsoft account. When a Microsoft account is closed, the email and contacts are deleted from Microsoft servers and cannot be recovered after closure is completed. You may also lose access to services connected to the same account, such as OneDrive, Xbox, Skype, and saved BitLocker recovery keys. See: Close your Outlook.com account | Microsoft Support

1) Back up anything important before closing it

Before you continue, save anything you may still need, such as:

• Emails
• Contacts
• OneDrive files
• Subscription information
• Xbox, Skype, or other service data
• BitLocker recovery keys, if applicable

2) Close the account from the official Microsoft page

• Sign in with the Microsoft account you want to close.
• Verify your identity if prompted.
• Confirm that the page shows the correct account.
• Review the checklist.
• Select the required acknowledgment boxes.
• Choose the reopen window shown on the page, usually 30 days or 60 days.
• Select a reason for closing the account.
• Select Mark account for closure.

See: How to close your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support

3) If you cannot sign in

You must be able to sign in before you can close the account. If you cannot sign in, use Microsoft’s sign-in helper from the account closure article first. If all sign-in verification details were reset, you must wait 60 days before closing the account.

4) If you change your mind

After closing the account, you may be offered a 30-day or 60-day grace period. During that time, you can reopen the account by signing in and entering the security code. After the grace period passes, the Microsoft account is permanently deleted. See: Reopen your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support

If your goal is only to stop using the email in Outlook, you do not need to permanently delete the Microsoft account. You can simply sign out or remove the account from the Outlook app instead.

I hope this helps. If you need anything further, please feel free to reply to this thread and I will be happy to help. Have a lovely day!

Answer 2

To permanently delete a personal Microsoft account, the account must be closed through the Microsoft account closure process.

1. Go to the Microsoft account close portal and sign in with the account to be deleted: Close account or Microsoft Account Close Portal.
2. If prompted, complete any sign-in or verification steps.
3. Confirm that the correct Microsoft account is shown, then select Next.
4. Read the checklist on the page and complete any actions that apply (for example, saving data, cancelling subscriptions, or understanding impact on services like Outlook.com, OneDrive, Skype, Teams Free, Xbox, etc.).
5. Tick all acknowledgment checkboxes to confirm the information has been reviewed.
6. Choose the re-open window (either 30 or 60 days) during which the account can be recovered if needed.
7. In Select a reason, choose why the account is being closed.
8. Select Mark account for closure.

After this, the account is marked for closure and will be permanently deleted after the chosen re-open period (30 or 60 days) has passed. Once that period is over, data and content associated with the account are deleted in line with the Microsoft Services Agreement.

If sign-in is not possible (for example, forgotten password or security info recently reset), use the sign-in helper or account recovery first, as closing the account requires successful sign-in.

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References:

• How to close your Microsoft account
• Respond to requests to close a Microsoft account
• Close your Outlook.com account
• How do I close my account for Skype?
• How to close the Microsoft account you use for Microsoft Teams Free