transfer the files to a new account

Question

I want to delete an account and transfer the files to a new account

Answer 1

Hi! Let me help you.

You may also try manually copying the User folder. The easiest approach is to sign into the account you want to keep, since you'll need to be an administrator to move files between accounts. Then open File Explorer and go to This PC, then Local Disk C, then Users, and you should see a folder for the old account. Open it, and you'll find folders like Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and Pictures. You can copy whatever you need from those into the matching folders under your new account, which will also be in the Users folder under your new account name.

If Windows won't let you open the old account's folder because of a permissions error, right-click the folder, choose Properties, go to the Security tab, click Advanced, and change the owner to your current account, then apply it to all subfolders. That should unlock it so you can copy freely.

Once you've copied everything over and double-checked it's all there, you can delete the old account. Go to Settings, then Accounts, then Other users, click on the account you want to remove, and choose Remove. Windows will ask if you want to delete the account's files too since you've already copied what you need. If you're not sure you got everything, there's also an option to keep the files, which will save them in a folder on the desktop just in case, and you can delete that folder later once you've confirmed everything transferred fine.

Answer 2

Deleting a Microsoft account does not transfer its OneDrive or Outlook data to a new account automatically. If the old account is deleted, its cloud storage becomes inaccessible. The supported approach is to copy or download the files first, then upload or paste them into the new account.

Recommended steps for OneDrive files:

1. Sign in to both accounts on the PC if possible:
   • Add the old work/school or personal OneDrive account.
   • Add the new personal Microsoft account in OneDrive.
2. In File Explorer or Finder, open the old OneDrive folder.
3. Select the files and folders to keep, then choose Copy.
4. Open the new account’s OneDrive folder.
5. Choose Paste and let OneDrive sync the copied files.

Important details:

• Copy/paste is recommended instead of drag/drop because it is less prone to mistakes.
• Make sure the new account has enough storage space.
• Copied files are treated as new files, so metadata such as Date created and Modified By is not retained.
• If files were previously shared, they must be shared again from the new account.

If both accounts are not set up in OneDrive on the same PC, another supported method is to sign in to the old account on OneDrive web, download the files or folders, then upload them to the new account.

For Outlook data:

• If the account uses a POP account with a .pst file, that file can be moved to the new computer or profile, but email account settings are not transferred automatically.
• In Windows 10 and Windows 11, Outlook .pst files are commonly in:
  • drive:\Users\<username>\Documents\Outlook Files

Before deleting the old account, confirm that all files, photos, emails, contacts, and other data are available in the new account.

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References:

• Copy, transfer or import files to your personal OneDrive
• Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another
• how to delete account and open a new one - Microsoft Q&A
• How do I transfer my files from an old personnel Microsoft account to another Microsoft account? - Microsoft Q&A