Will I lose my Xbox gamertag and achievements?

Yes. Your Xbox gamertag, all achievements, game saves, friends list, and game library are permanently deleted. Even if you buy the same games with a new account, your progress and achievements cannot be recovered.

Can I recover my account during the 60-day period?

Yes. During the 60-day waiting period, simply sign in to your Microsoft account to cancel the closure and reactivate everything. After 60 days pass without signing in, deletion becomes permanent.

What happens to my OneDrive files?

All OneDrive files are permanently deleted after the 60-day period. This includes shared files, synced documents, and photos. Make sure to download or transfer all important files before closing your account.

What happens to Microsoft Store purchases?

All digital purchases from Microsoft Store including apps, games, movies, and software are permanently lost with no refund. You lose the right to reinstall or use any purchased content.

Does closing my Microsoft account affect Windows?

If you use your Microsoft account to sign into Windows, you'll need to switch to a local account or different Microsoft account before closure. Windows itself continues working, but you lose access to synced settings and Microsoft Store.

Can I use the same email to create a new Microsoft account?

No. Microsoft email addresses (Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Live.com) are permanently retired after account closure and cannot be reused by anyone. If you used a third-party email (Gmail, etc.), you can reuse it.

How to Delete Your Microsoft Account Account - Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Written & Verified By

Delete.Directory Content Team

Our team of privacy advocates and former social media employees verify every deletion process through hands-on testing.

This guide helps you permanently delete your Microsoft Account account. We believe in digital autonomy: your right to leave any platform should be as easy as joining it. Follow these verified steps to ensure complete account deletion.

How We Verified This Guide

Methodology: Hands-on testing with live accounts

Quick Information

Time Required

10 minutes

Difficulty

medium

Steps

5 steps

Official Resources

Microsoft Support - How to Close Your Account

Official deletion guide from Microsoft Account

Additional Resources

[1]

Download Your Microsoft Data

Official guide for downloading your complete Microsoft data before deletion

[2]

Microsoft Privacy Policy

Understanding how Microsoft handles your data and privacy across all services

[3]

Cancel Microsoft Subscriptions

How to cancel subscriptions before account deletion

Step-by-Step Guide

Cancel All Microsoft Subscriptions

Before closing your account, cancel all active subscriptions including Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive storage, and any other paid services. Visit account.microsoft.com/services to manage subscriptions.

Tips

•Check for subscriptions across all Microsoft services
•Spend any remaining Microsoft Rewards points
•Backup OneDrive files before canceling

Warnings

•Account cannot be closed with active subscriptions
•Refunds are not typically provided

Backup Important Data

Download all important files from OneDrive, Outlook emails, and other Microsoft services. Request your complete Microsoft data archive from the Privacy Dashboard at account.microsoft.com/privacy.

Tips

•Download OneDrive files manually or use sync
•Export Outlook emails to PST file
•Save Xbox game saves to external storage if possible

Navigate to Account Closure Page

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Click on your profile, then select 'View account'. Navigate to 'Your info' and then 'Close your account' or search for 'close account' in the help section.

Tips

•Use the search function if you can't find the option
•Make sure you're signed into the correct account

Review Closure Checklist

Microsoft will show you a checklist of requirements and consequences. Review each item carefully: canceled subscriptions, zero balance, impact on all services (Xbox, OneDrive, Outlook, etc.).

Warnings

•Closing affects ALL Microsoft services
•60-day waiting period before permanent deletion

Confirm Account Closure

Select a reason for closure, verify your identity, and click 'Mark account for closure'. Your account enters a 60-day waiting period. During this time, you can reactivate by simply signing in.

Warnings

•Signing in during 60 days cancels closure
•After 60 days, all data is permanently deleted

Important Warnings

Closes ALL Microsoft Services Simultaneously

Closing your Microsoft account affects EVERYTHING: Outlook email, OneDrive files, Xbox Live account and gamertag, Microsoft 365 apps, Skype, Microsoft Store purchases, and all other Microsoft services. There's no way to close one service without closing them all. This is a complete Microsoft ecosystem deletion.

60-Day Waiting Period Before Permanent Deletion

Microsoft requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period after you request account closure. During this time, your account is inactive but can be reactivated by simply signing in. After 60 days without signing in, all data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

All OneDrive Files Permanently Deleted

Every file stored in OneDrive, including shared files and synced documents, will be permanently deleted. This includes photos, documents, and any files synced from your PC. Backup everything before closure as recovery is impossible after the 60-day period.

Xbox Gamertag and Achievements Lost Forever

Your Xbox gamertag, all achievements, game saves, game library, Xbox Live Gold status, and Game Pass subscriptions are permanently lost. Even if you buy the same games again with a new account, your saves and achievements cannot be recovered.

Outlook Email Permanently Deleted

All Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Live.com emails, contacts, and calendar entries are permanently deleted. Your email address becomes unavailable forever and cannot be registered again by you or anyone else. Backup emails before closure.

Microsoft Store Purchases Lost

All digital purchases from the Microsoft Store including apps, games, movies, and music are permanently forfeited with no refund. If you bought Windows licenses or software, you lose access to reinstall them.

Alternatives to Consider

Stop Using Services Without Closing Account

easy

Instead of closing, cancel subscriptions, remove payment methods, and simply stop using Microsoft services. Keep the account dormant for potential future needs.

Pros

•Can access services again anytime
•Email address preserved for account recovery elsewhere
•Xbox achievements and gamertag maintained
•OneDrive files accessible for reference

Cons

•Account data remains on Microsoft servers
•Email address still active (spam risk)
•Privacy concerns not addressed
•May receive Microsoft emails

20 min

Download Complete Microsoft Data Archive

easy

Before closing, use Microsoft's Privacy Dashboard to download a complete archive of all your data across every Microsoft service for permanent personal backup.

Pros

•Complete backup of all Microsoft data
•Includes emails, files, Xbox data, and more
•Can reference data after closure
•Free Microsoft service

Cons

•Takes time to process (several days)
•Very large file size
•Doesn't remove data from Microsoft
•Data in various formats

10 min

Migrate to Alternative Services First

hard

Before closing, systematically migrate all data and services to alternatives: Gmail, Google Drive, PlayStation, etc. This ensures no data loss and smooth transition.

Pros

•No data loss or service interruption
•Planned, organized transition
•Can verify everything works before closing
•Maintains productivity during migration

Cons

•Time-consuming process
•Requires setup of multiple new accounts
•Some data may not transfer perfectly
•May need to repurchase some content

300 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Live.com email address is permanently deleted along with all emails, contacts, and calendar. The email address is retired forever and cannot be registered again by anyone. Backup emails before closure.

References & Citations

[1]
Download Your Microsoft Data
Official guide for downloading your complete Microsoft data before deletion
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/download-your-microsoft-account-data-8f8f40ce-dcd0-4ead-ba0f-5c2d89d5d93e
[2]
Microsoft Privacy Policy
Understanding how Microsoft handles your data and privacy across all services
https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement
[3]
Cancel Microsoft Subscriptions
How to cancel subscriptions before account deletion
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/cancel-a-microsoft-subscription-9fd85d61-0022-4f0c-8c8f-04ee9a0c09cc

All citations verified as of 11/8/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.

Found incorrect information?

We strive for accuracy. If something's outdated or wrong, let us know.

Report incorrect information

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Critical Warnings

Closes ALL Microsoft Services Simultaneously
Closing your Microsoft account affects EVERYTHING: Outlook email, OneDrive files, Xbox Live account ...
60-Day Waiting Period Before Permanent Deletion
Microsoft requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period after you request account closure. During this ...
All OneDrive Files Permanently Deleted
Every file stored in OneDrive, including shared files and synced documents, will be permanently dele...

Last Updated

November 8, 2025

Microsoft Account Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Cancel All Microsoft Subscriptions

Backup Important Data

Navigate to Account Closure Page

Review Closure Checklist

Confirm Account Closure

Important Warnings

Closes ALL Microsoft Services Simultaneously

60-Day Waiting Period Before Permanent Deletion

All OneDrive Files Permanently Deleted

Xbox Gamertag and Achievements Lost Forever

Outlook Email Permanently Deleted

Microsoft Store Purchases Lost

Alternatives to Consider

Stop Using Services Without Closing Account

Download Complete Microsoft Data Archive

Migrate to Alternative Services First

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

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