What happens to my Xbox account and games when I delete Outlook.com?

Your Xbox gamertag, all game saves, achievements, friends list, and purchased games will be permanently deleted. You cannot recover or transfer this data to a new account. Any active Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscriptions will be cancelled, but you should cancel them manually before deletion to ensure no further charges.

Can I recover my account after deletion?

Yes, but only within 60 days. After you mark your account for closure, Microsoft gives you a 60-day grace period. If you sign in during this time, your account will be reactivated. After 60 days, deletion is permanent and irreversible - you cannot recover your account, emails, or any data.

What happens to my OneDrive files when I delete my Microsoft account?

All files stored in OneDrive will be permanently deleted, including documents, photos, videos, and any backups. Files you've shared with others will become inaccessible to them. You must download all important files before deletion - use OneDrive.com to download your files or request a data archive from Microsoft.

Will I lose my Office 365 subscription and documents?

Yes. If your Office 365 subscription is tied to this Microsoft account, you will lose access to it. Documents stored in OneDrive will be deleted. However, if you've saved Office documents locally on your computer, those will remain. Cancel your Office 365 subscription before deleting to avoid future charges.

How do I save my Outlook.com emails before deleting my account?

You can export your emails in several ways: 1) Use Outlook desktop app to export to PST file, 2) Forward important emails to another email address, 3) Request a data archive from account.microsoft.com/privacy which includes all your emails and data, or 4) Use a third-party email client to download emails via IMAP before deletion.

What happens to my Skype account and contacts when I delete my Microsoft account?

Your Skype account is linked to your Microsoft account. Deleting your Microsoft account will permanently delete your Skype account, including your contact list, chat history, and Skype credit balance. You cannot transfer your Skype data to a new account. Make sure to save important conversation history and contact information before deletion.

How to Delete Your Outlook.com 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 Outlook.com 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 - Close Your Microsoft Account

Official deletion guide from Outlook.com

Additional Resources

[1]

Microsoft Privacy Policy

Details about how Microsoft handles your data and privacy

[2]

Microsoft Account Security

Information about managing your Microsoft account security and privacy settings

Step-by-Step Guide

Sign in to Your Microsoft Account

Open your web browser and go to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with your Outlook.com email address and password. You may need to complete two-factor authentication if enabled.

Tips

•Make sure you're logged into the correct account
•Have your two-factor authentication device ready if enabled
•If you've forgotten your password, reset it before proceeding

Back Up Your Important Data

Before proceeding, download any important emails, contacts, calendar events, or files from OneDrive. Go to Outlook.com to export emails, OneDrive.com for files, and account.microsoft.com/privacy to download your data archive.

Tips

•Use Outlook's export feature to save emails as PST files
•Download all OneDrive files to your computer
•Export contacts and calendar to CSV or ICS files
•Request a data archive from Microsoft's privacy dashboard for a complete backup

Navigate to Account Closure Settings

From your Microsoft account dashboard at account.microsoft.com, click on 'Your info' in the top menu, then scroll down and select 'Close account' or find it under 'Account info' section.

Tips

•The 'Close account' link may be at the bottom of the page
•Look for it in the 'Your info' or 'Security' section
•If you can't find it, search for 'close account' in the help section

Review Account Closure Information

Microsoft will show you a comprehensive list of services and data that will be deleted, including Outlook.com email, OneDrive files, Xbox data, Skype contacts, Office subscriptions, and more. Read through each warning carefully and check the boxes to acknowledge you understand.

Tips

•Pay special attention to purchased content warnings
•Note the 60-day grace period for account recovery
•Cancel active subscriptions before deletion to avoid billing issues

Warnings

•This will delete your entire Microsoft account, not just Outlook.com
•All Microsoft services (Xbox, OneDrive, Office, Skype) will be permanently deleted
•You will lose access to all purchased content and subscriptions

Confirm Account Deletion

Select a reason for closing your account from the dropdown menu, then click 'Mark account for closure'. Your account will enter a 60-day waiting period. If you don't sign in during this time, it will be permanently deleted.

Tips

•Your account can be recovered within 60 days by simply signing in
•After 60 days, deletion is permanent and irreversible
•You'll receive a confirmation email to your alternate email address if provided
•Do not sign in during the 60-day period if you want permanent deletion

Important Warnings

Entire Microsoft Account Deletion

Deleting your Outlook.com email means deleting your entire Microsoft account. This is not just email deletion - it affects Xbox, OneDrive, Office 365, Skype, Microsoft Store purchases, and all other Microsoft services tied to this account.

Permanent Loss of All Email and Contacts

All emails, contacts, calendar events, and tasks in your Outlook.com account will be permanently deleted. You will lose access to years of correspondence, important contacts, and scheduled events with no way to recover them after the 60-day grace period.

OneDrive Files and Documents

All files stored in OneDrive will be permanently deleted, including documents, photos, and backups. Any files you've shared with others will become inaccessible to them as well. Make sure to download everything before deletion.

Xbox and Gaming Data Loss

Your Xbox gamertag, game saves, achievements, purchased games, and Xbox Live Gold/Game Pass subscriptions will be permanently lost. You cannot transfer this data to a new account. All gaming progress will be irreversibly deleted.

Microsoft Store Purchases and Subscriptions

All purchased apps, games, movies, and music from the Microsoft Store will be lost. Active subscriptions (Office 365, Xbox Game Pass, etc.) should be cancelled before deletion to avoid continued billing. Refunds are not provided for account closure.

Alternatives to Consider

Switch to Gmail

easy

Gmail is Google's free email service with 1.8 billion active users, offering 15GB of free storage, excellent spam filtering, and seamless integration with Google Workspace.

Pros

•Industry-leading spam and malware protection
•15GB of free storage shared across Google services
•Powerful search functionality across all emails
•Seamless integration with Google Drive, Calendar, and Meet
•Excellent mobile apps for iOS and Android
•Smart features like auto-categorization and nudges

Cons

•Google scans emails for ad targeting (can be limited in settings)
•Requires a Google account which tracks activity across services
•Less professional appearance compared to custom domain emails
•Privacy concerns with Google's data collection practices

10 min

Switch to ProtonMail

easy

ProtonMail is a privacy-focused email service based in Switzerland with end-to-end encryption, offering enhanced security and privacy protection for your communications.

Pros

•End-to-end encryption for all emails
•Based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws
•No personal information required to sign up
•Open-source and independently audited
•Cannot read your emails even if compelled by law
•Free tier available with 1GB storage

Cons

•Limited free storage (1GB vs 15GB for Gmail)
•Fewer integrations with third-party services
•Some advanced features require paid subscription
•Slightly slower performance due to encryption
•Cannot send encrypted emails to non-ProtonMail users easily

10 min

Switch to Yahoo Mail

easy

Yahoo Mail is a free email service with 1TB of storage, strong spam protection, and a clean interface. It's one of the oldest webmail services, serving over 225 million active users.

Pros

•Generous 1TB of free storage
•Clean and user-friendly interface
•Excellent mobile apps
•Good spam filtering and security features
•Integration with Yahoo News, Finance, and Sports
•Disposable email addresses for privacy

Cons

•Past security breaches (though security has improved)
•Ads in the free version
•Less integration with productivity tools compared to Gmail or Outlook
•Fewer advanced features for power users

10 min

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Your Outlook.com email address is your Microsoft account. Deleting it means deleting your entire Microsoft account, including all associated services like Xbox, OneDrive, Office, Skype, and Microsoft Store. There is no way to delete only the email portion while keeping other services.

References & Citations

[1]
Microsoft Privacy Policy
Details about how Microsoft handles your data and privacy
https://privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement
[2]
Microsoft Account Security
Information about managing your Microsoft account security and privacy settings
https://account.microsoft.com/security

All citations verified as of 11/11/2025. 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

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

You might also want to delete these accounts

gmail

Google's free email service with 15GB storage and integration with Google Workspace

yahoo-mail

Free email service offering 1TB of storage and a clean interface

protonmail

End-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland

Critical Warnings

Entire Microsoft Account Deletion
Deleting your Outlook.com email means deleting your entire Microsoft account. This is not just email...
Permanent Loss of All Email and Contacts
All emails, contacts, calendar events, and tasks in your Outlook.com account will be permanently del...
OneDrive Files and Documents
All files stored in OneDrive will be permanently deleted, including documents, photos, and backups. ...

Last Updated

November 11, 2025

Outlook.com Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Sign in to Your Microsoft Account

Back Up Your Important Data

Navigate to Account Closure Settings

Review Account Closure Information

Confirm Account Deletion

Important Warnings

Entire Microsoft Account Deletion

Permanent Loss of All Email and Contacts

OneDrive Files and Documents

Xbox and Gaming Data Loss

Microsoft Store Purchases and Subscriptions

Alternatives to Consider

Switch to Gmail

Switch to ProtonMail

Switch to Yahoo Mail

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

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