How to delete a microsoft outlook account

Removing accounts gets them out of the app, but the accounts remain intact

Updated on March 30, 2022

Table of Contents Show

Removing accounts gets them out of the app, but the accounts remain intact
What to Know
How to Remove an Email Account From Microsoft Outlook
Delete Email Accounts in Windows Mail App
What Happens When You Delete Email Accounts in Outlook or Windows Mail?
Delete a Default Account in Window Mail
How do I delete a Microsoft email account?
How do I permanently delete a Microsoft account?
Can I delete Microsoft Outlook?

What to Know

In Outlook, go to File > Info > Account settings, choose the email account, and select Remove > Yes.
In Windows Mail, select Settings or More > Manage accounts, choose an account, then select Delete account.
For the default account, choose Change mailbox sync settings, turn off the Email toggle and select Done > Save.

This article explains how to delete email accounts in Outlook or Windows Mail. The instructions apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, and Outlook 2013 as well as Windows 11, 10, and 8.

How to Remove an Email Account From Microsoft Outlook

The procedures for deleting email accounts in the various Outlook versions are similar, with some minor exceptions.

Go to File > Info.
Select the Account settings drop-down menu and choose Account Settings.
Choose the email account you want to remove.
Select Remove.
Confirm that you want to delete it by selecting Yes.

Delete Email Accounts in Windows Mail App

Deleting an email account in Mail (the basic email client included with Windows) is simple as well:

Select Settings (the gear icon) at the bottom of the left pane of the program (or More at the bottom, on a tablet or phone).
In the Settings pane, choose Manage accounts.
Select the account you want to remove from Mail.
In the Account settings screen, choose Delete account.
Select Delete to confirm.

What Happens When You Delete Email Accounts in Outlook or Windows Mail?

When you remove an account from Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mail, you won't have access to it in that program, and you'll remove the locally stored data. However, you won't delete the account or any messages in it.

Deleting an account from a Microsoft email client also deletes the calendar information associated with that account.

Delete a Default Account in Window Mail

If you don't see the Delete account option, you're likely trying to delete the default mail account. Windows requires at least one mail account, and you can't delete it. However, you can stop receiving and sending mail through it. The account still exists on your computer and with the email service provider, but it will be disabled.

Once you disable the account, you no longer receive mail on your computer. Plus, you won't be able to find old emails or the related calendar information on your computer. If you need access to email and dates from an account you deleted from your computer using the above procedures, log in to the email service provider's website. You'll find all your information there.

To disable the account:

Select Settings (the gear icon) at the bottom of the left pane (or More at the bottom, on a tablet or phone).
Choose Manage accounts from the right menu pane.
Select the account you want to stop using.
Choose Change mailbox sync settings.
Under Sync options, turn off the Email toggle switch.
Select Done.
Select Save.

FAQ

How do I set Outlook as my default mail client in Windows Mail?
To set Outlook as your default email client in Windows Mail, go to Default Apps > Mail > Outlook. To add an Outlook.com account to Windows Mail, go to Windows Mail Settings > Manage Accounts > Add Account.
How do I make Windows Mail my default email client?
To make Windows Mail your default email client, go to Default Apps, select the app under Email, then select Mail. In Windows 8, go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Associate a File Type or Protocol with a program > MAILTO > Mail.
How do I import Windows Mail to Outlook?
You can't export contacts from Windows Mail in Windows 10 or 11. In Windows 8, go to Tools > Windows Contacts > Export > CSV > Export.

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How do I delete a Microsoft email account?

How do I remove my email account?.

Open Settings..

Under Accounts, select the email account you would like to remove..

Tap Delete Account..

Select Delete from this device or Delete from all devices. ..

How do I permanently delete a Microsoft account?

Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts . Under Accounts used by email, calendar, and contacts, select the account you want to remove, and then select Manage. Select Delete account from this device. Select Delete to confirm.

Can I delete Microsoft Outlook?

To uninstall Outlook, click on the button beside the name and choose Not Available, then Continue. This will remove all Outlook components. If you want to remove some features but keep Outlook, expand the directory and remove just those features.