Remove a Work Account in Settings

The fastest way to remove a Microsoft work account is through Windows Settings. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then select Email & accounts. Find the work account in the list, click it, and select Remove. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Remove again. The account is gone from your PC within seconds.

This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Your work files stay on your PC, but you will no longer be able to sign in with that account, and Windows will stop syncing your work email, calendar, and contacts to your device.

If you cannot find the account in Email & accounts, it may be listed under Other users instead. Go to Accounts, select Other users, find the work account, click it, and select Remove.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings app is the standard way to remove a work account — go to Accounts, find the account, and click Remove.
  • Removing an account from Settings does not delete your files; it only stops you from signing in with that account.
  • If your work account is the only administrator on the PC, you must create a new local or Microsoft account with admin rights before you can remove the work account.
  • Your employer may have set policies that prevent removal through Settings; in that case, contact your IT department for help.
  • If you signed into Windows itself with the work account (not just added it as an email account), you need to switch to a different account before removing it.

What Happens When You Remove a Work Account

Removing a work account stops Windows from syncing work email, calendar, OneDrive files, and other Microsoft services tied to that account. You will no longer receive work notifications on your PC, and any shortcuts or tiles linked to that account will stop working.

Files you created or downloaded while signed in with the work account remain on your PC. You keep access to them through your personal account or local user account, though you may need to adjust folder permissions if the work account was the only one with access.

Work apps installed through the Microsoft Store under that account may stop working or require you to reinstall them under your personal account. Offline files synced from OneDrive for Business will no longer update.

If Your Work Account Is Your Main Sign-In

If you signed into Windows itself with your work account (rather than just adding it as an email account), you cannot remove it directly. Windows requires at least one administrator account on the PC at all times. You must first create a new account with admin rights, then switch to that account before removing the work account.

To create a new local account, go to Settings, select Accounts, then Other users. Click Add account, choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give it a name and password. Once created, right-click the new account and select Change account type, then set it to Administrator.

Sign out of your work account and sign in with the new admin account. Then go back to Settings and remove the work account as described above.

When Your Employer Blocks Removal

Some organizations use mobile device management (MDM) or group policy to prevent employees from removing work accounts from personal devices. If you try to remove the account and see an error message saying the action is not permitted, your employer has set this restriction.

Contact your IT department or help desk. They can either remove the restriction or remove the account from their end. Do not try to work around the restriction by editing the registry or using third-party tools — this can damage Windows and violate your employment agreement.

If you no longer work for the organization, your IT department should be able to unenroll your device from their management system, which will then let you remove the account normally.

Remove a Work Account From Mail and Calendar Apps

If you only want to stop receiving work email and calendar notifications but keep the account on your PC, you can remove it from the Mail and Calendar apps instead of removing it entirely from Windows.

Open the Mail app, go to Settings (the gear icon), select Accounts, find the work account, and click Manage. Select Delete account from this device. The account stays in Windows Settings but will no longer appear in Mail or Calendar.

This is useful if you need the account to stay on your PC for file access or other services but do not want work email cluttering your personal inbox.

Clean Up After Removal

After you remove a work account, check your Start menu and desktop for shortcuts or tiles linked to that account. Right-click them and select Uninstall or Remove from Start. This prevents broken links and cleans up your workspace.

If you synced work files to your PC using OneDrive for Business, those files will stop updating. You can keep them on your PC for reference, but they will not reflect changes made at work. If you need ongoing access to work files, ask your IT department how to set up a shared folder or use a web browser to access them instead.

Check your browser autofill settings. Go to Settings, select Passwords, and delete any saved passwords tied to the work account. This prevents the browser from offering to sign you in with work credentials on personal websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing my work account delete my files?

No. Files created or downloaded while signed in with the work account stay on your PC. You will still be able to open and use them through your personal account, though you may need to adjust permissions if the work account was the only one with access to certain folders.

Can I remove a work account if I do not have the password?

Yes. You do not need the password to remove an account from Settings. If you are signed in as an administrator, you can remove any other account on the PC. If the work account is your only admin account, you will need to create a new admin account first.

What if I see an error message when I try to remove the account?

The most common error is a message saying the action is not permitted. This means your employer has blocked removal through group policy or MDM. Contact your IT department to have the restriction lifted or the account removed from their end. Do not try to bypass the restriction yourself.

Will my employer know I removed the work account?

If your employer uses mobile device management, they may see that the device is no longer enrolled. If they do not use MDM, they will not know unless you tell them. However, if you removed the account because you no longer work there, your IT department should unenroll the device as part of your offboarding.

Can I add the work account back later?

Yes. You can add any Microsoft account back to your PC at any time by going to Settings, selecting Accounts, then Email & accounts, and clicking Add account. You will need the email address and password for the work account.