How to delete a Microsoft account from your computer
You can remove a Microsoft account from your Windows computer in two ways: delete the account entirely so it no longer exists on the machine, or straightforward sign out if you want to keep the account but stop using it on that device. The method you choose depends on whether you want to erase all files and settings tied to that account on this computer, or just disconnect it. Deleting the account removes the user profile, all associated files, and all settings. Signing out keeps the account on the computer but logs you out of Microsoft services.
Both processes take a few minutes and require administrator access. If you are the only administrator on the machine, you will need to create a temporary administrator account first before you can delete your own account.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting a Microsoft account from your computer removes the user profile and all files stored in that account's folder, so back up important documents first.
- You must have administrator rights to delete an account, and you cannot delete the account you are currently signed into.
- If you are the only admin, create a second administrator account before deleting your own, or you will lock yourself out of settings.
- Signing out of your Microsoft account keeps the account on the computer but disconnects it from Microsoft services like OneDrive and Outlook.
- Deleted accounts cannot be recovered from the computer, though your Microsoft account itself still exists online if you created one through Outlook or Hotmail.
Back up your files before deleting the account
When you delete a Microsoft account from Windows, every file stored in that account's user folder is removed from the computer. This includes documents, photos, downloads, desktop files, and anything in the user's Documents or Pictures folders. Once deleted, these files cannot be recovered from the machine.
Before you proceed, copy any files you want to keep to an external drive, cloud storage, or another user account on the same computer. Pay special attention to the Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Music folders inside the account you plan to delete. If you use OneDrive, check whether your files are synced to the cloud or stored only on this computer.
Delete a Microsoft account using Settings
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Other people (or Family & other people on some Windows versions). You will see a list of all user accounts on the computer.
Find the Microsoft account you want to delete and click on it. Select Remove, then confirm by clicking Delete account and data. Windows will warn you that all files in that account will be deleted. Confirm again, and the account will be removed. This process takes a minute or two.
If the Remove button is grayed out, you do not have administrator rights on this account, or you are trying to delete the account you are currently signed into. Sign out of that account first, or switch to a different administrator account.
What to do if you are the only administrator
If you are the only person with administrator rights on the computer, you cannot delete your own account directly. You must create a second administrator account first. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Other people, and select Add account. Choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give the account a name and password.
Once the new account is created, go back to Other people and click on the new account. Select Change account type, then change it from Standard to Administrator. Sign out of your current account and sign into the new administrator account. Now you can return to Settings, go to Accounts and Other people, find your original account, and delete it using the steps above.
Sign out instead of deleting if you want to keep the account
If you want to disconnect your Microsoft account from this computer but keep the account itself, sign out instead of deleting it. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then Your info. Select Sign out at the bottom of the page. You will be asked whether you want to keep files on the computer or remove them. Choose based on what you need.
After signing out, the account will no longer be active on this computer, but it will still exist in Microsoft's system. You can sign back in later if you change your mind. This is useful if you share the computer with others and want to disconnect your personal account without erasing your files.
What happens to your Microsoft account online
Deleting a Microsoft account from your computer does not delete your actual Microsoft account. Your Outlook email, OneDrive files, and Microsoft account settings remain online and can be accessed from any other device. The deletion only removes the account from this specific machine.
If you want to permanently close your Microsoft account entirely, you must do that through the Microsoft account website at account.microsoft.com. Signing into that site and choosing to close the account will delete it from Microsoft's servers, not just from your computer. This is a separate step from removing it from Windows.
Troubleshooting: Account will not delete
If the Remove button stays grayed out, check that you are signed into an administrator account and that you are not trying to delete the account you are currently using. You cannot delete the active account. Switch to a different user account first, then try again.
If you see an error message, restart the computer and try again. Sometimes Windows locks the account temporarily if it is still running background processes. If the problem persists, create a second administrator account as described above and delete the problem account from that new account instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover files after deleting a Microsoft account from my computer?
No. Once you delete the account through Settings, all files in that user folder are permanently removed from the computer. You cannot recover them through Windows. If you backed up your files to OneDrive or an external drive before deleting, you can restore them from there. If not, the files are gone.
Will deleting my account from this computer affect my Microsoft account on other devices?
No. Deleting the account from one computer does not affect your Microsoft account on phones, tablets, or other computers. Your email, OneDrive, and account settings remain intact everywhere else. You can sign back into your Microsoft account on any device at any time.
What is the difference between deleting an account and signing out?
Signing out disconnects your Microsoft account from the computer but keeps the user profile and files. Deleting removes the entire user profile and all associated files from the machine. Use sign out if you want to keep your files but stop using that account on this computer. Use delete if you want to remove everything.
Do I need to uninstall Microsoft programs before deleting the account?
No. Uninstalling programs is not necessary. When you delete the account, only that user's files and settings are removed. Programs installed for all users on the computer remain. If a program was installed only for that account, it will no longer be accessible, but the program files themselves stay on the computer.
What if I forgot the password to the account I want to delete?
You can still delete it if you have administrator rights on a different account. Sign into the administrator account, go to Settings, Accounts, Other people, find the account you want to delete, and remove it. You do not need the password to delete an account from another administrator account.