How To Delete a Microsoft Account

Have you recently stopped using Microsoft and started using another system? Or have you created a new Microsoft account? Whichever reason you have for deleting your account, Microsoft has made it easy for you to do so. 

In this article, we will discuss how you can delete your Microsoft account, what Microsoft will need from you, and things you need to consider before you close your account.

Things To Consider Before Deleting Your Microsoft Account

Deleting your Microsoft account is a straightforward process. The most obvious step is to make sure that you are confident with your decision and you won’t be needing anything else from the account.

Once you’re sure, here are some things you should consider before you close the account:

Check All Microsoft Products You Are Using

Microsoft offers many services, and a single account can access all of them. When you delete your Microsoft account, you won’t be able to access any Microsoft products and services associated with it. That’s why you need to ensure that you are no longer interested in using the services connected to the account, which can include:

• Email services: Outlook.com, Live, Hotmail, and MSN
• Cloud storage: OneDrive
• Gaming: Xbox Live data and GamerTag
• Messaging: SkypeID and contacts
• Applications: Office apps and licenses
• Developer tools: NuGet.org account
• Others: Account balance, unused reward points, Microsoft Certification such as passed exams and associated transcripts.

Unfortunately, Microsoft does not allow you to delete just one of the services and keep the others. Once you delete your account, you can no longer access any of them.

Cancel Subscriptions

If you are currently paying for any services using your Microsoft account ID, cancel them right before you delete the Microsoft account. If not, you won’t be able to access them.

Apart from that, if you are currently subscribed to services outside Microsoft with this account, you also have to cancel those as you may encounter issues in the future.

Remember, don’t close your account until you’ve ensured that it has no personal or organizational subscriptions.

Let Your Contacts Know How To Reach You

Microsoft accounts have email services associated with them. If you are using an email address that ends in live.com, outlook.com, hotmail.com, or msn.com, you won’t be able to access it once you close your account, and any emails stored in it will be deleted after the 60-day waiting period.

However, during the waiting period, you can still receive emails. You can set up an automatic reply stating that you are deleting the email and let them know how they can reach you in the future. Alternatively, you can manually send out an email to all your contacts stating the same message above.

The same goes for your Skype account. If you are active in this messaging app, let your contacts know that you will be deleting it and inform them how they can contact you.

Spend Money In Your Account

Deleting your Microsoft account deletes everything with it, including money and rewards.

So before you close your account, make sure that you spend any remaining funds or rewards on items you can keep after you delete your Microsoft account. Otherwise, they will be wasted.

Back Up Any Important Files And Data

Your Microsoft account comes with cloud storage called OneDrive. You might have used this storage for your files, photos, or videos when your account was still active.

Be sure to check it before you do anything to your account and back up any files you deem necessary. After deleting your account, you can no longer access files stored in the associated OneDrive account. This also applies to any important emails.

However, games purchased using your Microsoft account will still be playable after the deletion. But any game progress, Gamerscore, and Gamertag will be deleted since it is stored in the account.

Lastly, if you use an Xbox Music Pass, you will no longer have access to the music once you close the account.

Deal With Sub Accounts

Even if you delete your Microsoft accounts, any child accounts connected to them will remain open.

However, they will need another parent account to consent when logging in to different devices. Therefore, if you have any sub-accounts under your account, make sure to create a new parent account for them.

Transfer Ownership of Any NuGet.org Packages

If you own any packages at NuGet.org, be sure to transfer the ownership to a different account before you delete your account.

If you are not a developer and don’t have any existing packages on this website, you can skip this step.

Turn Off Reset Protection

If you have enabled reset protection on any of your devices associated with your Microsoft account, be sure to disable it before closing the account. If you don’t, you cannot access the device once the account is deleted.

You can also try to create a new account for these devices so you can still enjoy them even after deleting your account.

How To Delete Your Microsoft Account

Once you’re sure that you want to delete your account and have tied any loose ends, follow these steps:

1. On your browser, go to the Close your account page of the Microsoft website. 
2. Type in the email address associated with the Microsoft account you want to delete on this page. Click Next. 

3. Enter your Password, and click Sign in.

4. In some instances, you will be asked to verify your account. Follow the verification steps on the screen. Otherwise, go to the next step.
5. After you’ve logged in to your account, you will be taken to a page with everything you need to do before closing the account. You also have the option to choose how long Microsoft will wait before they permanently delete your account. Once you’ve read everything, click Next.

6. Read the list and make sure you understand the ramifications of closing your account. Then, select the checkboxes to acknowledge that you know them.
7. At the bottom of the page, choose the reason why you’re closing the account in the drop-down menu.

8. Click Mark account for closure.

9. Next, click Done.

Important note: Once you delete your Microsoft account, you have a 30 to 60 day grace period to retrieve your account before it is deleted forever. Your account is marked for closure during this waiting period, but it still exists.

If you want to open your account again, you can sign in again within 60 days. Your account will be just as you left it, and Microsoft will cancel the account closure.

Don’t Rush Into Closing Your Microsoft Account

While deleting the account isn’t tedious, preparing for it may take some time. So just remember, don’t rush the process of closing your account. Sure, you have a grace period to retrieve your account if you forgot something or you want to undo your decision. But it would save you so much time if you tie your loose ends right the first time, rather than retrieving the account and doing everything all over again.