Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live.com, and MSN addresses are all Microsoft accounts. Closing one deletes the Microsoft account behind it after a grace period, so review everything tied to it first.
Does this affect you?
Use this if you want to permanently close a personal Microsoft account used for Outlook, Hotmail, OneDrive, Xbox, Microsoft Store, or Microsoft 365.
Close your Microsoft account
This is the official deletion process for Outlook and Hotmail accounts.
- Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the account you want to close.
- Open Your info.
- Choose Close account and complete any identity verification.
- Review Microsoft’s checklist for email, OneDrive, Xbox, subscriptions, Store purchases, and balances.
- Select the reasons for closure if prompted.
- Choose the waiting period, usually 30 or 60 days.
- Confirm the closure request.
More control
Back up email and files first
After the grace period, email and OneDrive files tied to the account are deleted. Export important Outlook mail, set forwarding if available, and download OneDrive files before starting closure.
Handle subscriptions and balances
Cancel Microsoft 365, Xbox Game Pass, and other recurring subscriptions separately. Use or accept losing any Microsoft Store or gift card balance before closure.
Signing in cancels closure
During the 30- or 60-day waiting period, signing into the account normally reactivates it and cancels deletion. After the waiting period ends, the account is permanently deleted.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Close your Microsoft account (2025)
- Microsoft Support – What happens when you close your Microsoft account (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Change or reset your Microsoft account password (2025)