How to Delete An Account on Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is a widely used email client that enables users to access multiple email accounts at the same time. It is a popular choice for business and personal purposes. Sometimes, you may want to delete an email account from your Outlook due to several reasons, such as privacy concerns or you no longer need the account. This article will guide you on how to delete an account on Microsoft Outlook.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to Delete an Account on Microsoft Outlook

There could be various reasons why you may need to delete an account on Microsoft Outlook. Some of the main reasons are:

• You no longer use the email account and want to free up space.
• You want to remove an email account due to privacy concerns.
• You have too many email accounts linked to Outlook and want to simplify your email setup.
• You have switched to a different email service provider and no longer require the current account that is linked to Outlook.

Method 1: Via Microsoft Outlook Desktop App

Here are the steps to delete an email account via the Microsoft Outlook desktop app:

1. Open Outlook on your desktop.
2. Click on the "File" tab at the top left corner of the window.
3. Select "Info" from the left sidebar menu.
4. Click on "Account Settings" and select "Account Settings" again from the drop-down menu.
5. Select the email account you want to delete and click on "Remove".
6. A pop-up window will appear asking for the confirmation, click on "Yes".
7. Click on "Close" after the email account has been removed successfully.
8. If you have multiple email accounts linked to Outlook, repeat the above steps for each account you want to remove.

Pros:

• Easy and straightforward method to delete an account.
• No need to log in to your email account’s web interface.
• You can delete multiple accounts at once.

Cons:

• You need to have access to the desktop app.
• You may not be able to recover the emails or other data associated with the deleted account.

Method 2: Via Web Browser

Here are the steps to delete an email account via the web browser:

1. Log in to your email account’s web interface such as Outlook.live.com or Outlook.com.
2. Click on the gear icon on the top right corner of the screen and select "View all Outlook settings".
3. Select "Sync email" from the left sidebar menu.
4. Select the email account you want to delete and click on "Remove".
5. A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation, click on "Yes".
6. The email account will be removed from your Outlook.

Pros:

• You can delete an email account from any web browser with internet connectivity.
• You can access your account’s web interface from any device with internet connectivity.
• You can manage other aspects of your email account from the same interface.

Cons:

• You need to have internet connectivity.
• You may not be able to recover the emails or other data associated with the deleted account.

Method 3: Via Microsoft Account Dashboard

Here are the steps to delete an email account via the Microsoft Account dashboard:

1. Log in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com.
2. Select "Security" from the left sidebar menu.
3. Scroll down to the "More security options" section and select "Advanced security options".
4. Click on "Manage" under "Account security" section.
5. Enter your Microsoft account password to verify your identity.
6. Select "Remove" under the email account you want to delete.
7. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to remove the email account, click on "Remove".

Pros:

• You can delete an email account from anywhere with internet connectivity.
• You can manage your Microsoft account from the same interface.
• Good option if you have multiple email accounts linked to your Microsoft account.

Cons:

• You need to have internet connectivity.
• You may not be able to recover the emails or other data associated with the deleted account.
• You need to have your Microsoft account login credentials.

What to Do If You Can’t Delete An Account on Microsoft Outlook

If you are having trouble deleting an email account from Microsoft Outlook, try the following:

• Ensure there is no sync issue with your email account.
• Check if you are logged in with the administrator account.
• Make sure your Outlook is updated to the latest version.
• Try restarting your computer and deleting the email account again.
• Repair your Microsoft Office installation if the issue persists.

Bonus Tip

Before deleting your email account on Outlook, make sure to backup all your important emails and data to avoid losing them permanently.

5 FAQs

Q1: Can I recover a deleted email account on Microsoft Outlook?

A: No, once you delete an email account on Microsoft Outlook, it cannot be recovered.

Q2: Will deleting an email account on Microsoft Outlook delete my emails?

A: No, deleting an email account on Outlook only removes the account from the email client, the emails and data associated with that account can still be accessed from the account’s web interface or any other email client linked to that account.

Q3: Can I delete the primary email account on Microsoft Outlook?

A: No, the primary email account on Microsoft Outlook cannot be deleted. You can remove other email accounts linked to Outlook, but not the primary one.

Q4: How can I remove a cached email account from Microsoft Outlook?

A: You can remove a cached email account from Microsoft Outlook by following the steps given in Method 1 above.

Q5: Can I delete an email account on Microsoft Outlook if it’s connected with other accounts and services like Skype or OneDrive?

A: Yes, you can delete an email account from Microsoft Outlook even if it’s connected with other accounts and services like Skype or OneDrive.

Final Thoughts

Deleting an email account from Microsoft Outlook might seem like a daunting task at first, but with the above-mentioned methods, you can get it done without any hassle. It is recommended to back up all your important emails and data before deleting an email account permanently. If you face any difficulty while deleting your email account, try the troubleshooting steps given in the "What to Do If You Can’t Delete An Account on Microsoft Outlook" section.