Hotmail became Outlook.com years ago, but the old name has stuck around — and so has the confusion about how to actually get rid of an account you no longer use. Maybe you’re consolidating email accounts, cleaning up your digital footprint, or just tired of an inbox you haven’t opened since 2019.
Whatever the reason, choosing to permanently delete a Hotmail account — or delete an Outlook account, since they’re the same thing — is final once it’s fully processed, so it’s worth doing it the right way. This guide covers exactly how to delete your account on desktop and mobile, what happens to your data, how long you have to change your mind, and how to recover an account if you deleted it by accident.
Quick answer: To delete a Hotmail account, sign in at account.microsoft.com, go to Your info > Close my account, complete Microsoft’s verification checklist, choose a 30-day or 60-day recovery window, and confirm the closure. Your account stays recoverable until that window ends, after which it’s permanently deleted.
Most users can choose either 30 or 60 days. However, Microsoft may require the 60-day option if you recently changed your security information.
Table of Contents
Before You Delete: 3 Things to Check First
Account deletion with Microsoft isn’t instant — but it is final. Before you start the process, take five minutes to check these:
- Back up anything you want to keep. Once your account is permanently deleted, your emails, contacts, and attached OneDrive files are gone for good. If you have years of emails, receipts, or photos attached to the account, export or download them first.
- Update your login info elsewhere. If you use this Hotmail address to sign into other apps, banking sites, or subscriptions, update those accounts with a new email first — otherwise you’ll lock yourself out of them too.
- Make sure it’s really the account you want to delete. If you have multiple Microsoft accounts, double-check that you’re signed in to the correct one before starting the account closure process. Deleting the wrong account could permanently remove access to your emails, OneDrive files, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, Xbox purchases, and other Microsoft services linked to that account. Why Back Up Your Emails First?
It’s easy to assume you won’t miss an old inbox — until you actually need something from it. The most common things people realize they’ve lost after permanently deleting a Hotmail account include:
- Tax records and receipts sent as email attachments or confirmations
- Invoices and order history from years of online purchases
- Legal or official correspondence tied to that address
- Photos and videos sent as attachments that were never saved elsewhere
- Contacts built up over years that aren’t stored anywhere else
None of this is recoverable once the deletion window closes — there’s no support ticket or appeal that brings it back. It’s the same reason it’s worth protecting your Microsoft 365 data proactively rather than after the fact. If you’d rather keep the data without keeping the account, a tool like SkyMigrate can back up or migrate your Hotmail/Outlook mailbox — emails, attachments, and contacts — to cloud storage before you close the account, so nothing gets lost in the process.
How to Delete a Hotmail Account on Desktop
- Go to the Microsoft account closure page and sign in with the Hotmail/Outlook.com account you want to delete.
- Review Microsoft’s checklist of things tied to your account (subscriptions, OneDrive files, Xbox data, etc.) and check each box — this is your last chance to save anything you need.
- Select your reason for leaving (optional, but Microsoft asks).
- Choose your re-open window: 30 days or 60 days. This is how long you’ll have to change your mind before the deletion becomes permanent — note that if you’ve recently reset your sign-in verification or MFA settings, Microsoft requires the 60-day option.
- Click Mark account for closure to confirm.
Once confirmed, your account enters a deactivation period based on the window you selected — more on that below.
How to Delete a Hotmail Account on Mobile (Outlook App)
If you’re wondering how do you delete an Outlook email account from your phone, the short answer is: the Outlook mobile app doesn’t let you fully close your Microsoft account — it only removes the account from the app. To permanently delete the account itself, you’ll still need to use a mobile browser:
- Open Safari, Chrome, or your default browser on your phone.
- Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in.
- Tap the menu icon and select Your info.
- Scroll to Close my account and follow the same steps as the desktop process above, including choosing your 30- or 60-day re-open window.
If you just want to remove the Hotmail account from the Outlook app (without deleting the account itself), go to Settings > Mail Accounts, tap the account, and select Delete Account. This only signs you out of the app — your Hotmail account stays active. If you need to re-add it later, you’ll just need your Hotmail IMAP settings handy.
Can You Delete Only the Hotmail Email Address?
A common point of confusion: there’s no way to delete just the @hotmail.com or @outlook.com email address while keeping the rest of your Microsoft account active. Your email address and your Microsoft account are the same login — closing one closes the other.
If your actual goal is to stop using that email address going forward without losing access to Xbox, Microsoft 365, or other linked services, your options are:
- Add an alias and make it your primary alias, so you can eventually stop giving out the old @hotmail.com address without closing the account
- Remove the account from your devices (see the mobile section above) so it’s out of sight without triggering permanent deletion
- Switch to a different provider entirely — if you’re moving away from Hotmail/Outlook for good, it’s worth comparing other email service providers before you commit
- Fully close the account only if you’re certain you no longer need any of the linked services
What Happens After You “Delete” a Hotmail Account
This is the part most people get wrong: clicking “Close my account” doesn’t delete anything immediately.
- During your re-open window (30 or 60 days): Deactivation period. Your account is deactivated but not deleted. You can’t send or receive emails, and the account is inaccessible to anyone — but if you log back in during this window, you can reopen the account and it’s fully restored.
- After the window ends: Permanent deletion. Once the re-open period ends, Microsoft permanently deletes the account and all associated data — emails, contacts, calendar, OneDrive files, and Microsoft 365 settings. This cannot be undone.
This buffer exists specifically so accidental or impulsive closures can be reversed. If you’re not 100% sure, you can always start the closure process, choose the longer 60-day window, and simply not log back in once you’ve confirmed it’s the right decision.
What Services Will You Lose?
Closing your Hotmail/Outlook.com account closes your entire Microsoft account, which affects more than just email:
| Service | Deleted? |
| Outlook.com / Hotmail email | ✅ Yes |
| OneDrive files | ✅ Yes |
| Xbox profile and Gamerscore | ✅ Yes |
| Skype and Teams (Free) | ✅ Yes |
| Microsoft 365 subscription | Depends — cancel separately to stop billing |
| Microsoft Rewards points | ✅ Yes |
How to Recover a Hotmail Account You Accidentally Deleted
If you’re within your re-open window:
- Go to outlook.com or account.microsoft.com.
- Sign in with your Hotmail email and password as usual.
- You’ll see a message that your account is scheduled for deletion, with an option to reopen it.
- Enter the security code sent to you, and your account — including emails, contacts, and files — will be fully restored.
If your 30- or 60-day window has already passed, the account and its data are unrecoverable through Microsoft. There is no support ticket, appeal, or workaround that brings back permanently deleted data after this window closes — which is exactly why backing up important emails before you close the account matters more than most people realize.
Deleting vs. Closing vs. Removing: What’s the Difference?
Since these terms get used interchangeably, here’s what each one actually means in Microsoft’s system:
| Term | What it actually does |
| Close/delete Microsoft account | Fully deactivates and eventually erases the Microsoft account, including email, OneDrive, and linked services |
| Remove account (from a device or app) | Signs the account out of that specific device or app; the account itself stays active |
| Delete emails | Removes messages from the inbox but doesn’t touch the account itself |
If your goal is just to remove a Hotmail account from your phone or Outlook app without deleting anything, “removing” it (not closing it) is usually the right move. Full account closure is only for when you want to permanently delete the Hotmail account itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my Hotmail account also delete my Xbox or Skype account?
Yes. Since Microsoft accounts are unified across services, closing your Hotmail/Outlook.com account closes access to any linked Xbox, Skype, or Microsoft 365 data tied to that same login.
Can I create a new Hotmail account with the same email address later?
No. Once an account is permanently deleted, Microsoft does not allow that email address to be reused or re-registered by anyone.
Will I stop receiving emails immediately after closing my account?
Yes, during the deactivation period. The account can’t send or receive mail once closure is confirmed, but it isn’t publicly available either — anyone emailing that address will simply get delivery failures rather than reaching a new owner.
What happens to shared OneDrive files if I close my account?
They become inaccessible after permanent deletion. Files you’ve shared with others stop working once the account is fully deleted, unless the other person already saved a copy to their own storage.
Is there a way to deactivate my account temporarily without starting the deletion countdown?
Not exactly. Microsoft doesn’t offer a separate “pause” feature. The closest options are removing the account from your devices (see the mobile section above) or simply not using it for a while, without going through official closure.
How long does Microsoft keep my data during the recovery window?
For the entire 30 or 60 days you selected. Your full account — emails, contacts, calendar, and files — remains intact and recoverable for that whole period, as long as you don’t take further action to skip ahead in the deletion process.
Can I delete my Hotmail account without deleting my Microsoft account?
No. A Hotmail or Outlook.com address is part of your Microsoft account, not a separate service attached to it. Permanently deleting the account removes access to Outlook, OneDrive, Xbox, Skype, and any other Microsoft services linked to that same login.
Closing an old Hotmail account is straightforward once you know the steps. Before permanently deleting your account, save any important emails, contacts, or attachments. Once the recovery period expires, Microsoft permanently removes the account and its data. Because Hotmail supports IMAP, you can use Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, or a dedicated email backup tool like SkyMigrate to back up or migrate your mailbox before deleting the account.