What happens when you delete a Microsoft account from your computer

Deleting a Microsoft account from your computer removes that account's access to Windows and all the programs installed on it. The account itself still exists at Microsoft — you are not closing the account entirely, just removing it from this specific machine. After deletion, that person can no longer sign in to Windows on this computer, and their files, desktop settings, and program preferences tied to that account will no longer be accessible from the login screen.

If you are removing your own account and want to keep using the computer, you will need a different account with administrator permissions to complete the deletion. If you are removing someone else's account, you must be signed in as an administrator.

Windows will ask whether you want to delete the account's files (documents, photos, downloads, and everything in the user folder) or keep them. Most people keep the files and store them in a shared location, then delete the account itself.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be signed in as an administrator to delete any account, including your own.
  • Deleting the account from your computer does not close the Microsoft account — it only removes it from this machine.
  • Windows will ask whether to delete the account's files or keep them; keeping them is usually the safer choice.
  • If you are removing your own account, create or switch to a different administrator account first so you can still use the computer.
  • The deletion process takes less than a minute once you reach the account settings screen.

Steps to delete a Microsoft account on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then press Enter. Click Accounts in the left sidebar. On the left side, click Other people (Windows 10) or Other users (Windows 11).

Find the account you want to delete in the list and click it once to select it. A button labeled Remove will appear below the account name. Click Remove. Windows will ask you to confirm: "Are you sure you want to delete this account?" Click Delete account and data if you want to erase the account's files, or click Delete account only if you want to keep the files.

Windows will process the deletion for a few seconds. Once the screen returns to the account list, the account is gone from your computer. The person who owned that account can no longer sign in on this machine.

Deleting your own administrator account

If you are the only administrator on the computer and you want to delete your own account, you must create a second administrator account first. You cannot delete the last administrator account on a Windows machine — the system will not allow it.

To create a new administrator account, open Settings, go to Accounts, and click Other people or Other users. Click Add account. You can create a local account (one that exists only on this computer) or sign in with a Microsoft account. A local account is faster: choose I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account. Give it a name and password, then click Next.

Once the new account is created, click it and then click Change account type. Set the account type to Administrator and click OK. Sign out of your current account, sign in to the new administrator account, then return to Settings and delete your original account using the steps above.

What to do with the deleted account's files

If you chose Delete account only, Windows stores the account's files in a folder called C:\Users\[account name]. You can still access these files, but you need to move them somewhere else if you want to keep them, because Windows will eventually clean up the user folder.

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users. You will see a folder with the deleted account's name. Right-click it and choose Cut. Navigate to a shared location — your Documents folder, a USB drive, or an external hard drive — and right-click in the empty space, then choose Paste. This moves the files out of the user folder and into a location where they will not be automatically removed.

If the files are large or you have many of them, this process may take several minutes. Do not unplug the drive or turn off the computer while the files are moving.

Removing a Microsoft account that is linked to Windows Hello or a PIN

If the account you are deleting uses Windows Hello (facial recognition or fingerprint login) or a PIN instead of a password, the deletion process is the same. Windows will remove the account and all its login methods at once.

If you are deleting your own account and you set up Windows Hello or a PIN on it, make sure your new administrator account has a password you can remember. If you lock yourself out of the new account before you finish deleting the old one, you may not be able to regain access to the computer.

If the delete button is grayed out or does not appear

The Remove button will not appear if you are not signed in as an administrator. Sign out, sign in to an administrator account, and try again. If you are already signed in as an administrator and the button still does not appear, the account may be in use — close all programs and windows belonging to that account, or restart the computer and try again.

If the account is a child account managed through Microsoft Family, you may need to remove it from Family settings first. Open Settings, go to Accounts, and look for Family & other people or Family. Find the child account, click it, and choose Remove. Then return to Other people or Other users and delete it from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the account from my computer close the Microsoft account?

No. Deleting the account from your computer only removes it from that machine. The Microsoft account still exists, and the person can sign in on a different computer or device. To fully close a Microsoft account, the account owner must visit account.microsoft.com and request account closure.

Can I recover a deleted account?

Once deleted from your computer, the account cannot be recovered from Windows. However, the Microsoft account itself still exists. If you deleted the account by mistake, the person can sign in on another device or computer, or you can add the account back to this computer by going to Other people, clicking Add account, and signing in with the Microsoft email and password.

What happens to the deleted account's files if I choose delete account and data?

All files in the account's user folder — documents, photos, downloads, desktop files, and everything in AppData — are permanently deleted. This cannot be undone. If you are unsure whether you need the files, choose Delete account only instead, move the files to a safe location, and then delete the folder later.

Do I need to uninstall programs that the deleted account used?

No. Programs installed on Windows are shared across all accounts on the computer. Deleting an account does not uninstall any programs. If you want to remove a program, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find the program, and click Uninstall.

Can I delete an account if I forgot the password?

Yes, as long as you are signed in as a different administrator account. You do not need the password of the account you are deleting. If you are trying to delete your own account and you are the only administrator, you will need to create a new administrator account first using a local account (which does not require a password to set up).