How to Delete a Hotmail Account (And What You Need to Know First)
Hotmail hasn't existed as a standalone service for over a decade — Microsoft migrated all Hotmail accounts to Outlook.com back in 2013. But here's the thing: your old Hotmail address still works. If you log in with [email protected], you're actually accessing an Outlook.com account with a Hotmail alias. That distinction matters a lot when it comes to deletion.
So when people ask how to delete a Hotmail account, they're almost always asking one of two slightly different questions:
- How do I close the Microsoft account tied to that Hotmail address entirely?
- How do I just remove the Hotmail email alias while keeping my Microsoft account?
These are very different actions with very different consequences.
What Deleting a "Hotmail Account" Actually Means
Because Hotmail is now part of Microsoft's ecosystem, your @hotmail.com address is tied to a Microsoft account — the same account used for Xbox, OneDrive, Microsoft 365, the Windows Store, and more. Deleting it doesn't just remove an inbox. It potentially removes access to everything connected to that account.
Before you touch anything, it's worth mapping out what your Microsoft account is actually linked to:
- Xbox profile and game library
- OneDrive files and storage
- Microsoft 365 subscriptions
- Skype contacts and history
- Any apps or services that use "Sign in with Microsoft"
If your Hotmail address is just a spare email you no longer use and isn't tied to anything important, deletion is straightforward. If it's woven into years of purchases and logins, the stakes are higher.
Option 1: Delete the Entire Microsoft Account 🗑️
This permanently closes the account and removes everything associated with it. Microsoft builds in a waiting period — typically 60 days — during which the account is deactivated but not yet fully deleted. You can cancel the closure during this window if you change your mind.
Steps to close your Microsoft account:
- Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Hotmail credentials.
- Navigate to Security → Advanced security options or go directly to the account closure page at
account.microsoft.com/profile/close-account. - Microsoft will walk you through a checklist — reviewing active subscriptions, remaining balances (like gift card credit), and linked services.
- Confirm you understand what will be lost, then submit the closure request.
Microsoft requires you to review and acknowledge each category before proceeding. This isn't just bureaucracy — it's a genuine safeguard, because many users don't realize how many services are connected until they see the list.
What gets permanently deleted:
- The email address and all messages
- OneDrive files
- Xbox achievements and purchases (in most cases)
- Microsoft Rewards points
- Any remaining Microsoft Store credit
Option 2: Remove Just the Hotmail Alias
If you want to stop using your @hotmail.com address but keep your Microsoft account intact, you can remove it as an email alias rather than closing the whole account.
This works if your account has multiple email addresses associated with it. You'd set a different address (like an @outlook.com or personal domain) as the primary alias, then remove the Hotmail one.
Steps to remove an alias:
- Sign in at account.microsoft.com.
- Go to Your info → Edit account info → Manage how you sign in to Microsoft.
- You'll see a list of email aliases tied to the account.
- Select the Hotmail address and choose Remove.
⚠️ You cannot remove an alias that's set as the primary alias or the only sign-in method. You need at least one other verified method in place first.
Factors That Affect How This Plays Out
The process looks different depending on your situation:
| Scenario | Recommended Path |
|---|---|
| Hotmail is your only Microsoft account, no linked services | Full account deletion |
| Hotmail is tied to Xbox, Office, or purchases | Review carefully before deleting |
| You have multiple aliases and want to drop the Hotmail one | Alias removal only |
| You use Hotmail as a recovery email for other accounts | Update those accounts first |
| Account has an active Microsoft 365 subscription | Cancel or transfer subscription first |
Before You Delete: A Few Practical Steps
Regardless of which path you take, a few things are worth doing in advance:
- Export your emails. Use Outlook.com's built-in export tool or a mail client like Outlook desktop to download a local copy via IMAP before closing anything.
- Update linked accounts. Any service where you've used "Sign in with Microsoft" or listed this as a recovery email will lose that connection.
- Download OneDrive files. Once the account is closed, OneDrive content is gone.
- Check for active subscriptions. Microsoft will flag these, but knowing ahead of time avoids surprises.
What Happens to the Email Address After Deletion
Once a Microsoft account is fully deleted, the email address enters a reclaim period during which Microsoft holds it and prevents others from registering it. After an extended period, Microsoft may eventually make it available again — though historically @hotmail.com addresses have been treated conservatively in this regard.
This means you generally cannot hand the address off to someone else or reclaim it yourself after deletion completes.
The Variable That Matters Most
The right move here depends almost entirely on how deeply embedded your Hotmail address is in your digital life. For some users, it's a dormant inbox with no meaningful connections — deletion takes five minutes and leaves nothing behind. For others, it's the login credential for a decade's worth of purchases, subscriptions, and app authorizations.
The technical steps are the same either way. What changes is the preparation required before you take them — and whether removing the address means removing an alias or dismantling something much larger.