How To Log Out Of Outlook On Desktop: Step‑By‑Step Guide

Signing out of Outlook on a desktop isn’t always as obvious as it sounds—especially because “logging out” can mean different things depending on how you use Outlook.

On desktop, Outlook is usually a full email client, not just a website. That means it stores your account, your emails, and sometimes even your password, so “log out” can involve more than just closing a browser tab.

This guide walks through what “logging out” means in Outlook on desktop, how to do it in different versions, and what changes based on your device and setup.

What “Logging Out” of Outlook on Desktop Actually Means

In a web browser (like Outlook on the web), logging out is simple: you click Sign out, and your session ends.

On desktop, there are a few different layers:

Outlook app session – The app is open and connected to your account.
Saved account in Outlook – Your email account is configured in the app.
Windows or macOS account – Your computer login might be tied to your Microsoft account.
Stored credentials – Your username and password may be cached by Windows, macOS, or a password manager.

So depending on what you want, “log out of Outlook” could mean:

Just closing Outlook so nobody can see your inbox.
Switching to a different mailbox in Outlook.
Removing your email account from Outlook so it’s no longer available on that device.
Disconnecting your Microsoft account from the computer itself.

The right move depends on your security needs and whether you still want to use that Outlook profile on this device.

How To Log Out of Outlook on Desktop (Quick Options)

1. If You Just Want to Stop Using Outlook for Now

This is the lightest version of “logging out”:

Close the Outlook window using the X in the top-right (Windows) or red close button (Mac).
Make sure Outlook is not still running in the background:
- Windows:
  - Look in the system tray (icons near the clock).
  - If you see the Outlook icon, right‑click it and choose Exit or Close Outlook.
- Mac:
  - Click Outlook in the menu bar.
  - Choose Quit Outlook.

This does not remove your account. Anyone who has access to your user account on the computer can reopen Outlook and see your mail.

Use this if:
You’re at home on your own computer and just want to stop checking email.

2. Log Out of Outlook by Removing an Email Account (Windows)

If you don’t want your Outlook account available on this PC at all, you’ll want to remove the email account from the Outlook app.

This works in recent versions like Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2021/2019/2016.

Open Outlook on your desktop.
Click File in the top-left corner.
In the Info tab (usually opens by default), click Account Settings, then again Account Settings… from the dropdown.
In the Email tab, you’ll see a list of your configured accounts.
Select the account you want to sign out of.
Click Remove.
If a warning appears (for example, about offline cached content), read it carefully and click Yes or Remove to confirm.

What this does:

Outlook stops syncing that mailbox.
The account no longer appears in the folder list.
New emails for that account no longer download to this computer.

However:

Some cached data (offline copies of emails, OST/PST files) may still exist on your computer’s drive.
You can re-add the account later if needed.

Use this if:
You’re using Outlook on a shared or work computer and don’t want your mailbox to remain accessible.

3. Log Out by Switching Profiles (Windows)

If multiple people use the same computer and want separate Outlook setups, you can use Outlook profiles.

Check Your Profile Settings

Close Outlook completely.
Open Control Panel in Windows.
Search for Mail (sometimes labeled Mail (Microsoft Outlook)) and open it.
Click Show Profiles….

Here you can:

See existing profiles.
Add a new profile for another user.
Choose Prompt for a profile to be used so Outlook asks which profile to open each time you start it.

Switching to a different profile effectively logs you out of one Outlook setup and into another, since each profile can have different accounts and settings.

Use this if:
Multiple people share a Windows login but want their own clean Outlook environment.

4. Log Out of Outlook on Mac (Remove Account)

On macOS, the idea is similar: remove the email account from the Outlook app.

Steps differ slightly between New Outlook and Classic Outlook, but the general approach is the same.

A. New Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook.
In the menu bar, click Tools (or look for Settings depending on version).
Go to Accounts.
In the left-hand list, select the account you want to remove.
Click the minus (-) button at the bottom of the list or choose Delete / Remove account.
Confirm when prompted.

B. Classic Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook.
Click Tools in the menu bar.
Choose Accounts….
Highlight the account you want to sign out of.
Click the minus (-) button or similar remove option.
Confirm removal.

As with Windows:

The account disappears from Outlook and stops syncing email.
Local copies of data might remain on disk, depending on your configuration.

Use this if:
You’re on a Mac and want to disconnect an email account from Outlook on that machine.

5. Sign Out of Outlook.com (If You’re Using It in a Browser on Desktop)

Sometimes people say “Outlook on desktop” but mean Outlook.com in a web browser on a laptop/PC.

To sign out there:

Open your browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, etc.).
Go to outlook.com (or office.com if you’re there).
Click your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
Click Sign out.
Close the browser window if needed.

If you don’t want the browser to auto‑sign you in next time:

Clear cookies for Outlook.com or Microsoft domains.
Turn off “Stay signed in” when logging in again.
Double‑check your browser isn’t set to auto‑fill your credentials.

Use this if:
You read email through a browser on a shared or public computer.

Important Variables That Change How You Should Log Out

How you log out safely depends on several factors:

1. Device Ownership and Privacy

Personal computer, only you use it
- Closing Outlook might be enough.
- You might still be comfortable keeping your account added in the app.
Shared family computer
- Removing the account from Outlook or using separate profiles is safer.
- You might also use separate Windows/macOS user accounts.
Public or work computer
- You generally don’t want your account permanently added to Outlook.
- Using a browser (Outlook on the web) and signing out after use is often safer.

2. Type of Account

Different account types behave a bit differently:

Microsoft 365 / Exchange / Work or School accounts
- Often managed by an IT department.
- Removing the account from Outlook might also remove calendar and contacts syncing.
- Some organizations enforce sign‑in rules or automatic re‑sign‑in.
Personal Outlook.com / Hotmail / Live accounts
- Typically more flexible; you control how and where they’re added.
- You can remove them from Outlook without affecting other people.
Gmail, Yahoo, or other IMAP/POP accounts
- These are added as third‑party accounts.
- Removing them only affects access on that specific Outlook installation.

3. Operating System and Version of Outlook

Windows vs macOS – Menu names and paths differ.
Older Outlook (e.g., 2013) vs newer Outlook (Microsoft 365) – The basics are similar (File → Account Settings), but exact wording or layout changes.
“New Outlook” apps – Microsoft is rolling out newer experiences; some options move under simplified menus.

4. Security Requirements

High‑security needs (sensitive work, shared machine, travel)
- You may want to fully remove accounts, sign out of the OS account, and disable password caching.
Everyday personal email
- You might be fine with Outlook keeping your account and just closing the app.

5. How You Sign Into Windows or macOS

If your Windows login is your Microsoft account, some sign‑in details might be shared across Microsoft apps automatically.
If you use a local Windows account or separate macOS account, Outlook’s login is more isolated.

Different User Scenarios: What “Log Out” Looks Like in Practice

Here’s how these variables change what makes sense to do.

Casual Home User on a Personal PC

Goal: Stop seeing work email after hours, basic privacy.
Likely actions:
- Quit Outlook when not needed.
- Let Outlook stay signed in so you don’t have to type your password every time.

Family PC Shared by Several People

Goal: Keep each person’s email private.
Possible setups:
- Create separate Windows/macOS user accounts for each person.
- Or use separate Outlook profiles and choose a profile at launch.
- Or add/remove accounts from Outlook as needed after each use (less convenient).

Employee Using a Work PC in an Office

Goal: Respect company policy, keep corporate mail secure.
IT may:
- Manage your Outlook login centrally.
- Enforce automatic re‑authentication or PINs.
Logging out might mean:
- Locking your workstation (Windows + L / Ctrl+Cmd+Q on Mac).
- Following company guidance for signing out of Outlook or removing your account when changing devices.

Using a Library, Hotel, or Public Computer

Goal: Leave absolutely no access behind.
Safer pattern:
- Use Outlook.com in a browser instead of adding your account to the Outlook desktop app.
- Sign out from Outlook.com after you’re done.
- Close all browser windows and, if possible, clear browsing data.

Where Your Own Setup Creates the “Gap”

The right way to “log out of Outlook on desktop” depends on:

Whether the computer is yours alone or shared.
Whether you’re using Outlook the app or just Outlook.com in a browser.
What type of email account you have (personal, work, school, Gmail, etc.).
How comfortable you are with your email staying locally cached on the machine.
Whether you want to switch accounts easily or wipe access completely.

Once you look at your own device, account type, and how others might use that computer, it becomes clearer whether you just need to close Outlook, switch profiles, or fully remove your account from the desktop app.