Deleting your Microsoft account, or any other email account for that matter, is a big decision. It can have an impact on your digital life in a big way, especially if you use any of Microsoft’s products or services. Things could get worse if you don’t know how and when to recover it, in case you deleted your account accidentally.
Regardless, it’s important to know what you’ll achieve and lose once your Microsoft account is deleted. To help out, we’ll guide you through the list of things you need to remember before deleting your Microsoft account.
1. You’ll Lose Everything Associated With Your Microsoft Account
When you delete your Microsoft account, you lose all the benefits that come with it. You’ll no longer be able to use your Outlook email, OneDrive’s 5GB free cloud storage, or any other Microsoft 365 apps for that matter. And if you’re using a Windows PC, it can get a lot worse.
While you may use your PC without logging in to your Microsoft account, you’ll lose out on many useful features if you use a local account instead. For example, you’ll need to have a Microsoft account toregister for the Windows Insiders Program. Being able to download and install apps from the Microsoft Store will also require a Microsoft account.
One more consequence that you’ll face is when you’re reinstalling Windows 11. If ever you need toreinstall Windows 11, it won’t be easy without a Microsoft account. And even if you manage to reinstall it without the account, you won’t get the best Windows experience on your PC.
2. You Have 60 Days to Recover Your Microsoft Account
If deleting your Microsoft account was not a well-thought-out decision, and you want to get it back, you’re in luck. You have up to 60 days to decide whether you want your Microsoft account back. All you have to do is log in again with the same login credentials you used in the now-deleted Microsoft account, and you’ll get everything back.
In the case of work accounts, the grace period is 30 days, after which it’s permanently deleted and can’t be recovered.
3. Cancel Subscriptions Associated With Your Microsoft Account
Deleting your Microsoft account doesn’t essentially end your subscriptions associated with that account, which means you might still have to pay the subscription fee when it renews. And the worst part is you might not be able to cancel that subscription easily.
Moreover, you won’t be able to easily solve any issues with that subscription in the future because you no longer have access to the email account associated with that service. It’s the same reason you won’t be able to easily cancel your subscription.
Microsoft recommends users cancel all their subscriptions associated with the Microsoft account before deleting it. But if you didn’t, take full advantage of the grace period we mentioned. you may reactivate your account within 60 days, cancel all your subscriptions, and then delete it again.
4. Let Others Know How to Reach You Before Deleting Your Microsoft Account
If you have people who communicate with you over the email you’re planning to delete, don’t forget to tell them how they can contact you before deleting the account. Alternatives for your Microsoft email account could be another email account from a different service such as Gmail, social media accounts, or a phone number.
However, your phone number or social media accounts could be too personal to share. If you don’t know them in person, you shouldn’t share your contact number with them unless you use it only for business purposes. Long story short, make sure to think about who you’re sharing your details with.
5. Back Up Important Files and Data Associated With Your Microsoft Account
You’ll lose everything associated with your Microsoft account once you delete it. This means everything that you saved in OneDrive and all your emails that might contain attachments will be gone forever after you delete your Microsoft account.
In case you need those emails even after deleting your account, Outlook lets you take a backup of all your emails first. As for files and folders in OneDrive, you should look for an alternative cloud storage platform where you can store them. There are somecheap cloud storage platformsthat can easily replace OneDrive.
Should You Delete Your Microsoft Account?
The answer to this question depends on multiple factors. If you still have a Windows or Xbox device, it won’t be hard to decide. You’ll need a Microsoft account to use your PC or Xbox device to its full potential because there are features that are available only when you have an account.
You can create a Microsoft account and reap the benefits of various subscriptions, like Microsoft 365, withoutbuying a Windows deviceor Xbox console. For example, you can use Outlook emails and other Microsoft 365 services for free with limited features on any device with a browser.
If you no longer have a Windows device or Xbox console and don’t care about what Microsoft 365 has to offer, it won’t bring any trouble to delete your Microsoft account. Again, don’t forget to back up everything important before deleting the account.
Make an Informed Decision Before Deleting Your Microsoft Account
Deleting your Microsoft account should not be a random thought, as you might regret it later. Therefore, it is essential to make an informed decision about whether you should delete your Microsoft account, which is possible only when you are aware of all the consequences. You can now decide whether you should delete your Microsoft account.
