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How do I close my account for Hotmail, Messenger, and other Windows Live services?

When you close your Windows Live ID account, you delete your account information, including your Windows Live ID and password, your registered information, and your contacts. After you delete an account, you can't use that Windows Live ID anymore to sign in to Windows Live products and services.

To close your account

  1. Go to the Windows Live Account overview webpage, and then sign in with your Windows Live ID.

  2. Under Other options , click the Close account link.

  3. Verify that the correct Windows Live ID appears, type your password, and then click Yes.

To close only your Hotmail account

Your Windows Live Hotmail account will become inactive if you don't sign in for more than 270 days or within the first 10 days after signing up for your account. After an account becomes inactive, all messages, folders, and contacts are deleted, and incoming messages are sent back to the sender as undeliverable. If you want to close your account right away:

  1. Visit the Windows Live Hotmail close account webpage.

  2. Follow the instructions, and then click Close account to close your account.

Notes

Notes

If you have a Windows Live subscription account, close that account before you close your Windows Live ID account.

If you manage a child's Windows Live ID, the child's Windows Live ID permissions will be revoked if you close your Windows Live account.

Some of your information won't be deleted. To learn more about this, see the privacy statement.

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