I have an old email that I no longer have access to, and someone else is trying to access it. How do I delete the email address?

For an @msn.com address, permanent deletion requires closing the Microsoft account that owns it. Closing the Microsoft account permanently deletes the Outlook.com email account.

Important impacts:

• Email and contacts are deleted and can’t be recovered.
• Access is also lost to other Microsoft services tied to that Microsoft account, such as Xbox, Skype, and OneDrive.
• Saved BitLocker recovery keys associated with that account are also lost.

If sign-in is still possible:

1. Go to the account closure process and sign in.
2. Follow the instructions to close the account.

If sign-in is not possible:

• Use Contact Microsoft Support from the account closure page.
• Support agents cannot reset the account or change account details directly, but that is the documented path when the account can’t be signed in to.

If the old address is only being used as a verification method on another Microsoft account, remove it from Advanced security options by expanding that verification option and selecting Remove. Important: if all security info is removed, the account enters a 30-day restricted state.

References:

• Close your Outlook.com account
• Removing a sign-in verification method