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Summary: Delete your MSN Hotmail account with these step-by-step instructions. Deleting your MSN Hotmail account isn't neccessary, but it's easy to do.
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I've stopped using my MSN Hotmail account and I just want to get rid of it completely. How do I close it out? |
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Note This article has been replaced to reflect changes to Windows Live Hotmail. Please read: How do I close my Windows Live Hotmail account? |
In the past I've said "You don't. Just stop using it, stop logging in to it."
This will actually work. I mean, really ... if you're not looking at it, why would you care if it still existed or not?
Microsoft's own Knowledgebase article MSN Hotmail Top Issues and Support Information says that as well: "To close a Hotmail account, stop using it.".
Apparently that's not enough for many folks. OK, ok...
Follow these steps to delete your Hotmail account:
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Click Help on any Hotmail page (usually top right-hand corner).
Type Close Account in the keyword search section of the Help screen.
Click the Close Your Account link within the Help screen.
Click the go to the Close Account link that is highlighted in blue.
Read the instructions. When you are satisfied that you understand the terms associated with an account closure, click Close Account.
One note: if you're closing your account because you feel someone's abusing it, please be aware that some time after you close your account someone else could open a new one using your old account name and pretend to be you.
Personally, I recommend to just stop using it because that is the simplest thing to do. However, in the interest of keeping your reputation safe, I'd also recommend that you do check in on it every so often to keep it active just to make sure no one else takes it. I believe the same approach is best for most all of the free email services.
Related:
I've lost my Hotmail password, can you help get it back? If you have lost your Hotmail password, it's impossible for me to get it back for you. However, there are measures you can take to avoid this situation
Why can't I access HotMail? It's apparently common to have trouble accessing Hotmail. Unfortunately there is no clear reason why or even a clear direction to take.
How do I contact MSN Hotmail Customer Service? If you encounter problems with MSN Hotmail, it's natural to want to contact customer service. Not easy, perhaps not helpful, but it is possible.
Ask Dave Taylor - How do I cancel my America Online (AOL) account? For what are obvious reasons AOL doesn't make it easy for you to quit their service. For example, there's no "Cancel My AOL Service" option on the "Help" menu.
Article C2300 - March 7, 2005
My take is that in most schools the computers are turned on before the students arrive.
Posted by: Leo at March 24, 2005 9:04 AMSome one has hacked into my account, i want my password can u sent it to [Email Address Removed]
Posted by: hamid at May 9, 2005 4:06 AMYou want this article: http://ask-leo.com/ive_lost_my_hotmail_password_can_you_help_get_it_back.html
Posted by: Leo at May 11, 2005 4:55 PMI just tried to delete a hotmail account and it is bloody annoying that you can't just switch it off or set up an automated message, so that everybody who does email gets a notification about the fact that you actually won't get their emails... Is it set up this way to make it harder to leave hotmail?
Posted by: David Duvel at May 17, 2005 2:19 PMhttp://www.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/accountclose here is the direct link, took me a while to find as clicking on the close account took me to msn home page as well.
Posted by: sue at July 15, 2005 7:58 PMplease tell me.... will my instant messages still come to me since i delted my account? i hope not. thanks!
Posted by: taylor at July 26, 2005 9:54 PMIf you've deleted your account, then you can't login to your IM client with that account, so you can't get messages on that account.
Posted by: Leo at July 26, 2005 10:00 PMhi, i was wondering if i close my hotmail account and someone emails me at that account will it bounce back to them saying something like there is no such account or account does not exist or does it not let them know anything the reason i am asking is because i just closed my sisters account that she did not want anymore and was trying to see if i sent her an email if it would bounce back to me telling me account does not exist and i had got nothing its been like 4 days now was wondering because my sister got so many people that might still email her there. thank you for your help
Posted by: Freestyle at July 26, 2005 10:58 PMFreestyle: it depends on how long it's been closed. They keep it around for a little while, and I'm not sure if they bounce messages immediately or not. Certainly eventually they will, but how long that takes I don't know. ALSO be aware that if someone then creates an account using your old account name, they'll start getting that email.
Posted by: Leo at July 30, 2005 4:34 PMI'm closing comments on this article because the majority are simply the same question, as answered in the article, over and over.
To delete your Hotmail account, read the article at the top of the page.
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_delete_my_hotmail_account.html
Posted by: Leo at August 18, 2005 10:39 AM