How to delete profile in Outlook

You can delete a profile to start over or fix common problems with the desktop version of Outlook, and in this guide, you'll learn how to perform this task.

Outlook app delete profile
Outlook app delete profile
  • To remove an Outlook profile on Windows, open Control Panel > User Accounts > Mail.
  • Or open Outlook > File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.
  • Then click on “Show Profiles,” select the Outlook profile and click “Remove.” 

In the Outlook desktop app, a profile includes your accounts, data files, settings, and preferences. If you have problems syncing, are seeing errors, or no longer need the profile, it’s possible to delete it from Windows 11 or 10.

You’ll delete all the downloaded emails when you delete an Outlook profile. However, any Personal Folders Files (pst) associated with the profile will stay on your device and can later be accessed from a new profile.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to delete an Outlook profile and its data to start over or fix issues with the email client app on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Delete profile in Outlook from Control Panel

To delete an Outlook app profile on Microsoft 365, Office 2021, 2019, 2016, and older versions, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Mail (Microsoft Outlook).

    Control Panel Mail (Microsoft Outlook)

  4. Under the “Profiles” section, click the Show Profiles button.

    Outlook profile settings

  5. Select the profile.

  6. Click the Remove button.

    Outlook delete profile

  7. Click the Yes button.

  8. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the profile with its accounts and the offline cache will be removed from the Outlook app. The next time you open the desktop version of Outlook, you’ll need to set up your accounts again, which should help you to start fresh or fix issues with your accounts or app.

If you have multiple profiles, you may need to repeat the steps to delete them.

Delete profile in Outlook from email client

To remove a profile from the Outlook app, use these steps:

  1. Open Outlook.

  2. Click on File.

  3. Click on Info.

  4. Click the “Account settings” menu on the right and select the Manage Profiles option.

    Outlook manage profiles

  5. Under the “Profiles” section, click the Show Profiles button.

    Outlook profile settings

  6. Select the profile to delete from Outlook.

  7. Click the Remove button.

    Outlook delete profile

  8. Click the Yes button.

  9. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the profile will no longer be available in Outlook.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.