How to Remove a Microsoft Account from “Accounts Used By Other Apps” in Windows

Removing a Microsoft account from the “Accounts used by other apps” section in Windows is a straightforward process. This action prevents the account from being accessed by various applications on your computer, enhancing your privacy and security.

Here’s how to do it in Windows 11 (the steps are similar for Windows 10):

1. Open Settings: Click the Start button and then select the Settings icon (gear icon).
2. Navigate to Accounts: In the Settings window, click on “Accounts”.
3. Select Email & accounts: In the Accounts settings, click on “Email & accounts”.
4. Locate “Accounts used by other apps”: Scroll down until you find the section labeled “Accounts used by other apps”.
5. Select the Account: Click on the Microsoft account you wish to remove.
6. Click Remove: A “Remove” button will appear. Click it to initiate the removal process.
7. Confirm Removal: A confirmation dialog box will appear to ensure you want to remove the account. Click “Yes” or “Remove” to confirm.

Once you’ve followed these steps, the Microsoft account will be disassociated from the applications listed in that section. Keep in mind that you may need to re-enter your credentials in specific apps if they require access to that Microsoft account again. This action doesn’t delete the Microsoft account itself; it only removes its accessibility by other apps on your system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does “Accounts used by other apps” mean?

The “Accounts used by other apps” section lists Microsoft accounts that have been granted access to various applications on your computer. These applications might use your account for syncing data, accessing cloud services, or verifying your identity.

2. Why would I want to remove an account from this section?

Removing an account from this section enhances your privacy and security. If you no longer use certain apps or wish to revoke their access to your Microsoft account, removing it from this list is a good practice. It also minimizes the risk of unauthorized access if an app becomes compromised.

3. Will removing an account delete it entirely?

No, removing an account from the “Accounts used by other apps” section does not delete your Microsoft account. It only prevents apps on your computer from accessing it. Your account remains active and accessible through other devices and services.

4. What happens to the data synced with the apps after removal?

After removing the account, the apps will no longer be able to sync data with that account. Any data already synced might remain on your device, but new changes will not be synchronized. You may need to reconfigure the apps with a different account or stop using the syncing features altogether.

5. How do I add an account back to the “Accounts used by other apps” section?

To add an account back, simply sign in to the app that requires access to your Microsoft account. The app will prompt you to grant permission, and the account will reappear in the “Accounts used by other apps” section.

6. Can I remove the primary Microsoft account linked to my Windows profile?

Removing the primary Microsoft account directly linked to your Windows profile requires switching your account to a local account. This process disconnects your Microsoft account from your Windows login and settings. To do this:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
2. Click on “Sign in with a local account instead”.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a local account.

7. What are the implications of switching to a local account?

Switching to a local account means you’ll lose access to certain Microsoft services and features, such as automatic syncing of settings across devices, OneDrive integration, and some Microsoft Store apps. However, you’ll gain more control over your local data and privacy.

8. How do I remove a work or school account?

To remove a work or school account:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school.
2. Select the account you want to remove.
3. Click “Disconnect”.
4. Confirm the removal in the dialog box.

9. I cannot remove a broken account from “Accounts used by other apps.” What can I do?

If you encounter a broken or malfunctioning account that cannot be removed through the standard method, try the following:

• Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches.
• Run the System File Checker: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command sfc /scannow to scan and repair corrupted system files.
• Create a new user profile: As a last resort, create a new user profile and migrate your data to it. This can bypass issues related to the broken account.

10. How do I remove an email account from Outlook.com?

If you’ve connected an email account to Outlook.com and want to remove it:

1. Go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Sync email.
2. Under “Manage your connected accounts”, find the account you want to remove.
3. Click the “Delete” icon (usually a trash can).
4. Save your changes.

11. How to remove a connected account?

To remove a connected account:

1. Select Settings > Sync email.
2. Under Manage your connected accounts, move the cursor over the account you want to remove and then select Delete.
3. Select Save.
4. After you remove the account from Outlook.com, you can delete email messages from the connected account.

12. What happens if I unlink a Microsoft account?

Unlinking your Microsoft account will remove all the data associated with it from your device. However, it won’t affect the customization settings you have made on your Windows.

13. How do I change the Microsoft account on my computer administrator?

1. Select Start > Settings > Accounts.
2. Under Family & other users, select the account owner name (you should see “Local account” below the name), then select Change account type.
3. Under Account type, select Administrator, and then select OK.
4. Sign in with the new administrator account.

14. Can you delete the built-in administrator account?

To delete Windows’s built-in Administrator account, right-click the Administrator name and select Delete. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer. When you open the Local Users and Groups window, you’ll find the built-in Administrator account was deleted successfully.

15. Why you should disable the administrator account?

Because the Administrator account is known to exist on many versions of the Windows operating system, it’s a best practice to disable the Administrator account when possible to make it more difficult for malicious users to gain access to the server or client computer.

Remember that these steps are designed to help you manage your account access across various applications on your device. Keeping your account settings up-to-date is crucial for maintaining a secure and private computing environment. For more information about educational gaming resources, check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ or GamesLearningSociety.org.