If you are going to close your entire account, not just your email, and have a Microsoft account: Live, Msn, Hotmail, or Outlook, you should save or download any of your documents or files saved to your OneDrive. Or if you have any information on your Xbox, make sure it is backed up before you close your Microsoft account. None of the progress that you have made on your games or scores will be saved after you close your account.

If you have a Microsoft account, spend the money on digital content in the Windows Store, the Windows Phone Store, or Xbox before you close your account. Likewise, other providers like Google will have stores where you can purchase media before you close your account.

If you purchased any products like Microsoft Office online, you had to purchase it through an email account. [3] X Research source Try typing “product key” or @DIGITALRIVER. COM, @TRY. OFFICEFORMAC. COM, or BUY. OFFICEFORMAC. COM into the search bar to find the email with the product key code and the order number. [4] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source Save the entire email in a new document and location.

Write an email that informs your contacts that you are closing your account, and give them a new email address that they can reach you at. Ask your contacts to update their contact information to your new email address.

If you have any other subscriptions through your email account but not with your service, go to the support page of any services or retailers you have subscriptions with, for example, Skype. Locate the information for how to cancel your subscription, and follow the necessary steps. [6] X Research source

For example, If you have a Microsoft account, go to “Managing your account”, and select “Email forwarding”. Enter in the new email address you want your emails to be forwarded to. Under “Managing your account” you can also select “Sending automated vacation replies”, and follow the steps to write the automated message. When you delete your Gmail account, it will not close or reuse your email, because you will still have an account through Google. If you have an Outlook. com email address, your old email address can be recycled to another user after 60 days.

You will have to re-enter the password to your account to confirm your identity and delete your account. There will be a list of reasons why you want to delete the account. Choose whichever reason applies to you, or click “Other” and write in your response.

For example, in Microsoft emails the final step will say “Mark account for closure”, click on this button to finish the process and delete your account.

For example, for Microsoft, they will wait 60 days before they will completely close the account and reuse your email address.

If you are still unable to access your email account after going through the password recovery steps, call the customer support for your service. They will assist you in accessing your account. [7] X Research source

Send emails to your contact list informing them that your email was hacked and that they should not click on any links in emails from you. If your computer is infected with malware, update any security software, install software to remove the malware, or take the computer to a professional to have the malware removed. Change your password by going to the settings in your email and resetting your password. Finally, contact your email provider and complete any steps so they can help you secure your email.

If you have Yahoo, for example, sign in to your account, and mouse over the Settings gear icon in your account. Click on “Accounts”, then “Create Address”, and then check the availability of email addresses you want. When you find one you like, click “Choose”. Last, answer the CAPTCHA code to confirm that you are a human making this account, and go to your new inbox. [10] X Research source