How to Remove a Device from Your Microsoft Account

Removing a device from your Microsoft account clears old computers, phones, and Xbox consoles from your online profile so they no longer track location data or hold onto software licenses. Your Microsoft account links up to 10 Windows PCs, tablets, and consoles at the same time, which often leaves your device list cluttered with hardware you no longer own.

Old laptops, broken machines, and traded-in gear sit in this inventory until you sign in to account.microsoft.com/devices to delete them. Cleaning out this list helps you keep track of your active hardware and frees up device slots.

How to remove devices from a Microsoft account

You remove a device from the Microsoft account devices page. Sign in with your login details, find the hardware you want to unlink, and select the remove option next to it. This keeps your online device list clean and makes sure old laptops or PCs you no longer own do not stay linked to your Microsoft profile.

Removing a device only changes your online account. It does not erase files on the device itself. If you still own the device and it is still signed in to your account, it may show up in the list again. Sign out of your Microsoft account on that device first if you want it to stay gone.

Follow these steps to remove a device you no longer need:

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/devices and sign in with the Microsoft account that the device is linked to. You should see a list of your devices.
2. Find the device you want to remove. Check the name and device type so you pick the right one, then select Show details. The page now shows more information about that device.

3. Under the device’s name, select More actions › Remove. A page opens that shows the details of the device you are about to remove.

4. Review the device details to confirm it is the right one.
5. Select the check box I’m ready to remove this device.
6. Select Remove. The device should now be gone from your list. If it is still there, refresh the page.

Anyone in the household can follow these steps to clear out unwanted hardware. If you want to remove a device for a child in your family, have your child sign in to account.microsoft.com/devices, then follow the same steps.

That completes the cleanup.

Review your connected hardware regularly to maintain account security and keep your device list accurate:

• Removing a device from your Microsoft account takes only a few steps.
• Check the devices connected to your account from time to time. A list that matches the hardware you actually use is easier to keep secure.
• Adults and children can both remove unwanted devices from their own Microsoft account profiles by following the steps above.
• An organized device list makes it easier to manage Windows features such as app sharing and find my device.