Close an account and sync all data with my business account.

A personal Microsoft account cannot be merged with a Microsoft 365 business account; migrate each supported data type, verify it in the business account, and only then mark the personal account for closure.^1^

1. Copy personal OneDrive files to business OneDrive

First, confirm that the business OneDrive has enough free storage.

1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar or macOS menu bar.
2. Open Settings > Account > Add an account.
3. Sign in with the business account. Keep the personal account connected.
4. Wait until the personal OneDrive has finished syncing.
5. Open File Explorer or Finder. You should see separate folders for:
   • Personal OneDrive
   • Business OneDrive, usually named OneDrive – Organization Name
6. In the personal folder, select the required files and folders and choose Copy.
7. Open the business OneDrive folder and choose Paste.
8. Wait for OneDrive to finish uploading, then sign in to business OneDrive on the web and open several files to verify them.

Microsoft documents syncing both accounts and copying files between their local folders as the supported migration method.^2^ Copy/paste is safer than drag/drop because the personal originals remain available until verification. Copied files are treated as new files, some metadata might change, and existing sharing links or permissions must be recreated.^3^

2. Migrate Outlook data, if applicable

If the personal account contains email, contacts, or calendar entries needed in the business mailbox, use classic Outlook’s PST export/import process:

1. Add both accounts to Outlook.
2. Select File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
3. Choose Export to a file > Outlook Data File (.pst).
4. Select the personal mailbox and include subfolders.
5. After export, return to Import/Export.
6. Choose Import from another program or file, select the PST, and import it into the business mailbox.
7. Verify the migrated messages, contacts, and calendar entries in the business account.

These are the documented migration paths for Outlook data.^4^

3. Handle data that does not migrate automatically

“Sync all data” is not available as a single operation:

• Teams: Add the work account in Teams, but personal Teams chats do not migrate. Recreate meetings in the business calendar and manually add contacts to the work account.^2^
• OneNote: Back up notebooks and restore or copy them under the business account where needed.
• Office apps: In each app, sign in with the business account and ensure new files save to business OneDrive.
• Personal-account purchases and balances: Microsoft does not support transferring account purchases, balances, game progress, or gamertags to another account.^1^
• Sharing: Recreate OneDrive sharing links and permissions from the business account.

4. Cancel any personal subscription separately

If the personal account has a paid Microsoft 365 subscription:

1. Open Subscriptions while signed in with the personal account.
2. Find the subscription and select Manage.
3. Select Cancel or Upgrade or Cancel, then complete the prompts.
4. If Turn on recurring billing appears instead, the subscription is already scheduled to expire and will not renew.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel your Microsoft subscription | Microsoft Support")

Cancelling a subscription and closing the Microsoft account are separate operations.

5. Close the personal Microsoft account last

Before closure, verify that the business account contains all required files, email, contacts, calendars, and notebooks. Also check whether the personal account holds Outlook.com mail, Xbox or Skype data, saved BitLocker recovery keys, purchases, or other content that cannot be transferred.

Then:

1. Sign in to the personal account’s closure page.
2. Confirm that the displayed account is the personal account—not the business administrator account.
3. Select Next.
4. Review and acknowledge every checklist item.
5. Choose a 30- or 60-day reopening window.
6. Select the reason for closure.
7. Select Mark account for closure.

After the reopening window passes, Microsoft deletes the personal account’s data and content.^6^

References

1. Combining Microsoft accounts | Microsoft Support
2. Migrate data to my Microsoft 365 for business subscription
3. Copy, transfer or import files to your personal OneDrive | Microsoft Support
4. Set up Microsoft 365 apps for business
5. [Cancel your Microsoft subscription | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
6. How to close your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support