duplicate accounts

Microsoft personal accounts cannot be merged, so choose one account to keep, copy the required files and Outlook data into it, cancel the other subscription, and only then close the extra account.^1^

1. Identify the account to keep

Sign in separately with each email address and record:

• Which account contains the OneDrive files, Outlook email, contacts, and calendar you need.
• Which account is currently used by the Office applications.
• Which account has each Microsoft 365 Personal subscription and billing charge.

Keep the account containing the most important data. Subscriptions, purchases, balances, game progress, and gamertags cannot be transferred between personal Microsoft accounts.^1^

2. Move the data before cancelling or closing anything

OneDrive files

Because the OneDrive desktop client supports only one personal account at a time, the simplest approach is:

1. Sign in to OneDrive on the web with the account being retired.
2. Select the files and folders you need and download them to the computer.
3. Sign out and sign in with the retained account.
4. Upload the downloaded files.
5. Open several transferred files from the retained account to verify that they work.

Ensure the retained account has enough available storage for the files.

Outlook email and calendar

A mailbox export creates an archive; it does not automatically merge that archive into the retained mailbox.^2^

For an actual transfer:

1. Open desktop Outlook and add both Microsoft accounts.
2. Copy or drag the required messages or mail folders from the retiring mailbox into folders under the retained mailbox.
3. Copy the required calendar appointments into the retained account’s calendar, or use Outlook’s Import/Export function.
4. Allow Outlook to finish synchronizing.
5. Sign in to the retained account through Outlook.com and verify that the copied messages and calendar entries appear there.

Alternatively, export the retiring Outlook.com mailbox to a .pst file using new or classic Outlook for Windows, then import or open that file in desktop Outlook.^2^

Contacts

From the retiring Outlook.com account:

1. Open People.
2. Select Manage contacts → Export contacts.
3. Export all contacts to a CSV file.^3^
4. Sign in to the retained account.
5. Open People → Manage contacts → Import contacts.
6. Select the CSV file and import it.^4^

3. Cancel the unwanted Microsoft 365 subscription

After verifying the transferred data:

1. Sign in with the account that purchased the unwanted subscription.
2. Open Services & subscriptions.
3. Select Cancel subscription or Upgrade or Cancel.
4. Review the cancellation information and select I don’t want my subscription.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

If Turn on recurring billing appears instead, the subscription is already scheduled to expire and should not renew.

Cancellation reduces that account to the free storage allowances. If its stored data exceeds those allowances, OneDrive synchronization and Outlook.com mail can be restricted, so complete and verify the transfer first.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support")

If the subscription was purchased through Apple, Google Play, Amazon, or another retailer, cancellation and refund handling must be performed through that seller.

4. Address the duplicate charge

Refund eligibility is shown automatically during cancellation; not every cancellation qualifies. Sign in with the purchasing account, select Services & subscriptions → Manage → Cancel, and follow the displayed refund option.[^6^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support")

If the expected charge or refund option is missing, use Contact Support from that same article so billing support can inspect the transactions. Do not dispute a recognized charge as fraud before attempting the subscription cancellation/refund process.

5. Close the extra account only after final verification

Closing the account removes access to its Outlook.com email, contacts, OneDrive, Xbox, Skype, purchases, and saved BitLocker recovery keys. Check all of these before proceeding.^7^

To close it:

1. Sign in to the account being retired.
2. Start the Microsoft account closure process.
3. Confirm that the displayed account is the correct one.
4. Select a 30- or 60-day reopening window.
5. Acknowledge the warnings, choose a reason, and select Mark account for closure.^8^

During the reopening window, signing back in and completing security verification can restore the account. After that period, it is permanently deleted.^9^

References

1. Combining Microsoft accounts | Microsoft Support
2. Export your Outlook.com mailbox | Microsoft Support
3. Export contacts from Outlook.com or Outlook on the web | Microsoft Support
4. New Outlook
5. [Cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
6. [Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
7. Close your Outlook.com account | Microsoft Support
8. How to close your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
9. Reopen your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support