How to Sign Out of the Outlook App Across Devices

Understanding Outlook Account Sign-Out Basics

Signing out of the Outlook app means ending your active session on a specific device. When you sign out, your account credentials are removed from that device, and you'll need to enter your password again to access Outlook on that device in the future. This is different from simply closing the app, which keeps you logged in when you reopen it.

Microsoft Outlook is available across multiple device types: smartphones (iOS and Android), tablets, desktop computers (Windows and Mac), and web browsers. Each device maintains its own separate login session. Understanding how signing out works on each platform helps you manage your account security and privacy across all your devices.

The sign-out process varies slightly depending on your device type and which version of Outlook you're using. The Outlook mobile app (available on iPhone and Android) has a different sign-out location than the Outlook desktop application on Windows or Mac. The web version of Outlook (accessed through Outlook.com or Outlook.office.com) also follows its own sign-out procedure. Learning the specific steps for each platform prevents frustration and ensures you successfully remove your account from devices you no longer use.

Sign-out is particularly important if you're selling or giving away a device, if you've forgotten to log out at a shared computer, or if you want to switch between multiple Outlook accounts on the same device. According to Microsoft's security guidelines, regularly reviewing which devices have access to your account helps prevent unauthorized access and protects your personal information.

Practical Takeaway: Before learning specific steps, understand that signing out removes your account from a device entirely, requiring a new login to use Outlook again on that device. This differs from logging out of a single email conversation or message.

Signing Out on iPhone and iPad Devices

The Outlook mobile app for iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) stores your login information locally on the device. To sign out, you'll navigate to the settings area within the app itself rather than using your device's general settings menu. The process takes approximately two to three minutes and involves several taps on your screen.

Start by opening the Outlook app on your iPhone or iPad. Look for the menu icon, which appears as three horizontal lines (often called a hamburger menu) or a gear icon, typically located in the bottom right corner of your screen. Tap this icon to open the settings menu. You should see various options including settings, accounts, and other preferences. Select "Settings" from this menu.

In the Settings section, look for an option labeled "Accounts" or "Mail Accounts." This area displays all the email accounts currently signed in on your device. Find the specific Outlook or Microsoft account you want to sign out from and tap on it. A submenu will appear with options related to that account. You should see a "Remove Account" or "Sign Out" button. Tap this button to initiate the sign-out process.

Your device will likely ask you to confirm this action, as removing the account will delete locally stored emails and calendar information from your iPhone or iPad (though your emails remain on Microsoft's servers). Confirm by tapping "Remove" or "Sign Out" in the confirmation dialog. Once complete, the Outlook app will no longer show emails, contacts, or calendar events from that account on your device. You can verify the sign-out was successful by checking that the account no longer appears in your Accounts list.

Practical Takeaway: On iOS devices, sign-out happens within the Outlook app's Settings menu under Accounts. Confirm you want to remove the account when the app asks, and understand that locally stored emails will no longer appear on your device (though they remain on Microsoft's servers).

Signing Out on Android Devices and Tablets

Android devices running the Outlook mobile app follow a similar process to iOS but with slightly different menu locations and naming conventions. The Android version of Outlook stores your account information in the app's internal settings. Signing out on Android typically takes two to four minutes depending on your familiarity with the app's layout.

Open the Outlook app on your Android phone or tablet. Look for the menu icon, which usually appears as three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner or sometimes as a gear icon. Tap this menu icon to access the main navigation options. From the menu, select "Settings" to enter the app's configuration area. The Settings menu on Android contains options for personalizing how the app functions and managing your connected accounts.

Once in Settings, locate the "Accounts" section. This section lists every email account currently signed into the Outlook app on your device. Tap on the specific Outlook or Microsoft account you wish to remove. This opens a detailed view of that account's settings and options. Look for a button labeled "Remove Account," "Delete Account," or "Sign Out." The exact wording varies depending on your version of the Outlook app, but the function remains the same.

Tap the remove or sign-out button. Android will display a confirmation message asking if you're sure you want to remove this account from your device. This confirmation step prevents accidental removal of your account. Tap "Remove" or "Confirm" to complete the process. After confirmation, your Outlook account is no longer active on that Android device. Any emails that were stored locally on your device will no longer be visible, but they remain safely stored on Microsoft's servers and can be accessed by signing in from another device.

Practical Takeaway: Android sign-out mirrors the iOS process: open the app, tap the menu, select Settings, choose Accounts, find your account, and tap Remove. Confirm the action in the dialog that appears, and your account will be fully signed out from that device.

Signing Out on Windows Desktop and Laptop Computers

The Outlook desktop application on Windows computers (part of Microsoft Office or available as a standalone app) manages sign-out through the application menu rather than your Windows system settings. Desktop sign-out is important because Outlook on Windows often runs continuously in the background, potentially keeping your account active even when you're not actively using the computer.

Open the Outlook application on your Windows computer. Look for the "File" menu at the top left of the window—this is the primary navigation point for account-related settings in desktop Outlook. Click on "File" to open a dropdown menu with various options. From this menu, select "Account Settings" or "Manage Profile," depending on your version of Outlook. This opens a dialog showing all accounts currently set up in Outlook on your computer.

In the Account Settings window, you'll see a list of all email accounts configured in Outlook. Find the Microsoft or Outlook account you want to sign out from and select it by clicking on it once. After selecting the account, look for a button labeled "Remove" or "Delete." Click this button to remove the account from Outlook. Some versions of Outlook may ask you to confirm this action by clicking a confirmation button or dialog.

Once you've removed the account, close the Account Settings window by clicking the X button or "OK" button. You may need to restart the Outlook application for the changes to take full effect. After restarting, verify that your account no longer appears in the account list or in the login prompts when you open Outlook. If you want to completely sign out from all accounts and not use Outlook until you sign back in, you can instead click "File" and look for an option labeled "Exit" or "Close," then refrain from entering credentials when prompted next time you open Outlook.

Practical Takeaway: On Windows, access sign-out through File menu → Account Settings, select your account, click Remove, and confirm. Restart Outlook to ensure the change takes effect completely.

Signing Out on Mac Computers

Outlook for Mac handles sign-out through the application preferences, which are accessed differently than Windows but serve the same function. Mac users should be aware that Outlook for Mac may continue to run background processes related to email synchronization, so signing out is essential if you're sharing your Mac with others or if you want to prevent email syncing.

Launch the Outlook application on your Mac. Once it's open, look at the top menu bar (the bar at the very top of your screen with the Apple logo). Click on "Outlook" in this menu bar—it's typically the leftmost option after the Apple logo. A dropdown menu will appear with various options. Select "Preferences" or "Settings" from this dropdown. On newer versions of Mac Outlook, you might also see an option directly labeled "Accounts."