How to Disable an Outlook Email Account But Not Delete It

By Alan Sembera

Microsoft Outlook allows you to send and receive messages from several accounts.
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When you want to stop using an email account with Microsoft Outlook, you can disable the account so that you no longer receive emails. All of your saved messages will remain intact, and you can change your mind at any time. However, until you completely delete the account, you will still be able to send messages from the account.

Launch Outlook and click the "Send/Receive" tab.

Click "Send/Receive Groups" on the ribbon, and then select "Define Send/Receive Groups."

Select the "All Accounts" send/receive group in the new window, and then click the "Edit" button.

Select the account you want to disable, and then clear the check box next to "Include the Selected Account in This Group." Click "OK" to save the change.

Repeat the previous steps for any other send/receive groups displayed in the list. Click "Close" once you have removed the account from all the groups. Outlook will no longer receive mail from the account; however, you can still send messages from the account at this point.

Warnings

Information in this article applies to Microsoft Outlook 2007, 2010 and 2013. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions.

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