Removing Hotmail account from MacBook without deleting email address

Question

Removing Hotmail account from MacBook without deleting email address

Hi please could someone help me. I have a Hotmail account that I’ve used for email for decades. It never syncs or works on the MacBook so I would like to remove this account from the MacBook and just use my iCloud email instead. However I do not want the actual email address and mail to be cancelled - I need this address for my phone as it is my primary email. There is an option on Mac to delete the Hotmail account from the internet accounts section. If I delete Hotmail in this section, will it delete my hotmail account altogether or will it just remove it from the MacBook? My Apple ID and account is also Hotmail it would appear. I want to switch to iCloud but cannot completely because I’ve had the Hotmail for over 20 years and I’m stuck with it. Please could someone help. Thanks. Kate.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Nov 18, 2024 4:02 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

178,312 points

Nov 18, 2024 6:15 AM in response to Applebananaorange1

Removing the account setting from Mail on your Mac will not affect your actual Hotmail account in any way. That will still remain available via the web or from other devices. Note, though, that if you have Hotmail set up as a POP account, all your received and sent mail is stored only on your Mac and will be deleted when you remove the account from your Mac.

However, that if you prefer to continue to use Mail with that account, it's quite possible that we can help you get it working. Post back with details as to what exactly is happening and what you've already tried and someone can probably assist.

Regards.

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Answer 2

Nov 18, 2024 6:57 AM in response to varjak paw

Hi Varjak. Many thanks for your response. The problem I’ve got that prompted me to want to remove Hotmail from the MacBook is that I constantly get a message asking me to put in my password to sync Hotmail. This used to work ok. But now, even putting the password in does not work. It hasn’t synced in months now. So I have hidden the Hotmail emails from the mail app (just iCloud shows). But still the Hotmail password message comes up every time I turn the laptop on. When Hotmail used to work on the Mac, all my emails sent in duplicate too - not sure if that is relevant or helpful ? Thanks. Kate.

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