How to change or remove the primary account from Outlook

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Outlook informs you that The primary Account cannot be removed unless it is the only account in the profile. You must remove all other Exchange accounts before removing the primary account. Ideally, a new data file should override the old primary account preference, but this doesn’t happen.

If you are wondering how to change or remove the primary account from Outlook, just follow the procedure to understand how it works.

2. How to Change

1. Change the primary account by adding a PST file

1. Close Outlook.
   
   
2. Go to Start.
   
   
3. Here, click on the Controle Panel.
   
   
4. Click on the Mail icon.
   
   
5. In Account Settings, remove all secondary accounts.
   
   

1. Then, delete the primary account. This one can be easily identified via the checkmark in the left-hand section of the screen.
   
   
2. With all the accounts now removed, click the Data Files tab.
   
   
3. Tap on Add and browse to your PST location.
   
   
4. After you load it, click on Set as Default.
   
   
5. Add the new account that you want to serve as primary by clicking the New button
   
   .

1. Up next, close this window.
   
   
2. Restart Outlook and go to Account Settings > Account settings.
   
   
3. Here, click on the Data files tab.
   
   
4. Make sure the OST file is set as the default. If it isn’t, then select it and click the Set as default button.
   
   
5. Restart Outlook again. Your new account should be now shown as primary.

First of all, you can simply change your primary account and keep it along with any profile-specific settings. Do so by adding a PST file to the profile and setting it as the default data file.

2. Remove the primary account by making a new one

1. Close Outlook and any associated dialogs.
   
   
2. Press Windows key + R and type control mlcfg32.cpl.
   
   
3. Press Enter.
   
   
4. Click on Show Profiles.
   
   
5. Click the Add button to create a new profile.
   
   
6. Also, insert a profile name.
   
   

1. Use auto Email Account setup to insert your email credentials and configure the new account.
   
   

1. Go back to the initial Mail window.
   
   
2. You can now make it the default choice by clicking on Always use this profile and selecting your new profile from the list.
   
   
3. Don’t forget to click Apply to save your preferences.
   
   
4. Finally, just select your old profile and click Remove.

If the first procedure is time-consuming and not totally safe (it includes chances of data loss and might affect other Exchange accounts), this one is faster and more stable.

However, you won’t get to retain any profile settings. Your email account from the new profile will become the new primary account this time.