Microsoft accounts must be accessed at least once every two years to remain active; Outlook.com inboxes and OneDrive accounts require sign-in at least once per year. Failure to meet these thresholds results in closure of the respective account or service.
This analysis describes what Xbox's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes specific inactivity thresholds that trigger account and service closure, with separate timelines for the general Microsoft account (two years), Outlook.com (one year), and OneDrive (one year), and closure results in deletion or disassociation of associated data and content as described in Section 4.a.iv.2.
This new provision establishes an automatic account termination mechanism after two years of inactivity, creating potential loss of account access and associated content without user action.
View full change record →Under this clause, Microsoft accounts inactive for two years and Outlook.com or OneDrive accounts inactive for one year will be closed, with associated data and content deleted or disassociated from the account as stated in Section 4.a.iv.2. Users who lose access to paid content or services as a result of inactivity-triggered closure may not be able to recover that content.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Account Inactivity Closure Policy and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"You must use your Microsoft account to keep it active. This means you must sign in at least once in a two-year period to keep your Microsoft account, and associated Services (unless specified otherwise), active, unless a longer period is provided in the Microsoft account activity policy at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2086738 or in an offer for a paid portion of the Services. If you don't sign in during this time, we will assume your Microsoft account is inactive and will close it for you. You must sign into your Outlook.com inbox and your OneDrive (separately) at least once in a one-year period, otherwise we will close your Outlook.com inbox and your OneDrive for you.Excerpt from Xbox's Terms of Use
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The inactivity closure and data deletion provisions interact with GDPR Article 5(1)(e) storage limitation principles, which require that personal data not be retained longer than necessary, and may also engage GDPR right …
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This provision establishes specific inactivity thresholds that trigger account and service closure, with separate timelines for the general Microsoft account (two years), Outlook.com (one year), and OneDrive (one year), and closure results in deletion or disassociation of associated data and content as described in Section 4.a.iv.2.
Under this clause, Microsoft accounts inactive for two years and Outlook.com or OneDrive accounts inactive for one year will be closed, with associated data and content deleted or disassociated from the account as stated in Section 4.a.iv.2. Users who lose access to paid content or services as a result of inactivity-triggered closure may not be able to recover that content.
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