How to Remove an MSN Passport ID

The MSN Passport service -- also known as the Windows Live ID service -- is the unified user ID system that Microsoft uses for its online services, including Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger. After you enter your MSN Passport ID to log in to a Windows Live service, Windows 7 automatically saves the information for future use. If other people sharing your computer are able to see your Hotmail or Windows Live Messenger accounts when using the Windows Live Mail application, for example, it is because your MSN Passport ID is saved on the computer. Fortunately, you can remove it using a tool native to Windows 7.

Instructions

1. Click the blue Windows "Start" button in the bottom left corner of the desktop, and then click "Control Panel."

2. Click "User Accounts and Family Safety," and then click "User Accounts." The screen now displays "Make changes to your user account" at the top.

3. Click "Manage Your Credentials" on the left side of the window.

4. Click the email address under "Generic Credentials" that you used when setting up your MSN Passport ID. Generally, the email address ends with "@hotmail.com" or "@msn.com."

5. Click "Remove from Vault." Windows asks you to confirm that you want to remove the MSN Passport ID from the computer.

6. Click "Yes." Windows removes the MSN Passport ID.

References

• Microsoft: Manage Stored Passwords, Certificates and Other Credentials

Resources

• Microsoft: Microsoft Passport Network Privacy Statement