Applies to: Exchange Server 2013 SP1

Topic Last Modified: 2015-03-09

You can use the EAC or the Shell to disable or delete a mailbox in Exchange 2013. When a mailbox is disabled or deleted, Exchange retains the mailbox in the mailbox database and switches the mailbox to a disabled state. Disabled and deleted mailboxes are retained in the mailbox database until the deleted mailbox retention period expires, which is 30 days by default. After the retention period expires, the mailbox is permanently deleted or purged.

If you need to delete a mailbox in Exchange Online, see Delete or restore user mailboxes in Exchange Online.

Note:
Disabled or deleted mailboxes are referred to as disconnected mailboxes.

The primary difference between deleting and disabling a mailbox is that when you disable a mailbox, the Exchange attributes are removed from the corresponding Active Directory user account, but the user account is retained. When you delete a mailbox, both the Exchange attributes and the Active Directory user account are deleted. This difference also determines your options to reconnect or restore disabled and deleted mailboxes.