# Removing a user

Before removing a user from your organization, check what accounts they had connected to avoid losing emails or access to shared channels.

## Do you need to take action?

**If the departing user never connected any accounts** - no personal email, no shared accounts - remove them immediately with no data loss.

**If the departing user connected a personal work email** (like `jessica@conferencebadge.com`), their emails will disappear from shared conversations once removed. See [Backup emails](https://missiveapp.com/docs/administration/security/removing-a-user/backup-emails) to preserve them before proceeding.

**If the departing user connected shared accounts** - team inboxes (info@, support@), a WhatsApp number, SMS line, or social page - those accounts must be transferred to another user before removal. The path differs by account type: email accounts can be re-connected by the new owner, while WhatsApp, SMS, and social pages need a backend transfer by Missive support so message history is preserved. See [Transferring ownership](https://missiveapp.com/docs/administration/security/removing-a-user/transferring-ownership).

If the departing user has both a personal email and shared accounts connected, handle both before removing them.


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