Skip to content

Delete mailbox database in Exchange Server

We like to delete a mailbox database in Exchange Server after moving all the mailboxes to another database. However, before we start deleting the mailbox database, let’s look at the required steps. This article will teach you how to remove the mailbox database in Exchange Server.

How to delete mailbox database in Exchange Server

The following steps will delete a mailbox database in Exchange Server:

  1. Unmount the mailbox database
  2. Delete the mailbox database
  3. Remove the database files

Dismount database

Sign in to Exchange Admin Center (EAC). Click servers in the feature pane and click databases in the tabs. We already have two databases in Exchange Server. That’s mailbox database DB01 and DB02.

We like to remove mailbox database DB02 in Exchange Server 2016. Select the database that you want to dismount in the list view. Click the More … icon in the toolbar and click Dismount.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 in EAC

A warning will show up if you are sure to dismount the mailbox database. Click Yes.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 warning dismount

Delete the mailbox database

After dismounting the database, select the database in the list view. Click the delete icon in the toolbar.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 dismount database

A warning message will show if you are sure to delete the mailbox database from Exchange Server. Click Yes.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 warning delete

The last warning shows that we must remove the database and log files manually. Copy the location and click OK.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 warning remove files

Delete mailbox database data and log files manually

In the previous step, the mailbox database got deleted from Exchange Server. We only have to delete the data and log files from the specified location in File Explorer. In our example, we have to remove the database file from the G drive.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 database file

The log files are on the H drive. We will delete these too.

Delete mailbox database Exchange 2016 log files

If you get errors when deleting a mailbox database, read more in the next steps.

Can’t delete mailbox database

Do you get an error, as shown below? Read the article This mailbox database is associated with one or more move requests.

If you are getting the error shown below, look at the article Cannot delete mailbox database in Exchange Server.

Keep on reading: Create mailbox database in Exchange Server »

Conclusion

You learned how to delete mailbox database in Exchange Server. If there are no move requests associated and all mailboxes moved, you will finish with a couple of clicks. If you get errors when deleting a mailbox database, use the articles linked in the post. Don’t forget to delete the mailbox database and log files manually in File Explorer.

Did you enjoy this article? You may also like Change Users UPN automatically with scheduled task. Don’t forget to follow us and share this article.

ALI TAJRAN

ALI TAJRAN

ALI TAJRAN is a passionate IT Architect, IT Consultant, and Microsoft Certified Trainer. He started Information Technology at a very young age, and his goal is to teach and inspire others. Read more »

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Ali, goob job with this article, I just have some doubts about this steps.
    Should I restart some services before or after dismount and delete the mailbox database from ecp?
    Do I need to move some health mailboxes and arbitration mailboxes before delete mailbox database?

    1. Glad that you like the article, Giovanni.

      You don’t have to restart any services before or after dismounting the database.

      If it lets you delete the mailbox database, it means that there are no mailboxes on it, and everything is okay.

      Suppose you get an error when deleting the mailbox database. Then you can go through the below articles (which are linked in the article). There is also explained about moving the arbitration mailboxes, disabling the monitoring mailboxes associated with the mailbox database, and more.

      This mailbox database is associated with one or more move requests
      Cannot delete mailbox database in Exchange Server

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *