# How to delete your Twitter (X) account Canonical: https://postmesh.app/blog/how-to-delete-twitter-account By PostMesh team. Published 2026-10-31; updated 2026-10-31. To delete your Twitter (X) account, deactivate it from Settings and privacy, then Your account, then Deactivate your account. X deletes the account for good if you don't log back in within 30 days, so download your archive first and stay logged out of every app until the window ends. X doesn't have a separate delete button. Deleting a Twitter account is a two-stage process: you deactivate it, and if nobody logs in for 30 days, X deletes it permanently. That design gives you a month to change your mind, but it also catches people out, because logging in by accident, even through another app, quietly cancels the whole thing. This guide covers every step from X's own help center, what to save first, what happens to your username, posts and messages, and what to do when you can't log in at all. ## The short answer Download your archive, cancel any subscription you bought in the app, remove apps that can sign in as you, then deactivate. After that, don't log in for 30 days. On day 31 the account is gone and can't be brought back. Find your situation below and jump to that section. **What do you want to do with your X account?** - Delete it for good → Download your archive, deactivate, then stay logged out for 30 days. - Take a break → Deactivate and log back in before the 30 days end, or protect your posts instead. - Delete it but I can't log in → Reset your password, or use X's account access form if you've lost your email and phone. - Start fresh with the same name → Delete posts, or swap usernames with a new account instead of deleting. *Pick the outcome you want, then follow that section.* | Situation | What to do | Time involved | | --- | --- | --- | | Delete permanently | Deactivate from Settings and privacy, then don't log in | Deleted after 30 days | | Change your mind | Log in again before the window ends | Any time within 30 days | | Keep your data | Request your archive before deactivating | X says it can take a few days to prepare | | Forgot password | Request a password reset email, then deactivate | As long as the reset takes | | No access to email or phone | Contact your email or mobile provider first | X can't deactivate it for you without them | | Locked or suspended account | Submit X's deactivation request form | None stated | | Account of someone who died | Authorized family or representative uses X's form | None stated | ## What's the difference between deactivating and deleting X? X's [deactivation help page](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-deactivate-x-account) describes deactivation as the first step to permanent deletion. Deactivating starts a 30-day window. During that window your account still exists, but your username and public profile can't be viewed on x.com or in the iOS and Android apps. If you don't access the account before the window closes, X deletes it, your username is no longer tied to it, and X says you won't be able to reactivate the old account or get back any old posts. **Deactivated (days 1 to 30)** - Profile and username hidden on x.com and the apps - Logging in restores the account - Direct messages are not deleted - Username and email stay tied to your account **Deleted (after 30 days)** - Account no longer available in X's systems - Can't be reactivated, old posts are gone - Direct messages you sent are deleted - Username can be registered by someone else *From X's help pages on deactivating and reactivating accounts.* ### What other people see while you're deactivated Your profile disappears from view. X says mentions of your username in other people's posts still exist after you deactivate, but they no longer link to your profile because the profile isn't available. If someone else's post about you breaks X's rules, X's help page points you to its support forms to have that content reviewed. Deactivating your own account doesn't remove posts other people wrote. ### Deactivating won't fix an account problem X says plainly that deactivating and reactivating won't resolve issues such as missing posts, wrong follower or following counts, suspicious direct messages or a possibly compromised account. If one of those is the reason you want to leave, it's worth trying X's troubleshooting pages or contacting X support first. If you think your reach has dropped for no clear reason, our [X shadowban test](/blog/x-shadowban-test) walks through what X actually tells you about limited visibility before you give up on the account. ## What should I do before I delete my X account? A few minutes of preparation saves the things you can't get back. Work through this list before you touch the deactivate button. **Before you deactivate** - [ ] Request your X archive and wait for the download email - [ ] Cancel X Premium or Super Follows bought in the app - [ ] Revoke third-party apps in Apps and sessions - [ ] Disconnect X from any scheduling tool - [ ] Change your username or email if you want to reuse them - [ ] Tell followers where else to find you *Each item is explained below.* ### Download your archive first X's deactivation page says you need to request your data before you deactivate. The archive is your only copy of your posts, media and messages once the account is deleted, and it can take a few days to arrive. Full steps are in the next section. ### Cancel subscriptions you bought in the app Deactivating doesn't automatically cancel an X subscription. X says paid subscriptions such as X Premium or Super Follows that you bought through the X app stay active after you deactivate, and you manage them through the platform where you subscribed. In practice that usually means the App Store or Google Play subscription settings on your phone. Subscriptions bought on x.com are the exception: X says those cancel automatically after you deactivate. ### Remove apps that can log in as you This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that brings accounts back to life. X's help page explains that logging in automatically reactivates your account, and that third-party apps you've authorized may be logging in for you behind the scenes. So before you deactivate, open the Apps and sessions section of your settings and revoke access for every app. X's [third-party apps page](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/connect-or-revoke-access-to-third-party-apps) says each connected app is listed there with its permissions, and you remove one with the Revoke access button. The same section lists active login sessions, with a Log out all other sessions option to end them at once. ### Change your username or email if you want them back X's [reactivation page](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-reactivate-x-account) says the username and email address on a deactivated account become available for another account 30 days after you deactivate. Until then they stay tied to the old account. The deactivation page also says you don't have to delete an account to change its username or email, since both can be updated in Account information at any time. So if you plan to open a new account with the same email or handle straight away, change them on the old account first, then deactivate. If you're picking a new handle, X's [username help](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/change-x-handle) says usernames must be longer than 4 characters, up to 15, and can contain only letters, numbers and underscores. The [X username generator](/tools/x-username-generator) suggests options that fit those rules, and the [X bio character counter](/tools/x-bio-character-counter) checks a new bio before you paste it in. ### Tell followers where to find you Do this before you deactivate, not after. The moment you confirm, your profile and posts stop being viewable, so a goodbye post written afterwards can't be seen. If you want people to follow you somewhere else, post your other handles a few days ahead, pin that post, and put the links in your bio. Your followers list is part of the archive, which helps if you want to look people up on another network later. ## How do I download my X archive? X's [archive help page](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-download-your-x-archive) gives slightly different steps for the website and the apps. Make sure your email address is confirmed before you start, and download the file in the same browser where you're logged in to X, because X says both are required. ### On a computer 1. **Open Your account**: Click the More icon in the navigation bar, then select Your account. 2. **Choose the archive option**: Click Download an archive of your data, enter your password, and click Confirm. 3. **Verify it's you**: Click Send code to have a code sent to the email address or phone number on file, then enter it. If you have neither on file, X sends you to Account information to add one. 4. **Request the data**: Click Request data. If your account was connected to Periscope, X gives you a separate option to request that archive on Periscope. 5. **Download the file**: When it's ready, X emails you or sends a push notification. Click Download while logged in to get a .zip file. x.com: More › Your account › Download an archive of your data › Confirm › Request data *X says the archive can take a few days to prepare.* ### On iPhone or Android 1. **Open Settings and privacy**: Tap your profile icon in the top menu, then Settings and privacy. On Android you may see a navigation menu icon instead of your profile icon. 2. **Find Your X data**: Tap Account, then under Data and permissions, tap Your X data. 3. **Verify and request**: Send a code to your email or phone, enter it, then tap Request data next to X under Download your data. 4. **Download when it's ready**: Tap Download archive under Download your data, or use the download link X emails to your confirmed address. ### What the archive contains X describes the archive as a snapshot of your account starting with your first post, delivered as machine-readable HTML and JSON files. It lists your profile information, posts, direct messages, Moments, the images, videos and GIFs you attached to posts and messages, your followers and the accounts you follow, your address book, your Lists, the interest and demographic information X has inferred about you, and information about ads you've seen or engaged with. ### Reading your archive later Because the archive includes HTML files, X describes it as something you can browse, starting from your first post. Unzip it on a computer and open it in a web browser to scroll through your history. The JSON files hold the same information in a structured form, which is useful if you ever want to search your old posts or move them into another tool. Treat the file as private: it contains your messages and address book. > Wait until the archive has finished downloading and opens on your computer before you deactivate. You can't request it later from a deleted account. ## How do I delete my X account on iPhone or Android? These steps come from X's deactivation page. The iPhone and Android apps differ only in the first two taps. ### On iPhone 1. **Open Settings and privacy**: Tap the navigation menu icon, then Settings and privacy. 2. **Go to Your account**: Tap Your account, then Deactivate your account. 3. **Read the information**: Read what deactivation means, then tap Deactivate. 4. **Enter your password**: Type your password when asked and tap Deactivate. 5. **Confirm**: Tap Yes, deactivate. Your 30-day window starts now. X for iPhone: Settings and privacy › Your account › Deactivate your account › Deactivate › Yes, deactivate *You'll be asked for your password before the final confirmation.* ### On Android In the top menu you'll see either a navigation menu icon or your profile icon. Tap whichever one you have, then Settings and privacy. Tap Account, then Deactivate your account. From there it's the same as iPhone: read the information, tap Deactivate, enter your password, tap Deactivate, and confirm with Yes, deactivate. ## How do I delete my X account on a computer? 1. **Open Settings and privacy**: On x.com, click the More icon, then Settings and privacy from the menu. 2. **Open Your account**: From the Your account tab, click Deactivate your account. 3. **Read and continue**: Read the deactivation information, then click Deactivate. 4. **Confirm with your password**: Enter your password and click the Deactivate account button. x.com: More › Settings and privacy › Your account › Deactivate your account › Deactivate account *The same steps work in any desktop browser.* Once you've confirmed, log out everywhere and leave the account alone. If you have X installed on a phone or tablet, signing out or uninstalling the app removes the easiest way to reactivate by accident. ## How long does it take to delete an X account? Exactly the length of the deactivation window, which X sets at 30 days. Nothing else speeds it up. Here's what happens across that month, based on X's deactivation and reactivation pages. - Day 0: You deactivate; your profile and username disappear from view - Days 1 to 30: Logging in restores the account; messages are kept - Day 30: Your username and email can be used on another account - After 30 days: The account is deleted and can't be reactivated - Later: Search engines may still show cached results until they update *X doesn't offer a faster way to delete an account.* - 30 days: Deactivation window before X deletes the account - 15: Maximum characters in an X username *Both from X's help center.* ### Does X delete everything at day 30? Not quite. X says deactivating doesn't remove data from its systems, and that it may keep some information from a deactivated account to protect the safety and security of the platform and the people on it. Its help page links to X's explanation of the legal bases it relies on for that. What disappears is your public account: profile, username, posts and the messages you sent. ## How do I reactivate my X account? If it's been less than 30 days, you simply log in. X's reactivation page gives these steps: 1. **Go to the login page**: Visit x.com/login, or open the X app on iPhone or Android. 2. **Enter your login details**: Use the same username, email or phone and password as before. 3. **Confirm you want to reactivate**: Before you're signed in, X shows a notice asking if you want to reactivate. Confirm it. 4. **Give it time**: You're taken to your Home timeline. X notes that posts, followers and likes may take a while to fully restore. ### If you forgot your password Use the Forgot Password link on the login page, reset it, then log in again. X says that if you can't reset your password because you no longer have the email address or phone number on the account, you'll need to create a new X account instead. ### Why does my account keep reactivating? Because something is logging in. X's deactivation FAQ says the usual cause is a third-party app you authorized, which may log in indirectly and reactivate the account. Log in, revoke every app under Apps and sessions, log out all other sessions, then deactivate again. If you believe someone else reactivated your account without permission, or you see other signs it's been compromised, X's account access form has an option for exactly that, which leads to a form asking for help. ## What happens to my username, posts and messages? ### Your username During the 30 days it stays tied to your account. After deletion, X says the username will be available for other X accounts to register. If your handle is your brand, think twice: once it's released, you have no special claim to it. ### Your posts Your posts are hidden while you're deactivated and gone once the account is deleted. X's [post deletion page](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/delete-posts) explains the wider picture for deleted posts: they're removed from your account, from followers' timelines and from X search, and reposts of them are removed too. Copies made by other people aren't. If someone pasted your words into their own post, or quoted your post with their own comment, those posts stay. Posts can also be cached or cross-posted on other websites, apps or search engines, which X says it can't remove. ### Your direct messages X says direct messages aren't deleted during the 30-day window. When the account is deleted at the end of it, the direct messages you've sent are deleted too. Download your archive if you want to keep a copy of your conversations. ### Your followers and the accounts you follow These connections belong to the account, so they go when it goes. A new account starts at zero followers, even if it uses your old username. The archive keeps a list of both your followers and the accounts you follow, which is the only record you'll have once the account is deleted. ### Your profile in Google and other search engines Deleting your account doesn't remove your information from search engines like Google or Bing, because X doesn't control those sites. X's [search visibility page](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/remove-x-profile-from-google-search) says search engines cache results, so old pages can stay searchable for a while, but the links lead to X's error page because the content no longer exists on X. Google updates its index eventually. If you want it done sooner, X suggests these steps: 1. Copy the X address you want removed from Google's results. 2. Open Google's page for removing outdated content. 3. Paste in the X address. 4. Submit the request. You may need to sign in to a Google account to finish. ## How do I delete my X account if I can't log in? Deactivating requires your password, so the answer depends on what you've lost. X only deactivates an account at the request of the confirmed account holder, which means someone with the confirmed email address or the verified phone number. **Why can't you get into the account?** - I forgot the password → Request a password reset email, log in, then deactivate. - I lost the email address → Use the verified phone number to reset, or contact your email provider. - It's locked or suspended → Submit X's deactivation request form for locked or suspended accounts. - The owner died or is incapacitated → An authorized family member or representative fills in X's form. *From X's deactivation FAQ and account access form.* ### You forgot your password X's FAQ says to request a password reset email if you don't have your password handy or it's being rejected. Once you're in, deactivate as normal. ### You lost access to the email address If you still have the verified mobile number on the account, X says you can use it to request a password reset. If you have neither the email nor the phone, X says to contact your email service provider or mobile network to regain access first. Its account access form gives the same answer for this case: X can't deactivate the account on your behalf unless you contact it from the confirmed email address or have the verified number. ### Your account is locked or suspended X's FAQ says to submit a request through its [deactivation form](https://help.x.com/en/forms/account-access/deactivate-or-close-account), or to use the contacts listed in the How To Contact Us section of X's Privacy Policy. The same FAQ links to X's pages on getting a locked account back and on appealing a suspension, if you'd rather keep the account. ### The account belongs to someone who died or can't manage it X's account access form has an option for deactivating an account owned by a person who is deceased or incapacitated. X says it can work with a person authorized to act on the owner's behalf. The form asks for your full name and email address, your connection to the owner (family member or legal guardian, authorized representative, or another connection), the X username, the owner's full name, and anything else that might help. X says someone will be in touch. ### Your account is still in search results after deactivating The account access form covers this too. X says its own settings update immediately, but search engines like Google may show cached results, and those links lead to a page saying it doesn't exist. Google updates on its own over time, or you can request a refresh as described in the search engine section above. ## Can I delete all my tweets without deleting my account? Only one at a time. X's post deletion page says it doesn't provide a way to bulk-delete posts. To delete one, open your profile, find the post, tap the icon at the top of it, tap Delete post, and confirm. On Android the last two taps are Delete and Yes. For a completely fresh start that keeps your handle, X suggests a different route: create another account with a temporary username, then switch the usernames between your current account and the new one. Your followers stay with the old account, so this is a judgement call. The new account gets your handle and a clean timeline, while the old one keeps its history under the temporary name until you delete it. Remember that X says a username you change away from is immediately available to anyone, so make the swap in one sitting. > Undoing a repost isn't the same as deleting a post. X says you can only delete posts you wrote; to remove someone else's post from your profile, undo your repost. ## What are the alternatives to deleting X? If the problem is who can see you, what you're called, or simply needing a pause, there are smaller steps that keep your account, followers and history. **Protect your posts** - Only approved followers see new and old posts - Protected posts stay out of Google - Existing followers keep access unless blocked **Change your username** - Followers and messages stay with you - Old handle is free for anyone at once - Display name can be up to 50 characters **Deactivate for a break** - Profile hidden right away - Log in within 30 days to restore - Wait longer and it's deleted *From X's help pages on protected posts, usernames and deactivation.* ### Protect your posts instead A protected account is X's version of private. X's [protect and unprotect page](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/how-to-make-x-private-and-public) gives the steps: tap your profile photo, then Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, and under Audience and tagging turn on Protect your posts. On the website you check the box next to the same setting. X's page [about public and protected posts](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/public-and-protected-posts) explains what changes. New followers have to request to follow you. Your posts, including their permanent links, are only visible to followers, followers can't repost them, and protected posts don't appear in third-party search engines like Google. Posts that were public before can still be seen by someone who had them on their Home timeline before the switch, though they can't interact with them. Two limits worth knowing: people who already followed you keep access unless you block them, and followers can still take screenshots. If you change your mind later, our guide to [making your X account public](/blog/how-to-make-your-x-account-public) covers switching back and what happens to pending follower requests. Protection has a few gaps that matter if privacy is your reason for leaving. X says links you share in a protected post are shortened to t.co links that anyone holding the link can open, and links to media shared on X aren't protected either, so anyone with the link can view the image or video. Third-party apps you've authorized may also be able to see your protected posts. If you go the protected route, review your connected apps at the same time. And if your posts have never been public but still show up in search results, X says to change your password straight away, revoke untrusted apps, and file a report. ### Change your username If you want to drop an old identity rather than the whole account, change the handle. On the website it's More, then Settings and privacy, then Your account, then Account information, where you confirm your password and edit the Username field. In the apps it's Settings and privacy, then Account, then Username. X says your followers, direct messages and replies aren't affected; people simply see the new username. It suggests telling followers before you switch so replies and messages reach the new name. The [X name generator](/tools/x-name-generator) can help if you want a new display name too. ### Log out of other devices If what's bothering you is a lost phone or a shared computer, you don't need to delete anything. In Apps and sessions you can see every active login session with its location and time, and end any of them. X notes that logging out stops further actions from that session but may not delete data such as messages already cached on the device. ## How does deleting X affect scheduled posts? Anything you've queued for X in a scheduling tool has nowhere to go once the account is deactivated. Worse, an app that still has access might sign in on your behalf, which X says can reactivate the account. So clear your schedulers before you deactivate. If you use PostMesh, disconnect your X account there first; you can disconnect at any time, and because [PostMesh connects to X](/platform/twitter) with Sign in with X, it never had your password to begin with. Then revoke the app under Apps and sessions on X as well, so nothing connected to your account is left. If you're leaving X but staying on other networks, you don't have to rebuild your routine. PostMesh can keep [scheduling posts](/blog/how-to-cross-post-to-multiple-platforms) to the networks you still use, and our [guide to scheduling tweets](/blog/how-to-schedule-tweets) is there if you ever come back to X. For a comparison of tools, see the [best free social media schedulers](/blog/best-free-social-media-schedulers). ## What to do after you delete your X account - Keep your archive somewhere safe. The .zip is your only copy of your posts and messages, and it includes personal data such as your address book. - Mark the date. The account is gone for good once 30 days have passed since you deactivated, and that's also when your username becomes available to others. - Stay logged out. Opening the X app or signing in on the web during the window reactivates the account, and you'd have to deactivate again. - Check search results after a few weeks, and use Google's outdated content tool for any page that still shows your old profile. - Update links to your X profile in your other bios, email signature and website so people don't land on an error page. If you're cutting back on social media more broadly, the same two-step logic of deactivating and then deleting applies elsewhere, but the windows differ. See our guides to [deleting an Instagram account](/blog/how-to-delete-instagram-account), [deactivating Instagram](/blog/how-to-deactivate-instagram) and [deleting a Facebook account](/blog/how-to-delete-facebook-account). If you're moving your audience to another network, the [X bio generator](/tools/x-bio-generator) can help with a last pinned note before you go, and our [social media character limits](/blog/social-media-character-limits) guide covers how long posts can be on the networks you're keeping. ## Questions ### Can I delete my X account immediately? No. X deletes an account 30 days after you deactivate it, as long as you don't log in during that time. There's no option to skip the window. ### Is deleting my Twitter account the same as deleting my X account? Yes. Twitter is now X, and the same account and steps apply in the X app and on x.com. ### Can I recover my X account after 30 days? No. X says that once the account is deleted after the window, it can't be reactivated and you lose access to your old posts. ### Will people know I deleted my X account? Anyone who looks for you will notice. Your profile and username stop being viewable as soon as you deactivate, and mentions of your username no longer link to a profile. ### Can I create a new account with the same email after deleting X? Yes, 30 days after you deactivate. To reuse it sooner, change the email on your old account before you deactivate. ### Does deleting X cancel X Premium? Only if you subscribed on x.com. Subscriptions bought through the X app stay active and must be cancelled where you bought them. ### Why did my deactivated X account come back? Something logged in, often a third-party app you'd authorized. Revoke every app under Apps and sessions, then deactivate again. ### Do my replies on other people's posts disappear? Your replies are your posts, so they're hidden with your profile and gone once the account is deleted. Posts other people wrote, including quotes of yours, stay up. ### Can I delete a Twitter account I don't remember the password to? Reset the password from the login page first. If you've lost both the email and phone on the account, X can't deactivate it for you until you regain access through your provider. ### How do I delete a dead relative's X account? Use X's account access form and choose the option for an account owner who is deceased or incapacitated. X works with family members and authorized representatives. ## Sources - [X Help Center: How to deactivate your account](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-deactivate-x-account) - [X Help Center: How to reactivate your account](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-reactivate-x-account) - [X Help Center: How to download your X archive](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-download-your-x-archive) - [X Help Center: Deactivate or close my account (account access form)](https://help.x.com/en/forms/account-access/deactivate-or-close-account) - [X Help Center: How to change your X username](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/change-x-handle) - [X Help Center: About third-party apps and log in sessions](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/connect-or-revoke-access-to-third-party-apps) - [X Help Center: How to delete a Post](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/delete-posts) - [X Help Center: Help with Google search visibility](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/remove-x-profile-from-google-search) - [X Help Center: How to protect and unprotect your Posts](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/how-to-make-x-private-and-public) - [X Help Center: About public and protected Posts](https://help.x.com/en/safety-and-security/public-and-protected-posts)