How to Delete X Account Permanently (Twitter)

How to delete X account, in short: you deactivate it, then wait 30 days. X treats deactivation as the first step of deletion, and staying logged out for the whole window is the second. X is the renamed Twitter, so a Twitter account works the same way.

The steps are quick. The mistakes take longer to fix: a lost archive, a subscription that keeps billing, or an app that quietly logs you back in.

Deactivate vs delete X account: how X actually removes an account

Deactivating is how you delete. X's Help Center says deactivation "is the first step to deleting your account permanently" and "lasts 30 days."

During those 30 days, your username and public profile can't be viewed on x.com or in the apps. If you don't access the account in that window, X deletes it. After that, X says you "won't be able to reactivate your previous account" or reach any old posts, and your username becomes available for other accounts to register.

So "deactivate" on X isn't a pause button. It's a 30-day countdown to permanent deletion.

Before you delete: download your archive and cancel Premium

Do these three things while you still have full access.

1. Download your archive. X says you need to request your data before you deactivate. The archive holds your posts, Direct Messages, media, follower and following lists, and more. On the web, go to More > Your account > Download an archive of your data, confirm your password and a code, then click Request data. X warns it "may take a few days" to prepare, and you must download the .zip while logged in. So wait for the file before you deactivate.

2. Cancel X Premium where you bought it. Deactivating doesn't automatically cancel subscriptions bought in the X app through Apple or Google; they stay active. Subscriptions bought on x.com cancel automatically after you deactivate. For app purchases, cancel in your App Store or Google Play settings. X's Premium page says to cancel at least 24 hours before renewal and that subscriptions are non-refundable unless the law requires it.

3. Free your username and email if you want to reuse them. X says the username and email stay tied to the deactivated account for 30 days. To reuse them sooner, change both first in Account information. X says your old username becomes immediately available once you change it, so claim it on the new account right away.

How to delete X account on the web

These are X's desktop steps:

1. Click the More icon, then Settings and privacy.
2. In the Your account tab, click Deactivate your account.
3. Read the deactivation information, then click Deactivate.
4. Enter your password and click Deactivate account to confirm.

That's it. The 30-day clock starts now.

How to deactivate X account on iPhone and Android

On iPhone, tap the navigation menu icon, then Settings and privacy > Your account > Deactivate your account. Tap Deactivate, enter your password, tap Deactivate again, then Yes, deactivate.

On Android, tap the navigation menu icon or your profile icon, then Settings and privacy > Account > Deactivate your account. The rest is the same: Deactivate, password, Yes, deactivate.

This short walkthrough from Gauging Gadgets shows the app flow:

What happens during the 30 days (and how to cancel)

Logging in cancels the deletion. X's reactivation page says to log in on x.com or in the app. You'll see a notice asking if you want to reactivate; confirm it and you're back. Posts, followers and likes "may take a while to fully restore."

The catch: any login counts. If you authorized third-party apps, X says they can log you in indirectly and reactivate the account. Revoke third-party app access before you deactivate if you want the deletion to stick.

X doesn't delete your Direct Messages during the window.

What deletion removes, and what stays

Once the window closes, X deletes the account and you lose access to your old posts. X says Direct Messages you've sent are deleted too.

Some things stay:

• Search engine results. X doesn't control Google or Bing. Cached results can linger, and old links lead to X's "That page doesn't exist!" error. You can ask Google to drop an outdated URL with its outdated content removal tool.
• Mentions of you. Other people's posts that name your username stay up. They just no longer link to a profile.
• Some data on X's side. X says it may retain some information on deactivated accounts for safety and security.
• Copies off X. Screenshots, quotes and archives on other sites are outside X's reach.

Can't log in? Deleting an old or hacked account

Forgot the password: request a password reset email, then deactivate as normal.

Lost the email too: X says deactivation must come from the confirmed account holder. Unless you can contact X from the confirmed email or have access to the verified phone number, X can't deactivate it for you. Recover the email through your provider first.

Locked or suspended: submit a request through X's deactivate or close account form. It also covers accounts reactivated without your permission and accounts of someone incapacitated or deceased. If you'd rather keep a suspended account, appeal the suspension first.

Hacked: reset the password, secure your email and revoke unknown apps, per X's compromised account steps. Then deactivate.

Delete the account or just the posts?

If the problem is your history, not the account, you may not need to delete anything. Keep your handle and followers, and delete old tweets on X instead. If the problem is the username or email, X lets you change both in Account information without deleting.

Delete the account when you want the profile, the followers and the history gone together, and you've saved what you need.