What happens to my ChatGPT Plus subscription when I delete my account?

Deleting your account does not automatically cancel your ChatGPT Plus subscription. You should cancel your subscription first through your account settings or payment provider to avoid continued billing. After cancellation, you can then proceed with account deletion.

Will my conversations be used to train ChatGPT after I delete my account?

If your conversations were used in training datasets before deletion, they cannot be removed from those datasets. However, after deletion, no new data from your account will be used for training. OpenAI's data retention policies govern how long your data is kept before permanent deletion.

How long does it take to delete my ChatGPT account?

The deletion request is typically processed immediately, making your account inaccessible right away. However, complete data deletion from OpenAI's servers may take up to 30 days as per their data retention and privacy policies.

What happens to my API keys when I delete my account?

All API keys associated with your account are immediately revoked upon deletion. Any applications, scripts, or integrations using those API keys will stop working immediately. Make sure to update any dependent systems before deleting your account.

Can I delete ChatGPT from my phone app?

While you can access account settings through the mobile app, it's recommended to use the web browser for account deletion to ensure you can access all options and see all warnings clearly. The process is more straightforward on desktop.

Will deleting ChatGPT affect my other OpenAI services?

Yes. Deleting your OpenAI account will affect all OpenAI services tied to that account, including DALL-E, Whisper API access, and any other OpenAI products. All API access and service integrations will be terminated.

How to Delete Your ChatGPT Account - Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Written & Verified By

Delete.Directory Content Team

Our team of privacy advocates and former social media employees verify every deletion process through hands-on testing.

This guide helps you permanently delete your ChatGPT account. We believe in digital autonomy: your right to leave any platform should be as easy as joining it. Follow these verified steps to ensure complete account deletion.

How We Verified This Guide

Methodology: Hands-on testing with live accounts

Quick Information

Time Required

5 minutes

Difficulty

easy

Steps

5 steps

Official Resources

OpenAI Help Center - Delete Your Account

Official deletion guide from ChatGPT

Additional Resources

[1]

OpenAI Privacy Policy

Details about how OpenAI handles your data and privacy

[2]

ChatGPT Data Controls

Information about managing your ChatGPT data and privacy settings

Step-by-Step Guide

Log in to Your OpenAI Account

Open your web browser and go to platform.openai.com or chat.openai.com. Log in with your account credentials.

Tips

•Make sure you're logged into the correct account
•If you have multiple accounts, verify which one you want to delete

Access Account Settings

Click on your profile icon or email address in the bottom left corner of the ChatGPT interface, then select 'Settings' from the menu.

Tips

•On mobile, tap the menu icon first
•Settings may also be accessed from your account dashboard

Navigate to Data Controls

In the Settings menu, look for 'Data controls' or 'Account' section where account management options are located.

Tips

•The exact menu name may vary with UI updates
•Look for privacy or account-related options

Request Account Deletion

Scroll down to find the 'Delete account' option. Click on it to begin the deletion process.

Warnings

•This action will permanently delete your account
•All conversation history will be permanently deleted

Confirm Your Decision

OpenAI will show you information about what will be deleted. Read through the warnings carefully and confirm your decision to proceed.

Tips

•Consider exporting your data before deletion if you want to keep any conversations
•Make note of any active subscriptions that may need to be cancelled separately

Important Warnings

Permanent Data Loss

All your conversation history, custom instructions, and saved chats will be permanently deleted. There is no way to recover this data after deletion is complete.

ChatGPT Plus Subscription

If you have an active ChatGPT Plus subscription, you should cancel it before deleting your account. Deleting your account does not automatically cancel billing.

API Keys and Integrations

Any API keys you've created will be permanently revoked. Applications or integrations using your API keys will stop working immediately.

No Account Recovery

Once your account is deleted, you cannot recover it. You will need to create a new account if you want to use ChatGPT again in the future.

Training Data Impact

Your conversations may have been used to improve ChatGPT. Deleting your account does not remove your data from training datasets that were created before deletion.

Alternatives to Consider

Export Your Data First

easy

Before deleting your account, you can export all your ChatGPT conversation history and account data for your records.

Pros

•Keep a personal archive of all your conversations
•Review what data OpenAI has collected about you
•Maintain access to useful prompts and responses
•Free service provided by OpenAI

Cons

•May take some time to process the export request
•Large file size if you have extensive conversation history
•Requires a separate request before deletion

5 min

Disable Chat History Instead

easy

You can turn off chat history and training, which prevents OpenAI from using your conversations while keeping your account active.

Pros

•Maintain access to ChatGPT without contributing to training
•Keep your account for future use
•Can be reversed at any time
•Preserves your subscription if you have ChatGPT Plus

Cons

•Your account still exists on OpenAI's servers
•Past conversations remain unless deleted manually
•You cannot search or access chat history with this setting enabled

2 min

Clear Conversation History

easy

Delete all your conversations without deleting your account. This removes your chat history while keeping your account active.

Pros

•Remove all conversation data quickly
•Keep your account and subscription active
•Can start fresh without losing access
•Reversible - you can use ChatGPT again anytime

Cons

•Your account still exists
•Doesn't affect other account data or settings
•Need to manually clear history periodically if privacy is a concern

3 min

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Once your ChatGPT account is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered. You will need to create a new account if you want to use ChatGPT again. Make sure to export any important conversations before deleting your account.

References & Citations

[1]
OpenAI Privacy Policy
Details about how OpenAI handles your data and privacy
https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy
[2]
ChatGPT Data Controls
Information about managing your ChatGPT data and privacy settings
https://help.openai.com/en/articles/7730893-data-controls-faq

All citations verified as of 11/10/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.

Found incorrect information?

We strive for accuracy. If something's outdated or wrong, let us know.

Report incorrect information

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

You might also want to delete these accounts

google-gemini

Google's alternative to ChatGPT with similar conversational AI capabilities

claude

Anthropic's AI assistant focused on safety and helpful interactions

microsoft-copilot

Microsoft's AI assistant powered by GPT-4 and integrated into Microsoft products

Critical Warnings

Permanent Data Loss
All your conversation history, custom instructions, and saved chats will be permanently deleted. The...
ChatGPT Plus Subscription
If you have an active ChatGPT Plus subscription, you should cancel it before deleting your account. ...
API Keys and Integrations
Any API keys you've created will be permanently revoked. Applications or integrations using your API...

Last Updated

November 10, 2025

ChatGPT Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Log in to Your OpenAI Account

Access Account Settings

Navigate to Data Controls

Request Account Deletion

Confirm Your Decision

Important Warnings

Permanent Data Loss

ChatGPT Plus Subscription

API Keys and Integrations

No Account Recovery

Training Data Impact

Alternatives to Consider

Export Your Data First

Disable Chat History Instead

Clear Conversation History

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

Tags