Written & Verified By
Delete.Directory Content TeamOur team of privacy advocates and digital rights experts has helped over 100,000 users reclaim control of their online presence. We test every deletion process to ensure accuracy.
This guide helps you permanently delete your Salesforce 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
15 minutes
Difficulty
hard
Steps
5 steps
Official Resources
Official deletion guide from Salesforce
Additional Resources
Official privacy policy explaining data deletion
Official guide on data handling after deletion
Legal terms regarding account closure
Step-by-Step Guide
Export All Critical Business Data
Before initiating deletion, export all critical data including contacts, leads, opportunities, custom objects, and reports. Go to Setup > Data Export > Export Now and select all objects you need to preserve.
Tips
- •Export data in CSV format for maximum compatibility
- •Download all reports and dashboards separately
- •Save custom configurations and automation rules documentation
Warnings
- •Data export can take up to 48 hours for large organizations
Cancel Active Subscriptions and Licenses
Navigate to Setup > Company Settings > Company Information and review all active licenses. Contact Salesforce billing to cancel any paid subscriptions before account deletion.
Tips
- •Note your current billing cycle to avoid prorated charges
- •Document all add-on services that need cancellation
- •Keep records of cancellation confirmations
Contact Salesforce Support
Account deletion requires contacting Salesforce support directly. Log in to your account, navigate to the Help & Training section, and create a case requesting account closure. Provide your organization ID and confirm deletion intent.
Tips
- •Have your organization ID ready (found in Setup > Company Information)
- •Clearly state you want permanent account deletion
- •Request written confirmation of the deletion timeline
Warnings
- •Support may take 3-5 business days to process the request
Verify Team Member Removal
Ensure all team members have been removed from the organization or have exported their personal data. Go to Setup > Users and deactivate all user accounts except your administrator account.
Tips
- •Notify team members in advance about the account closure
- •Remove integration users and API connections
- •Document any shared credentials that need updating
Confirm Deletion with Support
Once Salesforce support responds, review their deletion confirmation email carefully. Respond to confirm your deletion request and provide any additional verification they require. Save all correspondence for your records.
Tips
- •Request a specific deletion completion date
- •Ask for confirmation when deletion is complete
- •Keep email records for at least 12 months for business purposes
Warnings
- •Deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed after completion
Important Warnings
Permanent Business Data Loss
Active Subscription Charges
Integration Disruption
Team Access Termination
Support Case Closure
AppExchange Purchases
Alternatives to Consider
Downgrade to Free Developer Edition
Instead of deleting your account, downgrade to a free Salesforce Developer Edition to maintain access to the platform with limited features.
Pros
- •Retain access to Salesforce ecosystem
- •Keep some historical data for reference
- •No ongoing subscription costs
Cons
- •Limited storage capacity
- •Reduced functionality compared to paid editions
Freeze the Account
Temporarily freeze your Salesforce organization by deactivating all users and canceling subscriptions while keeping the data intact.
Pros
- •Data remains accessible if needed
- •Can reactivate if business needs change
- •Stops most ongoing charges
Cons
- •May incur minimal storage fees
- •Account still exists in Salesforce systems
- •Requires manual management to prevent reactivation
Migrate to Alternative CRM
Export all data and migrate to an alternative CRM platform like HubSpot, Zoho, or Microsoft Dynamics before deleting Salesforce.
Pros
- •Maintain business continuity
- •Potentially lower costs with alternative platforms
- •Opportunity to optimize your CRM processes
Cons
- •Significant time investment for migration
- •Potential data mapping challenges
- •Team retraining required
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Unlike consumer platforms, Salesforce requires you to contact their support team directly to delete an account. This is because business accounts often involve contractual agreements, paid subscriptions, and critical business data that require verification before deletion.
References & Citations
- [1]Salesforce Privacy Statement
Official privacy policy explaining data deletion
https://www.salesforce.com/company/privacy/
- [2]Salesforce Data Retention Policy
Official guide on data handling after deletion
https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.data_retention_policy.htm
- [3]Salesforce Terms of Service
Legal terms regarding account closure
https://www.salesforce.com/company/terms/
All citations verified as of 11/8/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.
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Related Guides
Critical Warnings
Permanent Business Data Loss
All customer data, sales records, custom configurations, workflows, and integrations will be permane...
Active Subscription Charges
You may be charged for the remainder of your billing cycle even after account deletion. Cancel subsc...
Integration Disruption
Third-party integrations connected to your Salesforce account will immediately stop working. Update ...
Last Updated
November 8, 2025