What happens to my @username when I delete my account?

Your @username is immediately released when you deactivate and becomes available for anyone else to claim, including impersonators. If you think you might return to Twitter/X, consider changing your username to something generic before deactivating to protect your identity.

Will my tweets be deleted from retweets and quote tweets?

Yes. When your account is permanently deleted, your original tweets disappear from everyone's timeline, including retweets. However, quote tweets will show '[This Tweet was deleted]' where your original content was. Screenshots of your tweets will remain wherever people saved them.

What happens to my direct messages?

Your direct messages are deleted from your account, but copies may remain in other users' inboxes. Twitter/X states that DMs are deleted from their servers, but the exact timeline isn't specified. Recipients of your messages will see messages from 'Account deleted' instead of your name.

Can I deactivate multiple Twitter/X accounts at once?

No. Twitter/X requires you to deactivate each account individually. You must log into each account separately and go through the deactivation process for every account you want to delete.

How long does Twitter/X actually take to delete my data?

Your account is immediately hidden from public view when you deactivate. After the 30-day grace period, Twitter/X begins deleting your data from their servers. The company states this process can take several weeks to complete across all their systems and backups. Some information may be retained for legal or operational reasons.

What if I'm locked out of my account and want to delete it?

You must be able to log into your account to deactivate it. If you're locked out, first use Twitter/X's account recovery process to regain access. If you absolutely cannot recover your account, it will remain suspended but not officially deleted. You can contact X support to request permanent deletion.

Will apps I logged into with Twitter/X still work?

No. After your account is deleted, you can no longer use 'Sign in with Twitter/X' to access other apps and services. Before deletion, visit each app/service and either create a new account with email/password or link an alternative login method like Google or Facebook.

How to Delete Your Twitter/X 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 Twitter/X 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

X Help Center - How to Deactivate Your Account

Official deletion guide from Twitter/X

Additional Resources

[1]

Download Your Twitter Archive

Official guide for downloading your complete Twitter/X data before deletion

[2]

Twitter Privacy Policy

Understanding how X handles your data and privacy

[3]

About Deactivation and Account Deletion

Learn about the 30-day grace period and account restoration process

Step-by-Step Guide

Access Your Account Settings

Log into Twitter/X and click on 'More' (three dots) in the left sidebar on desktop, or tap your profile icon on mobile. Select 'Settings and privacy' from the menu.

Tips

•You must be logged in to deactivate your account
•The process is identical on both web and mobile platforms

Navigate to Deactivation Options

In Settings, click on 'Your account' in the left menu. Scroll down and select 'Deactivate your account' at the bottom of the page.

Tips

•The option is at the very bottom of the 'Your account' section
•Make sure you're in the correct account if you manage multiple profiles

Review Deactivation Information

Twitter/X will display important information about what happens when you deactivate. Read through the details about the 30-day grace period, username release, and data deletion. Click 'Deactivate' when ready.

Warnings

•Your username will be available for others to claim after 30 days
•Consider downloading your data archive first if you want to keep your tweets

Confirm Your Identity

Enter your password to verify it's really you requesting the deactivation. This security step ensures no one else can delete your account without authorization.

Tips

•Make sure caps lock is off when entering your password
•If you've forgotten your password, reset it before attempting deletion

Final Confirmation

Click the 'Deactivate account' button to confirm. Your account will be immediately deactivated and hidden from other users. After 30 days without logging in, it will be permanently deleted.

Warnings

•You have 30 days to change your mind by simply logging back in
•After 30 days, your account and all tweets are permanently deleted

Important Warnings

30-Day Grace Period Before Permanent Deletion

Your account is immediately deactivated but not permanently deleted right away. Twitter/X keeps your data for 30 days in case you change your mind. If you log in during this period, your deactivation is canceled. After 30 days without logging in, your account and all associated data is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

Username Becomes Available After 30 Days

Once your account is deactivated, your @username is immediately released and can be claimed by anyone else, including impersonators. If you think you might want to return to Twitter/X, consider changing your username to something generic before deactivating to protect your identity.

All Tweets and Media Permanently Deleted

After the 30-day grace period, all your tweets, retweets, likes, follows, direct messages, photos, videos, and profile information are permanently deleted. This action is irreversible and Twitter/X cannot restore your account or content.

Content May Remain in Search Engines Temporarily

While your account and content are deleted from Twitter/X, search engines like Google may have cached your tweets. These cached copies may remain visible in search results for weeks or months until search engines re-crawl and update their indexes.

Impact on Third-Party Apps and Services

If you used 'Sign in with Twitter/X' for other apps and services, you will lose access to those accounts. Before deactivating, log into each service and either create a new account with email/password or link an alternative login method.

Email Address and Phone Number Can Be Reused

After your account is permanently deleted, you can use the same email address or phone number to create a new Twitter/X account. However, you cannot reuse the same username unless it hasn't been claimed by someone else.

Alternatives to Consider

Make Your Account Private

easy

Instead of deleting your account, you can protect your tweets so only approved followers can see them. This gives you privacy while keeping your account and content intact.

Pros

•Fully reversible at any time
•Keep all your tweets, followers, and media
•Your username remains yours
•New followers must request permission to follow you
•Your tweets won't appear in public search results

Cons

•Your data continues to be stored on X's servers
•Your profile name and photo are still publicly visible
•Existing followers can still see all your tweets
•Doesn't address concerns about X's data practices

2 min

Download Your Twitter Archive

easy

Before deleting, request a complete archive of all your Twitter data including every tweet, direct message, photo, and video you've posted. This process takes 24-48 hours.

Pros

•Keep a personal backup of all your content and memories
•See all the data Twitter/X has collected about you
•Includes data not visible in your normal timeline
•Free service provided by X
•Can be downloaded as a browsable HTML archive

Cons

•Takes 24-48 hours to receive your download link
•File size can be large depending on your activity
•Requires a separate request before deletion
•Must download within a limited time window

5 min

Delete All Tweets Without Closing Account

medium

Use third-party tools to delete all your tweets while keeping your account active. This lets you maintain your username and start fresh without losing your account.

Pros

•Keep your username and follower connections
•Remove all content without full account deletion
•Can still use Twitter/X for reading and messaging
•Reversible - you can start posting again anytime

Cons

•Requires third-party tools (some paid)
•Time-consuming for accounts with many tweets
•Your data may still exist in X's archives
•Doesn't address platform-level privacy concerns

30 min

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but only within the first 30 days after deactivation. Simply log back into your account during this grace period and Twitter/X will reactivate it with all your content intact. After 30 days pass without logging in, deletion becomes permanent and your account cannot be recovered under any circumstances.

References & Citations

[1]
Download Your Twitter Archive
Official guide for downloading your complete Twitter/X data before deletion
https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-download-your-twitter-archive
[2]
Twitter Privacy Policy
Understanding how X handles your data and privacy
https://twitter.com/en/privacy
[3]
About Deactivation and Account Deletion
Learn about the 30-day grace period and account restoration process
https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/account-restoration

All citations verified as of 11/8/2025. 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

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Critical Warnings

30-Day Grace Period Before Permanent Deletion
Your account is immediately deactivated but not permanently deleted right away. Twitter/X keeps your...
Username Becomes Available After 30 Days
Once your account is deactivated, your @username is immediately released and can be claimed by anyon...
All Tweets and Media Permanently Deleted
After the 30-day grace period, all your tweets, retweets, likes, follows, direct messages, photos, v...

Last Updated

November 8, 2025

Twitter/X Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Access Your Account Settings

Navigate to Deactivation Options

Review Deactivation Information

Confirm Your Identity

Final Confirmation

Important Warnings

30-Day Grace Period Before Permanent Deletion

Username Becomes Available After 30 Days

All Tweets and Media Permanently Deleted

Content May Remain in Search Engines Temporarily

Impact on Third-Party Apps and Services

Email Address and Phone Number Can Be Reused

Alternatives to Consider

Make Your Account Private

Download Your Twitter Archive

Delete All Tweets Without Closing Account

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

Tags