How to Delete Your Twitter (X) Account Permanently

Whether you're stepping away from the noise, cleaning up your online presence, or just done with the platform, deleting your Twitter — now called X — account is straightforward once you know how it works. The catch: there's no single "delete now" button. X uses a two-stage process, and understanding it means you won't lose anything you meant to keep.

Deactivate vs. delete: how it really works

On X, "deleting" your account actually starts with deactivation. When you deactivate, your profile, posts, likes, and followers are hidden from public view almost immediately, and a 30-day countdown begins. If you don't sign back in during those 30 days, X permanently deletes the account and everything tied to it. Log in even once in that window, though, and the account springs right back to life.

Before you delete: 3 things to do first

Deletion is permanent, so spend five minutes on these steps before you pull the trigger:

1. Download your data archive. Go to Settings → Your account → Download an archive of your data. X prepares a file with your posts, media, direct messages, and follower lists — it can take anywhere from a few hours to about a day to be ready, so start this early.
2. Save the media you actually care about. The archive can be clunky to browse. If there are specific videos, GIFs, or photos you want in a usable format, grab them individually with the X video downloader or the X image downloader before your posts disappear.
3. Revoke connected apps and free up your handle. Under Settings → Security and account access → Apps and sessions, remove third-party apps that can post on your behalf. If you might want to reuse your email or username on a new account, change them on this account first (in Account information).

How to deactivate X on desktop (web)

1. Log in at x.com and click More in the left menu.
2. Open Settings and privacy → Your account.
3. Select Deactivate your account and read the summary of what happens.
4. Click Deactivate, then re-enter your password to confirm.

How to deactivate X on iPhone or Android

1. Open the X app and tap your profile icon (or the menu).
2. Go to Settings and Support → Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Your account → Deactivate account.
4. Confirm, entering your password if prompted.

The steps are nearly identical on iOS and Android — only the exact wording of a menu item may differ slightly between app versions.

What happens during the 30-day window

As soon as you deactivate, your profile stops showing up on X and your handle no longer resolves publicly. Behind the scenes the clock is ticking: reach day 30 without signing in and the account is erased permanently. Keep in mind that search engines and third-party archives may still show cached snippets for a short time until they re-index — that's outside X's control.

Changed your mind? How to reactivate

Reactivating is as simple as logging back in with your username (or email) and password before the 30 days are up. Your posts, followers, and profile return as they were. After the deletion date passes, however, there's no way to recover the account, so don't rely on last-minute rescues.

Alternatives to deleting entirely

• Take a break instead. Deactivation itself works as a temporary pause — reactivate whenever you're ready within 30 days.
• Go private and prune. Switch your account to protected, mute keywords, and bulk-delete old posts to shrink your footprint without losing your handle.
• Log out and remove the app. If the goal is simply to disconnect, signing out and deleting the app off your phone removes the temptation while keeping your account intact.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: save full-resolution images from X, or the complete video download guide.