How to Delete a Twitter Account

Ready to unplug from Twitter, now known as X? Closing your account is a fairly simple process, but there are a few important things you should know before you say your final goodbye. This guide will walk you through the entire process step-by-step, from backing up your data to understanding the 30-day deactivation period and what it means for your information.

Before You Go: What to Know Before Deleting Your X (Twitter) Account

Hitting the delete button isn't an instant, irreversible action. X provides a grace period and some options to preserve your history. Understanding these details first can save you from accidentally losing data or your unique username.

The 30-Day Deactivation Window

When you go through the deletion process, you aren't actually *deleting* your account immediately - you're *deactivating* it. This kicks off a 30-day restoration window. During this time:

• Your profile, tweets, likes, and comments will disappear from the platform.
• Your username and profile will not be visible to other users.
• You can fully restore your account at any point within these 30 days simply by logging back in.

If you don't log back in for 30 days, your account will be permanently deleted. After that point, there's no going back. All your data will be gone forever, and you will not be able to recover your account.

Recommended: Download Your Twitter Archive First

Your Twitter account holds years of thoughts, conversations, photos, and memories. Before erasing it all, it’s a great idea to download a complete archive of your data. This archive contains all of your tweets (including retweets), direct messages, media you've uploaded, a list of your followers, and more.

How to Request Your Archive:

1. Log into your X account and click on More in the left-hand navigation menu.
2. Go to Settings and privacy >, Your account.
3. Click on Download an archive of your data.
4. You’ll be asked to re-enter your password to confirm your identity.
5. X will then begin preparing your file. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on how much data is in your account. You'll receive an in-app notification and an email with a download link once it's ready.

Once you download and unzip the file, you can browse your entire Twitter history offline in an HTML format. It's a fantastic way to preserve your digital history without keeping the account active.

Your Username and Email Address

Here's a tip many users overlook: Once your account is permanently deleted (after the 30-day window), your username will eventually be released for a new user to claim. However, if you think you might want to use your current username or email address for a *different* X account in the future, you should change them before deactivating.

Simply go into your account settings and change your username and email address to something temporary. This frees up your original username and email immediately, allowing you to use them for a new account while your old one goes through the deactivation and deletion process. If you don't do this, you'll have to wait until after the deletion is final to try and reclaim them.

How to Delete Your X (Twitter) Account: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process is nearly identical whether you’re on a desktop web browser or the mobile app. We'll cover both just to be crystal clear.

Deleting Your Account on a Desktop Computer

If you’re logged into X on your laptop or home computer, follow these simple steps.

1. Navigate to Your Settings: Log in to your account. On the left-hand menu, click the More button (the one with three dots in a circle). From the pop-up menu, select Settings and privacy.
2. Go to Your Account Section: In the settings menu, click on Your account. This will open up all the options related to your core account information.
3. Find the Deactivation Option: At the bottom of the "Your account" list, you'll see an option labeled Deactivate your account. Click on it.
4. Read the Confirmation Page: X will present you with a final screen detailing what deactivation means. It will remind you about the 30-day restoration window and what data will be removed. Read this page carefully to make sure you're ready.
5. Confirm Deactivation: Click the red Deactivate button at the bottom. You will be prompted to enter your password one last time to confirm your decision. After entering it and clicking the final button, your account will be deactivated, and you will be logged out.

Deleting Your Account Using the iOS or Android Mobile App

The steps on your phone are just as straightforward and follow the same logic as the desktop version.

1. Open the Menu: Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the app to open the main navigation menu.
2. Access Settings and privacy: Near the bottom of the menu, tap Settings & privacy.
3. Go to Your Account: On the next screen, tap Your account at the very top.
4. Choose to Deactivate: Similar to the desktop version, find and tap Deactivate account at the bottom of the list.
5. Review and Confirm: You will see the same information page explaining the deactivation process. Read it through, then tap the red Deactivate button.
6. Final Verification: Enter your password when prompted and tap Deactivate one final time. You'll be logged out, and your account will begin its 30-day countdown to permanent deletion.

Answering Your Questions About Account Deletion

Even with the steps laid out, a few common questions tend to pop up. Let’s clear those up.

What Actually Happens After I Deactivate?

The moment you confirm deactivation, your profile vanishes from public view on X. No one can find you in search, see your tweets, or interact with your old posts. To everyone else, it’s as if your account never existed. Behind the scenes, X holds onto your data for 30 days in case you change your mind.

After those 30 days are up, the permanent deletion process begins. X will start to erase all your data from their systems for good. This process is final and irreversible.

Can I Get My Account Back If I Change My Mind?

Yes, but *only* within the 30-day deactivation window. To restore your account, all you need to do is log in with your old username and password either on the web or through the mobile app. You'll see a confirmation message asking if you want to reactivate your account. Agree, and everything - your tweets, DMs, followers, etc. - will be restored, though it might take a few minutes for everything to reappear.

If you try to log in on day 31, it will be too late. The account will no longer exist.

Will My Old Tweets Still Show Up in Google?

Possibly, for a short time. Search engines like Google take a while to update their indexes. Even after your account is deleted from X's servers, it can take some days or even weeks for Google to recrawl those old links and discover that the content is gone. Eventually, however, those search results will disappear as well.

What if I Just Want a Break, Not Deletion?

If you're not entirely sure about deleting your account permanently, consider some less drastic alternatives.

• Just log out and delete the app: The simplest option! Just take the app off your phone and log out on your web browsers. You can take an extended break without the pressure of the 30-day clock. Your account remains inactive but safe until you decide to return.
• Protect your tweets: You can make your account private by going to Settings and privacy >, Privacy and safety >, Audience and tagging and checking the box for Protect your Posts. This means only your current followers can see your tweets, and new followers will require your approval. It's a great way to maintain a presence for a smaller, private circle.

Taking a mindful approach to managing your social media presence is healthy. Whether that means deactivating an old account, taking a break, or going private, you have plenty of options to make social platforms work for you.

Final Thoughts

Deleting your Twitter (or X) account involves a thoughtful process with a 30-day grace period, and it’s always a good idea to back up your personal data before starting. Following the step-by-step deactivation process on either desktop or mobile will set you on your way to permanently closing your account.

Managing which social media platforms you use is just one piece of the puzzle. At times, the day-to-day grind of planning and posting content across multiple channels can feel overwhelming. We know what it's like to juggle different platforms, which is why we built Postbase to streamline everything into one clean, simple interface. It’s designed to save you from bouncing between apps so you can efficiently manage your brand's presence, all from one place.