How to Delete Your X (Twitter) Account Permanently

Thinking about leaving X for good? Whether you’re decluttering your digital footprint, taking a break from social media, or starting fresh with a new handle, deleting your X (Twitter) account is straightforward — but there are a few things you should know before pulling the trigger.

Before you delete: save what matters

Once your account is gone, so is everything attached to it — tweets, likes, bookmarks, DMs, and followers. None of it can be recovered after the deactivation window closes.

Download your data archive

X lets you request a full export of your account data:

1. Go to Settings and Support → Settings and privacy → Your account → Download an archive of your data.
2. Verify your identity (password or two-factor code).
3. Wait for the archive to generate — this can take 24 hours or more.
4. Download the ZIP file when you receive the email notification.

The archive contains your tweets, DMs, profile information, media, and account history in JSON and HTML formats.

Save videos you’ve posted

If you’ve shared videos on X that you don’t have backed up locally, now is the time to save them. You can use XDownloader to grab the original MP4 files from your own public posts before the account disappears.

Note your username

Once deleted, your @handle becomes available for anyone to claim after 30 days. If you think you might return to X later, consider deactivating temporarily instead of deleting permanently.

How to delete your X account: step by step

On desktop (browser)

1. Log in at x.com with the account you want to delete.
2. Click More (three dots) in the left sidebar, then select Settings and Support → Settings and privacy.
3. Under Your account, click Deactivate your account.
4. Read the summary of what deactivation means — your display name, @handle, and public profile will disappear immediately.
5. Click Deactivate at the bottom.
6. Enter your password to confirm.
7. Click Deactivate account one final time.

On the X mobile app (iOS and Android)

1. Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner to open the menu.
2. Go to Settings and Support → Settings and privacy.
3. Tap Your account → Deactivate your account.
4. Review the information, then tap Deactivate.
5. Confirm with your password.
6. Tap Deactivate again.

The process is identical on iPhone and Android — the interface may look slightly different depending on your app version.

What happens after you deactivate

Deactivation is the first stage of permanent deletion. Here’s what the timeline looks like:

Timeframe	What happens
Immediately	Your profile, tweets, and likes vanish from public view
0–30 days	Account is in a “soft delete” state — you can log back in to reactivate
After 30 days	X permanently deletes your account, data, and content — no recovery possible

During the 30-day window, your data still exists on X’s servers. If you change your mind, simply log in with your credentials and the account is restored exactly as you left it.

Deactivation vs. permanent deletion

There is no separate “permanent delete” button on X. Deactivation becomes permanent deletion after 30 days of inactivity. If you want to guarantee removal:

• Deactivate the account.
• Do not log in again during the next 30 days.
• After day 30, the account and all associated data are wiped.

Things to consider before deleting

Connected apps and logins

If you use “Sign in with X” on third-party services (games, apps, tools), those logins will stop working once your account is gone. Switch to email-based logins on those platforms first.

Subscriptions and payments

Cancel any active X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue) subscription before deactivating. Otherwise, you might continue to be billed while the account sits in the 30-day limbo.

Pinned tweets and threads others rely on

If you’ve created popular threads or resources, consider archiving them on a blog or sharing the text with whoever might need it. External links pointing to your tweets will break permanently.

Can you delete an X account without logging in?

No. You must be able to sign in to the account to initiate deactivation. If you’ve lost access:

• Use the Forgot password flow to regain access via email or phone.
• If that fails, contact X Support from the login screen and explain the situation.

Alternatives to permanent deletion

Not ready to leave entirely? Consider these options:

• Protect your account — makes your tweets visible only to approved followers.
• Delete all tweets — third-party tools can mass-delete your post history while keeping the account alive.
• Log out and uninstall — sometimes a simple break is all you need.

Summary

Deleting your X account permanently is a two-step process: deactivate today, then wait 30 days without logging in. Before you go, download your data archive and save any videos you want to keep. Once the 30-day window closes, everything is gone for good — so make sure you’re certain before you begin.