Deleting your Telegram account removes it completely, but the process takes time and has a few steps you need to know about
When you delete a Telegram account, the app removes your profile, contact list, and message history from Telegram's servers. However, Telegram doesn't delete your account instantly — it waits 30 days before permanently erasing everything. During those 30 days, you can change your mind and log back in to cancel the deletion. After 30 days pass, your account and all its data are gone for good.
The deletion process works the same whether you use Telegram on your phone, desktop, or web. You start the deletion from your account settings, and Telegram sends you a confirmation code to make sure it's really you requesting the deletion.
Key Takeaways
- You delete your Telegram account through Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Account, not by simply deleting the app.
- Telegram waits 30 days before permanently removing your account, during which you can log back in and cancel the deletion if you change your mind.
- You must confirm the deletion using a code Telegram sends to your phone number, so you need access to that phone number to complete the process.
- Deleting your account removes your messages and profile from Telegram's servers, but does not affect messages you sent to other people who saved them.
Steps to delete your account on phone or desktop
Open Telegram and go to Settings (the gear icon). Tap or click Privacy and Security, then scroll down until you see Delete Account. Tap or click that option.
Telegram will ask you why you're deleting your account — you can choose from a list of reasons or leave it blank. This is optional and doesn't affect whether your deletion goes through. After you select a reason or skip it, Telegram shows you a warning that your account will be deleted in 30 days and asks you to confirm.
Tap or click Delete Account again to confirm. Telegram then sends a code to the phone number attached to your account. Enter that code into the app to finish the deletion request. Once you enter the code, your account is scheduled for deletion and you'll be logged out of the app.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
For the next 30 days, your account still exists but is hidden. Other people cannot find your profile or send you messages. Your username becomes available for someone else to use immediately. Any groups or channels you created remain, but you are removed as the owner or member.
If you log back into Telegram during these 30 days using your phone number and password, your account deletion is cancelled and everything returns to normal. Your profile becomes visible again, your username is yours again, and you can use the app as before. You don't need to do anything special — just logging in cancels the deletion.
After 30 days pass with no login, Telegram permanently deletes your account. Your messages, profile picture, bio, and all other data are removed from Telegram's servers. At that point, you cannot recover your account or any of its contents.
Deleting your account on the web version
If you use Telegram Web (web.telegram.org), the deletion process is slightly different. Log in to Telegram Web, then click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left. Scroll down and click Settings.
In Settings, click Privacy and Security on the left side. Scroll down to find Delete Account and click it. Follow the same confirmation steps as the phone or desktop app — Telegram sends a code to your phone number, you enter it, and your deletion is scheduled.
What you should know about messages and contacts
When you delete your account, Telegram removes all your messages from your own devices and from Telegram's servers. However, if you sent messages to other people and they saved or screenshotted them, those copies remain on their devices. Deleting your account does not delete messages that other people received from you.
Your contacts list is deleted from Telegram's servers, but the phone numbers themselves remain in other people's phones if they saved them. Deleting your Telegram account does not remove your phone number from anyone's contact list.
If you were in groups or channels, your messages in those spaces are deleted, but the groups and channels themselves continue. Other members can still see messages you sent before deletion if they were saved or pinned, depending on the group's settings.
If you lose access to your phone number
If you no longer have access to the phone number attached to your Telegram account and you want to delete it, you cannot complete the deletion yourself because Telegram sends the confirmation code to that number. In this case, you can contact Telegram's support team through the app or at support@telegram.org to request account deletion.
Telegram may ask you to verify your identity before deleting an account you cannot access. Be prepared to provide information about your account, such as when you created it or details about your contacts. The process takes longer than the standard 30-day deletion, but Telegram will eventually remove the account.
Alternatives if you want to keep your account but stop using it
If you're not sure whether you want to permanently delete your account, you have other options. You can deactivate your account temporarily by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Deactivate Account. This hides your profile and stops notifications, but keeps your account and data intact. You can reactivate it anytime by logging back in.
You can also simply stop using the app without deleting or deactivating anything. Your account remains active, but you won't receive notifications. If you decide to use Telegram again later, your account and messages are still there. This option is useful if you think you might return to Telegram in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Telegram account without a phone number?
No, you need access to the phone number attached to your account to confirm the deletion code. If you no longer have that number, contact Telegram support at support@telegram.org and explain your situation. They can verify your identity and delete the account for you, though it takes longer than the standard process.
What happens to my Telegram username after I delete my account?
Your username becomes available for someone else to use immediately, even during the 30-day waiting period. If you log back in and cancel the deletion, you can claim your username again. After 30 days, the username is gone and cannot be recovered.
Will deleting my Telegram account delete my messages from group chats?
Your messages are deleted from your own view and from Telegram's servers, but other group members can still see the messages you sent if they saved them or if the group has message history enabled. Deleting your account does not remove messages from other people's devices or from the group's history.
Can I delete my account and then create a new one with the same phone number?
You must wait until after the 30-day deletion period ends before you can use that phone number to create a new Telegram account. During the 30 days, the phone number is tied to your account that's scheduled for deletion. Once the 30 days pass and the account is permanently removed, you can sign up again with that number.
Is there a way to download my data before I delete my account?
Telegram does not offer a built-in feature to download all your messages and data before deletion. You can manually save important conversations by screenshotting or forwarding messages to yourself or another account, but there is no automatic export tool. If you need your data, save what matters before you start the deletion process.