How to Delete Twitter (now X) Account Permanently 2024

There are a lot of reasons why you might want a how to delete Twitter account tutorial. Though it can be a place to meet and interact with like-minded people who you may even become genuine friends with, it can also be messy, frustrating, and toxic. That’s why this guide will cover how to permanently delete your Twitter (X) account, for when you’ve simply had enough.

Deleting vs Deactivating

Deactivating your account is actually the first part of deleting it completely. Still, there is a difference. Once you start the deactivation process, you have 30 days to choose if you’re going to reactivate it. If you don’t…oops! Your account is permanently deleted. Regardless, during this period, your public profile and user name will not be viewable on social media.

For some users, this month-long window is a good opportunity to decide if they want to return to Twitter (X) or if they’re happier without it. So if you’re planning to delete your account but aren’t sure you want to close that door completely, you have 30 days to change your mind before you lose your chance. No pressure. 

How to Delete Twitter Account Using a Phone

Here’s how to delete Twitter account information using your smartphone:

1. Sign into Twitter (X)
2. Go to your Profile by tapping your Profile image
3. Tap Settings and Support to open a drop down menu
4. From there, tap Settings and privacy
   
   
5. Go to Your account
   
   
6. Tap Deactivate your account
7. There will be a long text describing the terms and what to expect when deactivating. At the bottom is the option to Deactivate
   
   
8. You will be prompted to enter your password
9. After having you confirm again that you do want to deactivate, your account will officially be deactivated
10. To have it deleted permanently, wait for the 30 day period to pass without reactivating and it will be deleted automatically

How to Delete Twitter Account Using a Computer

The how to delete Twitter account steps are very similar for the app and the desktop versions. Here’s what to do:  

1. Sign into Twitter (X)
2. On the menu on the left side of the screen find and click on More
   
3. That opens a small pop up menu, click on Settings and Privacy
   
   
4. Click on Your Account and you’ll see menu options on the right side of the screen
   
5. Click Deactivate your account
6. The terms of what to expect data will be there to read with the Deactivate option at the bottom. Click it
   
7. Input your password when prompted
8. Click Deactivate again to confirm your choice
9. Wait for the 30 days to pass without reactivating to have your account automatically deleted 

Reactivating a Twitter Account

If you decide that you don’t want to permanently delete your account after all, you have those all-important thirty days to change your mind. Here’s how to reactivate, regardless if on desktop or mobile: 

1. Go to Twitter (X) on whatever device you choose
2. Input your login information (password, username, etc.)
3. As you’re trying to sign in you’ll see a pop up asking if you want to reactivate your account
4. Click or tap Yes, I want to reactivate. This will stop the deactivation window, so you won’t have to worry about your account being permanently deleted so long as you do this before the 30 days end
   
5. Posts, likes, follows, etc. might take a bit to restore fully, so don’t be surprised if it’s a little wonky at first

FAQs

How do I permanently delete my Twitter account?

Use the guide in this article to deactivate your account either via mobile device or desktop. After 30 days, your account will automatically be deleted. 

How do I delete a twitter account without a password?

Yes and no. If you don’t have your password, you can request a password reset to be texted or emailed to you by Twitter, so long as those are the contacts that are associated with the actual account. If you don’t have access to these, such as if you can no longer access your email account or want to delete a Twitter account on behalf of someone who passed away, Twitter will not give you the reset per their policy. This is to keep user information out of the wrong hands. For deceased family members, however, they do have policies to help you delete their account through official requests and documentation.

Fortunately, Twitter (X) has an inactive account policy. If you’re able to log out of your or the other person’s account and stay logged out for 30 days, the account will begin to be processed for permanent deletion whether you want it to be or not. 

Can I view a deleted twitter account?                   

Sometimes, yes. You can try the Wayback Machine internet archive and there is a chance that saved versions of deleted Twitter accounts will be accessible. There also may be Google Search screenshots, especially if the deleted account was of a celebrity. Search engines in general may have saved some of your account activity, which is uncontrollable by Twitter.

Advanced Twitter searches may yield some results, and the deleted account can still be mentioned in other’s tweets, even if the actual profile no longer exists. Overall, however, there is no guarantee that you’ll see much when you look for your deleted account.  

Can I delete a suspended twitter account?

Twitter will first need to lift the suspension for you if you have a suspended account. You can file an appeal to get unsuspended by going to the Twitter help center.