How to Delete Your Telegram Account: Complete Guide

4 min read

Quick Summary

To delete your Telegram account, visit the Telegram Deactivation page, confirm your phone number, choose your deletion timeframe, and confirm deletion. Your account will be permanently deleted after the selected period (1 month by default). Note that deletion cannot be undone, and all your chats, groups, and channels will be permanently erased.

Before You Delete Your Account

Essential Steps to Take First

  • Export your chat history and media files
  • Inform important contacts about your decision
  • Transfer admin rights for any groups or channels you manage
  • Save any important documents or files shared in chats
  • Consider using self-destruct timer instead of deletion

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Export Your Telegram Data

  1. Open Telegram Desktop app
  2. Go to Settings > Advanced > Export Telegram Data
  3. Choose what data to export (chats, media, etc.)
  4. Click "Export" and wait for the process to complete
Pro Tip: The export feature is only available on the desktop version of Telegram.

2. Access the Deactivation Page

  1. Visit the Telegram Deactivation Page
  2. Enter your phone number in international format
  3. Wait for the confirmation code
  4. Enter the code to proceed

3. Choose Deletion Timeframe

Select when your account should be deleted:

  • 1 month of inactivity (default)
  • 3 months of inactivity
  • 6 months of inactivity
  • 12 months of inactivity
Note: If you log in before the selected period ends, the deletion will be canceled.

4. Confirm Deletion

  1. Review the consequences of deletion
  2. Enter your reason for leaving (optional)
  3. Click "Delete My Account"
  4. Confirm the final warning
Important: This action cannot be undone after the selected period has passed.

What Happens After Deletion

  • All your messages and contacts will be permanently deleted
  • Your username becomes available for others
  • Groups and channels you created will remain but with a different admin
  • Your phone number can be used to create a new account
  • Cloud storage of files and media will be erased

Alternatives to Deletion

Use Self-Destruct Timer

Set messages to automatically delete after a certain time period.

Archive Chats

Hide conversations without deleting them permanently.

Clear Cache

Free up space without losing your account data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover my account after deletion?

No, once the deletion period has passed, your account and all associated data are permanently erased and cannot be recovered.

What happens to my messages in other people's chats?

Your messages will remain visible in other people's chats, but your name will appear as "Deleted Account".

Can I use the same phone number for a new account?

Yes, after your account is permanently deleted, you can use the same phone number to create a new Telegram account.