Updated on: September 2, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Delete Your Telegram Account in 2024:
- Access the Delete Account webpage. You can access this page via the FAQs on the Telegram website or through the in-app FAQ options.
- Log in using your phone number. Use your phone number and the confirmation code you’ll receive via the Telegram app to log into the page.
- Confirm that you want to proceed with account deletion. Telegram will ask you to double-check whether you want to delete your account — just agree to its prompts to finish the account deletion process.
If you’re tired of using Telegram and don’t want to leave any traces behind, you can easily delete your Telegram account. But I know that the deletion process isn’t 100% straightforward, as Telegram’s apps don’t exactly have a noticeable “delete account” button in the main settings menu.
So, I put together this guide to show you how to quickly delete your Telegram account. It covers the quickest method and also discusses how to use the account self-destruct option.
Just remember that deleting your Telegram account means you permanently lose access to all data associated with it, like your contacts and messages. So make sure to export that data before you go ahead with the account deletion process. Also, I recommend using a VPN (like ExpressVPN) if you export the data over public Wi-Fi, as the VPN will secure your data transfers.
WARNING: Deleting your Telegram account is an irreversible process. If you sign up again in the future, you’ll show up as a new user. Also, you won’t regain access to the contacts, groups, and message history associated with your previous account.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Quickly Delete Your Telegram Account
You can easily delete your Telegram account on the messaging service’s website. Here’s what you need to do:
- Access the Delete Account webpage. You can access it by using this link. You can also access the webpage via the Telegram app — just head to Settings > Telegram FAQ, click Delete your Telegram account under the Your Account tab, and then click the deactivation page link.
- Use your phone number to log in. Just type in the phone number associated with your Telegram account. The service will then send you a confirmation code via the Telegram app, which you will need to enter on the page to log in.
- Click Delete My Account. I also recommend reading Telegram’s warning about what will happen to your data before you proceed. Telegram provides information at this point on how to change your phone number in the app and mentions how deleting your account won’t remove account limitations associated with spam activities. There’s also a field where you can share your reasons for deleting your Telegram account.
- Hit Yes, delete my account to finalize the process. Telegram will require you to confirm your account deletion one last time. Just hit the red button to proceed with the account deletion. If you’re having second thoughts, click the green Nope, I’ll give it another try button.
How to Set Your Telegram Account to Self-Destruct
Telegram has an account self-destruct option built into its mobile and desktop apps. Basically, you choose a preset period of time: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year. If you don’t come online at least once within that period, your account will be automatically deleted.
I think this option is really useful if you’re not 100% sure you want to delete your Telegram account. This way, you can just configure the account to self-destruct and see what happens. If you don’t come online at all during the chosen period of time, you don’t have to worry about deleting your account as it will happen automatically.
Below, I’ll show you how to set your account to self-destruct on both mobile and desktop apps.
Mobile (Android & iOS)
- Head to the app’s Privacy and Security settings. To do this, tap the 3-line icon (the hamburger menu) in the top left corner, then tap Settings, and finally tap Privacy and Security.
- Choose the self-destruct timeframe. Scroll down until you find the Delete my account section, tap on it, and choose your desired self-destruct period. If you don’t log into your Telegram account within that period, the service will delete it.
Desktop (Windows & macOS)
- Click the 3-line menu icon. You’ll find it in the top left corner of the app.
- Next, click Settings. The button is near the bottom of your profile options menu.
- Now, access the app’s security and privacy settings. To do that, just hit Privacy and Security, which is located near the top of the Settings menu.
- Locate the section called Delete my account. Just scroll to the bottom of the Privacy and Security menu. When you find it, click on the If away for… field.
- Choose your desired self-destruct timeframe. If you think you might randomly decide to start using Telegram again in the near future, I recommend picking a longer period, like 6 months or a year.
What Happens to Your Telegram Data When You Delete Your Account?
If you delete your Telegram account, you’ll permanently lose access to it and remove all messages and contacts associated with your account. Just remember that all the people you’ve messaged will still have a copy of the messages you’ve sent them. If this is an issue for you, consider using the app’s Auto-Delete Messages feature — basically, you set a timer for how long messages remain available before they’re deleted (you can read more about this feature here).
If you’ve created any groups or channels, they will be “orphaned” — this basically means they’ll be left without a creator. Admins will still retain their rights, and your contacts will still be able to message each other in the groups you created.
How to Export Your Telegram Data Before You Delete Your Account
If you’d like to retain access to your Telegram data after deleting your account, you could export it. Telegram allows you to export stuff like contacts, stories, account information, personal chats, public group chats, and more.
To export Telegram data, you’ll need to use the desktop app. Once you install it and log in, this is what you need to do:
- Click the hamburger menu in the top left. In the app, it’ll be displayed as a 3-line icon.
- Next, access the Settings menu. You can do this by clicking Settings.
- After that, click Advanced. The button is located toward the end of the main settings menu.
- Scroll to the bottom of the advanced settings menu. You need to find the option called Export Telegram data and click it.
- Pick which Telegram data you want to export. Just check the boxes next to all the types of data you want to export. Also, choose which format you want to use — human-readable HTML or machine-readable JSON. When you’re done, hit the Export button in the bottom right corner of the menu.
- And that’s it — Telegram will only let you start downloading the data in 24 hours for security reasons. It will tell you the date and exact time when you can request the data export.
IMPORTANT: I recommend using a VPN when exporting Telegram data over public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi is usually not secure, so cybercriminals could monitor your Telegram traffic. But a VPN encrypts all your internet traffic, which means it makes it unreadable so that nobody can spy on it. My favorite VPN is ExpressVPN, since it’s ultra-secure and has the fastest speeds on the market.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Looking for an Alternative to Telegram?
The best alternative to Telegram in my opinion is Signal, as it handles security and privacy much better than Telegram. I’m highlighting security and privacy since those are the main concerns some people have around Telegram.
The main reason I prefer Signal is because it uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for all conversations by default — Telegram only uses E2EE for Secret Chats and audio and video calls. This means the company could decrypt your other messages and access them.
Also, Signal is better for privacy because it logs minimal data. It only collects your phone number on sign-up — everything else is encrypted end-to-end, so the company can’t see that data. Telegram, on the other hand, collects your IP address (which reveals your location) and profile information like your username.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my Telegram account after I delete it?
No, the process is irreversible. You’ll permanently lose access to the account and also to all messages and contacts associated with it. That’s why it’s best to export your data before going ahead with the account deletion — you can export tons of data, including voice and video messages, stickers, photos and videos, private chats, and more.
Is it possible to delete my Telegram account without a confirmation code?
Yes, if you set the account to self-destruct after a specific period of time (and you don’t log into the account within that period). You can choose a period of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.
Can I deactivate my Telegram account temporarily?
No, Telegram doesn’t provide this option. Realistically, the only thing you can do is leave your account inactive, and uninstall Telegram’s apps from your devices. You could also use the account self-destruct option — just set it to trigger after a longer period, like 6 months or 1 year. If you don’t log back into your account within that period, Telegram will automatically delete it.
Can I save my Telegram data before deleting my account?
Yes, Telegram allows you to do this via its desktop app. The export process is simple, and it also allows you to download tons of data, such as photos and videos, stickers, stories, contacts, GIFs, files, personal chats, and voice and video messages. Just remember that the exporting process isn’t instant — once you trigger it, you’ll have to wait 24 hours for security reasons before you can start actually exporting your Telegram data.
