IF You Want To Delete Your Telegram Account Follow This Guide
Written by: Shaikh Shama (Bachelor In Management Studies)
Intro
In recent years, Telegram has emerged as one of the leading messaging apps, known for its speedy communication, support for large group chats, and strong encryption features. Despite its popularity, some users may decide to permanently close their Telegram accounts—whether due to privacy concerns, decreased usage, or a desire to streamline their digital presence.
If you're thinking about taking this step, it's essential to understand how the deletion process works and what it entails. This guide explains both the manual and automatic methods for deleting your Telegram account, along with what happens after the account is removed.
Process To Delete Your Telegram Account
Telegram provides two main options for deleting your account:-
1. Manual Delete- which allows you to permanently remove your account right away.
2. Auto Delete- which deletes your account automatically after a set period of inactivity.
Let’s explore both methods in more detail.
1. Manual Delete
To instantly remove your Telegram account, you’ll need to use the official deactivation portal through a web browser.
Here's how to do it:
1.Access the Deletion Page: Open your preferred web browser and visit https://my.telegram.org/delete
2.Provide Your Phone Number: Enter the phone number linked to your Telegram account, making sure to include your country code (for example, +1 for the U.S. or +91 for India).
3.Check for a Verification Code: Telegram will send a login code to your Telegram app (not via SMS), so make sure you can access your messages.
4.Enter the Code Online: Input the code on the website to continue.
5.Choose to Delete Your Account: Once logged in, you'll see the option to delete your account. You can optionally provide a reason for leaving.
6.Confirm the Action: Click on “Yes, delete my account” to complete the process. This action is permanent and will erase all your messages, contacts, and media.
2. Automatic Delete
Telegram offers an automatic account deletion feature that removes your account after a chosen period of inactivity. This option is especially useful if you lose access to your phone number or want a hands-off way to leave the platform.
To Activate Auto-Deletion:
- Open Telegram on your device.
- Go to Settings then select Privacy and Security.
- Scroll down to find the "Delete My Account" section.
Choose how long Telegram should wait before deleting your account due to inactivity:
- 1 month
- 3 months
- 6 months (default)
- 12 months
If you don’t log in to your account during the selected period, Telegram will automatically erase your account and all associated data permanently.
After Deletion Account Status
It’s essential to understand what happens when you delete your Telegram account:
- All your chats, contacts, and group data will be permanently removed.
- The deletion is final — once your account is gone, it cannot be recovered.
- In conversations, your messages will appear under the name Deleted Account to other users.
- If you create a new account using the same phone number, it will be treated as entirely new, with no access to your previous messages or data.
Important Things To Consider Before Account Deletion
Before you delete your telegram account keep these following in your mind because you will not be able to undo these decision later.
Backup Your Data:
If you want to preserve your chat history or shared files, Telegram's desktop app lets you export your data.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Export Telegram Data.
- Select the content you want to save (such as messages, images, or videos) and download it to your computer.
Let Your Contacts Know:
After your account is deleted, your name and profile photo will be removed, and your presence in group chats will appear as “Deleted Account.” To avoid confusion, it's a good idea to inform close contacts ahead of time.
Can't Access Your Phone Number?
If you’ve lost access to the phone number linked to your Telegram account, manual deletion won’t be possible. In this case, your account will be automatically removed after the selected inactivity period.
Final Thaughts
Deleting your Telegram account is a simple process, but it comes with irreversible consequences. Whether you choose to remove your account manually or let it be deleted automatically after a period of inactivity, it’s wise to back up any important information and let your contacts know beforehand.
Once your account is deleted, it cannot be recovered — so make sure this is the right decision for you.
If you’re just looking to take a short break from the app, consider logging out or muting notifications instead. However, if you’re ready to permanently leave Telegram, the instructions provided will help ensure a clean and hassle-free exit.
