How to delete your Netflix account

To delete your Netflix account, you log in on a web browser, go to your account settings, find the "Cancel membership" or "Delete account" option, and follow the prompts to confirm. Netflix will stop charging you when ready, though you keep access until your current billing period ends. The whole process takes about five minutes and requires no phone call or email to Netflix support.

Netflix does not have a separate "delete" button distinct from cancellation — when you cancel your membership, your account is deactivated and will eventually be removed from their system. If you change your mind within ten months, you can reactivate the account and your profile settings will still be there. After ten months of inactivity, Netflix deletes the account permanently and you cannot recover it.

Key Takeaways

  • You must use a web browser to cancel; the Netflix app does not have a cancellation option.
  • Cancellation takes effect when ready for billing purposes, but you retain access through the end of your current billing cycle.
  • If you reactivate within ten months, your profiles and watch history return; after ten months the account is permanently deleted.
  • Netflix will ask you to confirm your reason for leaving and may offer a discount to stay, but you can skip these steps and proceed to cancellation.

Step-by-step: canceling on a computer

Open Netflix in a web browser and sign in with your email and password. In the top right corner, click your profile icon (a circle with your name or initial), then select "Account" from the dropdown menu. This takes you to your account page, where you will see your membership plan, billing information, and other settings.

Scroll down until you see a section labeled "Membership & Billing" or "Plan Details." Below your current plan, you will find a button that says "Cancel Membership" or "Cancel your membership." Click it. Netflix will show you a confirmation screen that lists your plan, the date your access ends, and sometimes an offer to reduce your subscription price for a few months. You can accept the offer or skip it — either way, click "Finish Cancellation" or the equivalent button to proceed.

On the final screen, Netflix asks why you are leaving. You can select a reason from a dropdown menu or leave it blank. This step is optional and does not affect whether your account cancels. Click the final confirmation button, and your cancellation is complete. You will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.

What happens to your account after cancellation

Your Netflix account does not disappear the moment you cancel. You keep full access to watch shows and movies until the last day of your current billing period. If you paid for a monthly plan on the 15th of the month, you can watch until the 15th of the next month, even though Netflix stopped charging you on the day you canceled.

After your access ends, Netflix keeps your account in an inactive state for ten months. During this time, your profiles, watch history, and saved titles remain stored on Netflix's servers. If you sign back in and restart your membership within those ten months, everything returns exactly as you left it — you do not have to rebuild your profiles or re-add shows to your list.

If you do not reactivate within ten months, Netflix permanently deletes your account. At that point, your profiles and watch history are gone. If you want to use Netflix again after ten months, you create a new account from scratch.

Reactivating your account within ten months

To reactivate, sign in to Netflix with the same email and password you used before. Netflix recognizes the inactive account and asks you to choose a new plan and payment method. Once you complete the payment setup, your account is active again and all your profiles and watch history are restored.

You do not have to use the same payment method you used before. You can switch from a credit card to a debit card, from one card to another, or to a different payment option entirely. Netflix only needs valid payment information to restart your membership.

Removing payment information before cancellation

Netflix does not require you to remove your payment method before you cancel. Your card will not be charged after cancellation, even if the payment information stays on file. However, if you want to remove it for security reasons, you can do so through your account settings before you cancel.

Go to "Account" in the top right menu, then find "Billing Info" or "Payment Method." Click "Update" or "Change" next to your current payment method, then select "Remove" or "Delete." Confirm the removal. After this, Netflix has no payment information on file, and there is no way for a charge to go through if someone gains access to your account.

If you share your account with others

When you cancel your Netflix account, everyone who uses it loses access at the end of your billing period. Netflix does not notify other users that the account is being canceled — they will straightforward find themselves unable to log in after your access expires. If you share your account with family members or friends, tell them before you cancel so they are not surprised.

If other people want to keep using Netflix after you cancel, they can create their own accounts and start new subscriptions. They will not be able to transfer your profiles or watch history to their accounts, but they can manually add shows to their own lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel Netflix through the app instead of a web browser?

No. The Netflix app on phones, tablets, and streaming devices does not have a cancellation option. You must use a web browser on a computer or phone to access your account settings and cancel. This is true for all devices — iPhone, Android, Roku, Fire Stick, and others.

Will Netflix charge me again if I reactivate my account?

Yes. When you reactivate, you choose a new plan and provide a payment method, and Netflix charges you for that plan starting when ready. You are not charged for the ten months your account was inactive. Your first charge after reactivation is for the new plan you select.

What if I forgot my Netflix password?

Go to the Netflix login page and click "Forgot password?" Enter the email address associated with your account. Netflix sends a password reset link to that email. Click the link, create a new password, and sign in. Once you are logged in, you can proceed to cancel as described above.

Does Netflix offer a refund if I cancel mid-month?

No. Netflix does not refund unused portions of your subscription. If you cancel on the 5th of the month but your billing cycle runs until the 20th, you keep access through the 20th but receive no refund for those remaining days. You only pay for the full month.

Can someone else delete my Netflix account if they know my password?

Yes. Anyone who can log into your account can cancel it. To prevent this, use a strong, unique password that you do not share with others. If you share your Netflix account with family members, consider using Netflix's profile feature with a PIN code on your profile so others cannot access your account settings.