What happens when you close your Amazon account
Closing your Amazon account removes your access to your account, cancels any active subscriptions like Prime, and deletes your stored payment methods and addresses. Amazon keeps your order history for tax and legal reasons, but you will no longer be able to view it through the account. Once closed, you cannot reopen the same account — if you want to use Amazon again later, you will need to create a new one with a different email address.
The process takes a few minutes and requires you to confirm your decision. Amazon will ask why you are leaving, but your answer does not affect whether the closure goes through. If you have an active Prime membership, you will lose access to Prime benefits when ready, though Amazon may offer a refund depending on how much of your membership period remains.
Key Takeaways
- You close your account through Account Settings on the Amazon website or app, not through a separate form or customer service request.
- Cancel any active subscriptions like Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or Amazon Music before closing, or they will be cancelled automatically when the account closes.
- Resolve any open orders, returns, or refunds before closing — you cannot manage these after the account is gone.
- Your order history will be deleted from your view, though Amazon retains records for legal and tax purposes.
- You cannot reopen a closed account under the same email address, so choose a different email if you want to use Amazon in the future.
Steps to close your account on a computer
Start by signing into your Amazon account on a web browser. Go to the top right corner where your account name appears and click the dropdown menu. Select Account from the menu options.
On the Account page, scroll down until you find the section labeled Login & security. Click on it to expand that section. At the bottom of the Login & security area, you will see a link that says Close your account. Click that link.
Amazon will show you a page explaining what happens when you close your account and asking you to confirm. Read through the information — it will tell you whether you have any active subscriptions or pending orders that need attention first. If everything is clear, select the checkbox next to "I understand that my account will be closed" and then click the Close account button. Your account will close when ready.
Steps to close your account on the Amazon app
Open the Amazon app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap Account at the top of the menu.
Scroll down to find Login & security and tap it. At the bottom of that section, tap Close your account. The app will show you the same confirmation page as the website version. Review any warnings about active subscriptions or pending orders, check the confirmation box, and tap Close account.
What to do before closing your account
Check for any active subscriptions tied to your Amazon account. Prime membership is the most common, but you may also have Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Music Unlimited, or other recurring services. These will all be cancelled when your account closes, so if you want to keep any of them, you will need to move them to a different account or cancel them separately first. Go to Your Memberships and Subscriptions in Account Settings to see what is active.
Look for any open orders or returns in progress. If you have a package on the way or a return pending, wait until it arrives or the return is complete before closing. You will not be able to track these or manage refunds once the account is closed. Go to Returns and Your Orders to check the status of anything recent.
Make sure you do not have an outstanding balance or pending refund. If Amazon owes you money from a return, wait for that refund to post to your payment method before closing. Similarly, if you owe Amazon money for an order, that will need to be settled first — the system will not let you close an account with an unpaid balance.
If you want to keep your Prime membership
You cannot keep Prime if you close your Amazon account — Prime is tied directly to your account and ends when the account closes. If you want to stay a Prime member, do not close your account. If you are closing because you no longer want Prime, you can cancel just the Prime subscription instead of closing the entire account. Go to Your Memberships and Subscriptions, find Prime, and select Cancel membership. Your account will remain open.
If you are closing your account but think you might want to use Amazon again in the future, remember that you will need to create a brand new account with a different email address. That new account will not have Prime unless you purchase it separately.
What to do if you cannot find the close account option
The close account link only appears if your account is in good standing — no unpaid balances, no open disputes, and no active returns that are still processing. If you cannot find the Close your account link, check Your Orders and Returns to see if anything is still pending. Wait for those to complete, then try again.
If you have an unpaid balance or a dispute with Amazon, you will need to resolve that first. Contact Amazon Customer Service through the Contact Us link at the bottom of any Amazon page. Explain your situation and ask what needs to be cleared before you can close the account. Once that is resolved, the close account option will appear.
After your account is closed
You will receive a confirmation email at the address associated with your account. Keep this email for your records. Your account is now closed and you cannot access it. Any saved addresses, payment methods, and preferences are deleted.
If you want to use Amazon again in the future, you will need to create a new account. Use a different email address than the one you used for the closed account. You can use the same name, address, and payment method on the new account — only the email address needs to be different. Your new account will start fresh with no order history or saved preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen my account after closing it?
No, once closed, an Amazon account cannot be reopened. If you want to use Amazon again, you must create a new account with a different email address. Your old order history will not transfer to the new account.
Will I get a refund for my Prime membership?
Amazon may refund a portion of your Prime membership fee depending on how much of your membership period remains unused. The refund will be issued to your original payment method within a few days of account closure. Check your email for confirmation of the refund amount.
What happens to my gift cards if I close my account?
Any unused gift card balance on your account will be lost when you close it. If you have gift cards you have not used, spend them before closing your account, or contact Amazon Customer Service to ask about transferring the balance to a different account.
Can I close my account if I have an open return?
You should wait until your return is complete before closing your account. If you close while a return is processing, you may not receive your refund. Check the status of all returns in Your Orders first.
Do I need to contact customer service to close my account?
No, you can close your account yourself through Account Settings without contacting anyone. The process is self-service and takes just a few minutes. You only need to contact customer service if you cannot find the close account option or have an issue preventing closure.