You can close your PayPal account yourself in a few minutes, but you need to settle any balance first

PayPal lets you close your account through your account settings without calling customer service. The process takes about five minutes if your account balance is zero. If you have money in your PayPal wallet or an outstanding balance, you must move or pay that money before closing — PayPal will not let you proceed otherwise.

The steps are the same whether you use PayPal for personal payments, business transactions, or both. Once your account is closed, you cannot reopen it under the same email address. If you think you might need PayPal again later, you may want to straightforward stop using it instead of closing it permanently.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have a zero balance in your PayPal wallet before you can close your account — any remaining funds must be transferred to your bank account first.
  • If you owe PayPal money (from a chargeback, dispute, or unpaid invoice), you must pay that balance before closing.
  • Closing your account is permanent for that email address, so you cannot reopen it later under the same address.
  • After closing, you will lose access to your transaction history and any saved payment methods linked to that account.
  • If you have active subscriptions or recurring payments set up through PayPal, cancel those before closing your account.

Check your balance and cancel any recurring payments

Before you start the closing process, log into your PayPal account and check your wallet balance. Click on your account name in the top right corner, then select "Wallet" to see if you have any money sitting there. If the balance is not zero, you will need to transfer that money to your bank account or another PayPal account before you can close.

Next, look for any subscriptions or recurring payments you have set up. In your account settings, find "Payments" or "Subscriptions" (the exact label varies depending on whether you use the app or website). Cancel any recurring charges — for example, streaming services, gym memberships, or software subscriptions that charge your PayPal account monthly. If you do not cancel these first, they may continue to charge you even after you close your account, and you will have a harder time disputing those charges.

Transfer your remaining balance to your bank account

If you have money in your PayPal wallet, you must move it out before closing. Log in and go to your Wallet. Click "Transfer Money" and select "Transfer to your bank." PayPal will show you the bank account you have on file — if you want to use a different account, you can add a new one, but you will need to verify it first, which takes one to two business days.

Enter the amount you want to transfer. PayPal transfers to your bank account usually arrive within one to three business days, depending on your bank. Wait for the transfer to complete and show as "completed" in your transaction history before you proceed to close your account. If you transfer the money but the account is still showing a balance, refresh your page or log out and back in — sometimes the display takes a moment to update.

Pay any outstanding balance you owe PayPal

If PayPal shows you owe money — for example, from a dispute you lost, a chargeback, or an unpaid invoice — you must pay that before closing. This balance will appear in your account summary or in a notice when you try to close. You can pay it using a credit card, debit card, or bank account linked to your PayPal account.

To pay an outstanding balance, go to your account settings and look for "Resolution Center" or "Disputes." PayPal will show you what you owe and give you a payment option. If you are not sure what the balance is for, contact PayPal's customer service through the Help Center before paying — sometimes balances are from old disputes that were resolved incorrectly.

Close your account through settings

Once your balance is zero and you have no outstanding payments, you can close your account. Log in to PayPal and click your account name in the top right corner. Select "Settings" (or "Account Settings" on the app). Look for "Account Information" or "Close Your Account" — the exact wording depends on whether you are using the website or mobile app.

Click the option to close your account. PayPal will ask you why you are closing and may offer you options to resolve the issue instead — for example, if you say you are closing because of a dispute, they might offer to help. You can skip these and continue to close. Read the final confirmation message, which will remind you that you cannot reopen the account under the same email address. Click "Close Account" to finish.

What happens to your information after you close

PayPal keeps your transaction history and account information for a set period for legal and tax reasons, even after you close. You will not be able to see it in your account anymore, but PayPal retains it. If you need a record of past transactions for tax purposes or a dispute, read or screenshot your transaction history before closing.

Any payment methods you saved — credit cards, debit cards, or bank accounts — are removed from PayPal's active system. However, if you used PayPal to pay for subscriptions or recurring charges at other websites, those websites will still have your information on file. You will need to update or remove your payment method on each of those sites separately if you do not want them to charge you in the future.

If you want to use PayPal again later

If you close your account, you cannot reopen it under the same email address. If you think you might need PayPal in the future, consider leaving your account open but unused instead. An inactive account does not cost you anything and does not put you at risk — PayPal does not charge fees for accounts that are not being used.

If you have already closed your account and want to use PayPal again, you will need to create a new account with a different email address. You can use a secondary email address you own, or you can set up email forwarding so that both addresses point to the same inbox. This way you can keep track of both accounts if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my PayPal account if I have a pending transaction?

No. You must wait for all pending transactions to complete or be cancelled before closing. Pending transactions usually finish within a few business days. Check your activity to see which transactions are still pending, and wait for them to show as completed or failed before you try to close again.

What if I forgot the email address or password for my PayPal account?

You can still close it, but you will need to recover access first. Go to PayPal's login page and click "Forgot your password?" or "Having trouble logging in?" Follow the steps to verify your identity using your phone number or a backup email address. Once you are back in your account, follow the closing steps above.

Will closing my PayPal account affect my credit score?

No. Closing a PayPal account does not show up on your credit report and does not affect your credit score. PayPal is a payment service, not a credit account. Your credit is only affected by credit cards, loans, and other accounts that report to credit bureaus.

Can someone else close my PayPal account?

Only you can close your account. PayPal requires you to log in with your password to close it. If you think someone else has access to your account, change your password when ready and enable two-factor authentication before closing, or contact PayPal's customer service for help securing your account first.

Do I need to close my PayPal account if I am moving to a different country?

Not necessarily. PayPal works in many countries, but some features may not be available depending on where you are. If you are moving, log into your account and update your address in your account settings. If PayPal does not support your new country, you may need to close your account, but check their country list first to be sure.