Twitter lets you deactivate your account for 30 days, then delete it permanently

When you close your Twitter account, the site gives you a 30-day window to change your mind. During those 30 days, your account is deactivated — your profile, posts, and followers are hidden from public view, but nothing is permanently deleted yet. After 30 days pass, Twitter removes your account and all its data from their servers. If you want to keep your account but just stop using it, deactivation alone is enough. If you want it gone completely, you need to wait out the full 30 days without logging back in.

The process takes less than five minutes, and you can start it from either the website or the mobile app. You will need your password to confirm the deactivation. Once you deactivate, Twitter logs you out when ready and your account becomes invisible to everyone else on the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivating your account hides it when ready, but Twitter keeps your data for 30 days in case you want to reactivate.
  • You must go to your account settings on Twitter's website or app — there is no way to close your account through email or customer support.
  • Logging back into your account at any point during the 30-day window will cancel the deactivation and restore everything.
  • After 30 days pass without logging in, your account and all posts are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
  • Downloading your data before deactivating is optional but useful if you want to keep a record of your posts.

How to deactivate your account on the website

Open Twitter in a web browser and log in if you are not already signed in. Click the three-dot menu icon in the left sidebar (or the three horizontal lines on mobile). Scroll down and select Settings and privacy. Choose Account from the menu on the left. Scroll to the bottom of the Account page and click Deactivate your account.

Twitter will show you a warning that explains what happens during the 30-day period. Read through it, then click the Deactivate button at the bottom. You will be asked to enter your password to confirm. Type it in and click Deactivate again. Twitter will log you out when ready, and your account is now deactivated.

How to deactivate your account on the mobile app

Open the Twitter app and tap the three-dot menu icon at the top left (on iPhone) or top right (on Android). Tap Settings and privacy, then Account. Scroll down and tap Deactivate your account. Twitter will show the same warning as the website version. Tap Deactivate, enter your password when prompted, and tap Deactivate again to confirm.

The process is identical to the website version — your account deactivates when ready and you are logged out. The mobile app and website use the same backend, so it does not matter which one you use. You will be returned to the login screen once deactivation is complete.

What happens during the 30-day deactivation period

Your profile, posts, likes, and follower list become invisible to everyone, including people who search for your name. Your username becomes available for someone else to claim. Direct messages you sent are deleted from other people's inboxes, but messages they sent to you remain in their inboxes. If you posted images or videos, they stay on Twitter's servers during this period.

You can still log back in during these 30 days by entering your username and password normally. When you do, your account reactivates when ready — your profile reappears, your posts come back, and everything returns to the way it was. There is no special process to reactivate; logging in does it automatically. This gives you a safety net if you change your mind shortly after deactivating.

Downloading your data before you close your account

If you want to keep a copy of your posts, likes, or follower information, read your data before you deactivate. Go to Settings and privacy, then Account, and look for read your data (the exact wording varies by region). Click it and Twitter will prepare a file containing your posts, direct messages, and account information. This usually takes a few minutes to a few hours depending on how much data you have.

Twitter will send you an email with a link to read the file. The link works for a limited time, so read it soon after you receive the email. This step is entirely optional — if you do not care about keeping a record, you can skip it and go straight to deactivating your account. The downloaded file is a compressed archive that you can open on your computer.

What happens after the 30 days end

If you do not log back in during the 30-day period, Twitter permanently deletes your account on day 31. Your username becomes available when ready, your posts are removed from Twitter's public servers, and your account cannot be recovered. There is no way to undo this — once the 30 days pass, the deletion is final.

If you change your mind before day 30 ends, straightforward log in with your username and password. Your account will reactivate and you will be back to where you started. After day 30, logging in with those credentials will not work because the account no longer exists. Mark your calendar if you think you might want to reactivate during this window.

Removing your data from other websites

Closing your Twitter account does not automatically remove your tweets from websites that quoted them, archived them, or embedded them. Sites like news outlets, blogs, or search engines may still have copies of your posts. If you want to request removal from a specific website, you will need to contact that site directly — Twitter cannot remove content from other people's websites.

Some archival sites like the Wayback Machine allow you to request that they stop archiving a URL. If you are concerned about old tweets appearing in search results, you can also ask Google to remove them through Google Search Console, though this only affects Google's index, not the original content. This is a separate process from closing your account and requires individual requests per website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my account without waiting 30 days?

No. Twitter requires the 30-day deactivation period before permanent deletion. You cannot skip this waiting period or request when ready deletion through customer support. The only way to make your account invisible right away is to deactivate it, which hides it from the public but keeps your data on Twitter's servers for 30 days.

What if I forget my password and cannot log in to deactivate?

Use Twitter's password reset tool on the login page. Enter your email address or phone number, and Twitter will send you a link to reset your password. Once you have set a new password, log in and follow the deactivation steps. If you cannot access the email or phone number associated with your account, contact Twitter support through their help center.

Will my username be available for someone else to use?

Yes. Your username becomes available for someone else to claim as soon as your account deactivates. If you want to reserve it, you would need to create a new account with that username before your 30-day period ends. After permanent deletion, anyone can take that username.

Can I reactivate my account after the 30 days are over?

No. Once the 30-day period ends and your account is permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered. You can create a new account with the same email address or phone number, but your old posts, followers, and account history are gone forever.

Does closing my Twitter account close my X account too?

Twitter and X are the same platform — Elon Musk renamed Twitter to X in 2023. When you close your Twitter account, you are closing your X account. There is only one account, and deactivating it deactivates both names at once.