Amazon will delete your account and order history, but you need to do it through their website first

To delete an Amazon account, you go to your account settings, find the "Close your account" option under Login & Security, and confirm the deletion. Amazon will remove your account, order history, and stored payment methods within 90 days. You cannot undo this — once it is gone, you cannot recover old orders or use the same email to create a new Amazon account for 90 days.

Before you delete, read your data if you need it for taxes, warranties, or returns. After deletion, you lose access to Prime membership, saved addresses, wish lists, and any store credit. If you have an active order or return in progress, Amazon will not let you delete until those are resolved.

Key Takeaways

  • Amazon will not delete your account if you have an active order, return, or open case with their customer service — resolve these first.
  • read your order history and invoices before deletion if you need them for tax records, warranty claims, or returns after the account is closed.
  • The deletion takes up to 90 days to complete, and you cannot use the same email address to create a new Amazon account during that time.
  • Deleting your account also cancels any active Prime membership and removes all saved addresses, payment methods, and wish lists permanently.

Check for active orders and returns before you start

Amazon blocks account deletion if you have an order that has not yet been delivered or a return that is still in progress. Log into your account and go to Your Orders to see the status of everything you have purchased. If an order shows "Pending," "Processing," or "Shipped," wait until it arrives and you have accepted it before you delete.

For returns, check the status in Your Orders as well. If a return shows "In Progress" or "Initiated," wait until Amazon has received the item and processed your refund. If you have an open case with Amazon customer service about a missing item or damaged product, close that case first — you can do this by messaging Amazon directly through your account.

read your order history and invoices

Once your account is deleted, you cannot see your order history anymore. If you need invoices for taxes, warranty claims, or proof of purchase for a return after deletion, read them now. Go to Your Orders, find each order, and click "Invoice" to read a PDF. You can also take screenshots of orders if you prefer.

For tax purposes, if you run a business or claim home office deductions, save invoices for any office supplies, electronics, or equipment you bought through Amazon. If you have items still under warranty, keep the order confirmation — you will need it to file a claim after your account is gone.

How to close your account through Amazon's website

Sign into your Amazon account and go to Account & Lists in the top right corner. Click "Account" and then select "Login & Security." Scroll down until you see "Close your account" — it is near the bottom of the page. Click it.

Amazon will show you a page explaining what happens when you delete: your order history disappears, Prime membership ends, and your account cannot be recovered. Read through the options Amazon offers. If you have store credit, Amazon will tell you the balance — you cannot transfer it, so spend it or lose it. Click "Close account" to confirm. Amazon will send a confirmation email to verify the deletion.

What happens to Prime membership and refunds

If you have an active Prime membership, it ends when ready when you delete your account. You do not get a refund for the remaining time on your membership — Amazon keeps it. If you paid for Prime annually and are deleting partway through the year, that money is gone.

Any store credit or gift card balance in your account cannot be transferred or refunded. If you have money sitting in your Amazon account, spend it on items you need before you delete. Once the account is closed, that balance disappears.

The 90-day waiting period and what it means

After you request deletion, Amazon takes up to 90 days to fully remove your account from their system. During this time, your account is closed but not yet erased. You cannot log in, but the data still exists in Amazon's backup systems.

You also cannot use the same email address to create a new Amazon account until the 90 days are up. If you want to shop on Amazon again, you will need to wait three months or use a different email address. After 90 days, the email is released and you can use it for a new account.

Alternatives if you want to keep your account but limit access

If you are deleting because you want to stop shopping on Amazon, consider pausing instead. You can remove all saved payment methods from your account, delete all saved addresses, and clear your browsing history. This makes it harder to impulse-buy but keeps your order history and Prime membership intact.

If you are concerned about privacy or data, you can request a copy of all your data through Amazon's privacy settings. Go to Account & Lists, click "Account," then "Login & Security," and look for "Request your personal data." Amazon will send you a file with everything they have stored about you — this does not delete the account, but it shows you what data exists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover my account after I delete it?

No. Once you confirm the deletion, Amazon will not restore it. If you change your mind within a few hours of requesting deletion, contact Amazon customer service when ready and ask them to cancel the deletion request — they may be able to stop it before it processes. After that, the account is gone permanently.

What if I have a pending refund when I try to delete?

Amazon will not let you delete if a refund is still processing. Wait until the refund appears in your bank account or payment method, then try again. You can check the status of refunds in Your Orders under the return details.

Will deleting my account remove me from Amazon's mailing list?

Yes. Once your account is deleted, Amazon will stop sending you emails about orders, recommendations, and deals. However, if you signed up for Amazon newsletters with a different email address, you may need to unsubscribe from those separately.

Can I delete my account if I have an Amazon credit card?

Deleting your Amazon account does not close your Amazon credit card or affect your credit card account. You will still owe any balance on the card and need to pay it. Contact your credit card issuer separately if you want to close the card itself.

What happens to my Alexa devices if I delete my Amazon account?

Alexa devices linked to your Amazon account will stop working once the account is deleted. You will need to set them up again with a new Amazon account if you want to use them. Any routines, smart home settings, or voice history tied to the old account will be lost.