How to delete your ID.me account
You can delete your ID.me account by signing in, going to your account settings, and selecting the option to close your account. ID.me will ask you to confirm the deletion, and the process is permanent — you cannot recover the account or its data afterward. If you cannot access your account, you can contact ID.me support to request deletion on your behalf.
The steps take about five minutes if you remember your password. If you have forgotten it, you will need to reset it first before you can proceed with deletion. Some government agencies and employers may still have records of transactions you completed through ID.me, but deleting your account stops ID.me from storing your personal information.
Key Takeaways
- Sign into your ID.me account, navigate to settings, and select the account deletion option to remove your account permanently.
- ID.me will ask you to confirm deletion and may request a reason — this is your final note to change your mind before the account closes.
- If you cannot remember your password, reset it through the login page before attempting to delete your account.
- Deleting your ID.me account does not erase records at government agencies or employers where you used ID.me to verify your identity.
- Contact ID.me support if you cannot access your account and want it deleted without signing in.
Step-by-step deletion process
Start by going to the ID.me website and signing in with your email address and password. Once you are logged in, look for your account menu — this is usually in the top right corner of the page or accessible through a hamburger menu on mobile devices.
Select "Settings" or "Account Settings" from the menu. Scroll down until you find an option labeled "Close Account," "Delete Account," or "Deactivate Account." Click on it. ID.me will show you a confirmation screen explaining that deletion is permanent and that you will lose access to any stored documents or verification history within ID.me itself.
Read the confirmation message carefully, then click the button to confirm deletion. Some versions of the site ask you to type your email address or a confirmation word to prove you intend to delete the account. Complete this step if prompted. Your account will be deleted when ready, and you will be logged out.
What happens to your information after deletion
ID.me removes your personal data from its servers once you delete your account. This includes your name, address, phone number, email, and any documents you uploaded for identity verification. However, deletion does not affect records that government agencies or employers already have on file.
If you used ID.me to verify your identity for unemployment benefits, tax returns, or a job process, those organizations keep their own copies of the information you provided. Deleting your ID.me account does not change what they have stored. If you want to request removal of your data from a specific agency, you will need to contact that agency directly — ID.me cannot do this for you.
ID.me may also retain limited information for legal or fraud-prevention purposes, such as records of transactions or account activity. This is standard practice for identity verification companies and is governed by their privacy policy.
If you forgot your password
Go to the ID.me login page and click "Forgot Password." Enter the email address associated with your account. ID.me will send you a password reset link to that email address — check your inbox and spam folder if you do not see it within a few minutes.
Click the reset link and create a new password. Make sure it is at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols — ID.me requires strong passwords. Once you have reset your password, sign in and follow the deletion steps above.
If you no longer have access to the email address you used to create your account, contact ID.me support before attempting deletion. They can verify your identity through other means and help you regain access or delete the account without signing in.
Contacting ID.me support for account deletion
If you cannot sign into your account or the deletion option is not working, go to the ID.me help center at help.id.me. Look for the contact or support section and select the option to start a chat or submit a request. Explain that you want to delete your account and describe any problems you are having.
ID.me support typically responds within one business day. Have your email address ready and any information about when you created the account. If you are having trouble accessing the account because you changed your email address or phone number, tell support that as well — they may ask you to verify your identity before proceeding with deletion.
You can also call ID.me support if your account is linked to a government benefit program. Some agencies provide a phone number for ID.me support on their website, which may route you to a specialist who handles account issues for that specific program.
Reasons to delete your ID.me account
You might delete your account if you no longer need to verify your identity through ID.me for any government or employer services. Once you have completed the transaction you created the account for — such as filing taxes, explore for benefits, or verifying employment — you may not need the account anymore.
Some people delete their accounts for privacy reasons. ID.me stores copies of documents like driver's licenses and Social Security cards, and you may prefer not to keep that information on a third-party server. Deleting the account removes those documents from ID.me's systems.
If you created multiple ID.me accounts by mistake or used different email addresses, you might delete the duplicate accounts and keep only the one you actively use. ID.me does not allow you to merge accounts, so deletion is the only way to clean up duplicates.
What you should do before deleting
Before you delete your account, make sure you have completed any pending transactions that require ID.me verification. If you are in the middle of explore for benefits or verifying your identity for a job, finish that process first. Deleting your account will not cancel an process you have already submitted, but it may prevent you from updating or resubmitting if something goes wrong.
Write down any important information you may need later, such as confirmation numbers from transactions you completed through ID.me. Take screenshots of any documents you uploaded if you think you might need them for your records. ID.me will delete these documents when you close your account.
If you think you might need to verify your identity again in the future, consider keeping your account open. Creating a new account later requires the same verification process you already completed, so you would be repeating work. Only delete if you are confident you will not need ID.me again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my ID.me account after deleting it?
No, deletion is permanent. ID.me does not offer a recovery period or the ability to reactivate a deleted account. If you delete your account and later need to verify your identity through ID.me again, you will have to create a new account and go through the verification process from the beginning.
Will deleting my ID.me account affect my government benefits?
Deleting your ID.me account will not cancel benefits you are already receiving or applications you have already submitted. The government agency has its own records of your information and your case. However, if you need to update your information or reapply in the future, you may need to create a new ID.me account or use a different verification method.
How long does it take to delete an ID.me account?
The deletion is when ready once you confirm it on the website. You will be logged out right away, and your account will no longer be accessible. ID.me may take a few days to fully remove your data from its backup systems, but from your perspective, the account is gone as soon as you complete the confirmation step.
What if I deleted my account by mistake?
Contact ID.me support right away and explain that you deleted your account by mistake. If you reach out within a short time, support may be able to restore your account before the data is fully removed from their systems. There is no may provide, but it is worth asking. After a certain period, recovery becomes impossible.
Do I need to delete my ID.me account if I stop using it?
No, you do not have to delete it. If you straightforward stop using your account, ID.me will keep it open indefinitely. However, if you are concerned about your personal information being stored on their servers, deletion is the only way to have ID.me remove it. Inactive accounts do not pose a security risk as long as your password is strong and unique.