Delete a language by going to your profile settings, selecting the language, and choosing the remove option
Open Duolingo on your phone or computer and tap or click your profile icon in the top left or top right corner. Select Settings, then scroll down to find Learning languages or My courses. You will see a list of every language you are currently learning. Find the language you want to remove, tap or click the three dots or gear icon next to it, and select Remove or Delete course. Confirm when the app asks you to verify.
The language disappears from your home screen when ready. Your streak and progress in that language are saved — if you add it back later, your old lessons and points remain. Duolingo does not delete your account or affect your other languages when you remove one.
Key Takeaways
- You remove a language through your profile settings under Learning languages or My courses, not from the home screen.
- Removing a language saves your progress and streak, so you can resume where you left off if you add it back.
- The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on phone apps and the web version.
- You can remove a language without affecting your account, other languages, or your overall Duolingo profile.
Where to find the remove option on phone
On iPhone or Android, tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the home screen. Tap Settings. Scroll down until you see Learning languages — this section lists every language you are studying. Tap the language you want to remove. A menu appears with options; select Remove or Delete course depending on your app version. Tap Yes, remove or Confirm when prompted.
If you do not see a three-dot menu or gear icon next to the language name, try long-pressing or swiping on the language itself. Some older versions of the app use a swipe gesture instead of a tap.
How to remove a language on the web version
Log into Duolingo on your computer at duolingo.com. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select Settings. Under Learning languages, you will see all your active courses. Hover over or click the language you want to remove, and a gear icon or three-dot menu appears. Click Remove or Delete course. Click Yes when the confirmation box appears.
The web version works the same way as the phone app, but the menu options may be slightly different depending on whether you use the desktop website or the browser version. If you cannot find the remove button, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in.
What happens to your progress when you remove a language
Duolingo saves everything. Your lesson history, your points, your streak in that language, and your placement level all stay in your account. If you remove Spanish today and add it back in three months, you will start exactly where you left off — no lessons are repeated, and no progress is lost.
Your overall Duolingo profile and statistics are not affected. Your total XP count, your profile level, and your achievements in other languages remain unchanged. Removing a language only hides it from your active course list.
Why you might want to remove a language temporarily
Many people remove a language when they want to focus on one or two others without the distraction of notifications. Duolingo sends reminders for every active language, so removing one reduces the number of notifications you receive. You can add it back whenever you are ready to study it again.
Some learners remove a language they have completed or reached a high level in, then add it back later for review. Others remove languages they started but decided not to continue. There is no penalty for removing and re-adding languages as many times as you want.
How to add a language back after removing it
Go to your profile settings and look for Add a new language or a plus icon. Search for the language you removed and click or tap it. Duolingo will ask you to choose a starting level — select Start from where I left off if that option appears, or choose the level that matches your previous progress. Your old lessons and points will be there waiting for you.
If you do not see an option to resume from your previous level, you can still add the language back and manually navigate to the lesson you were on. Your progress is always saved in Duolingo's system, even after you remove a language.
Troubleshooting if the remove button does not appear
If you cannot find the remove option, make sure you are in Settings under the Learning languages section, not on the home screen. Some users look for a delete button on the main course tile, but it is only available in settings. Try scrolling down in the Learning languages section if you have many languages listed.
If the button still does not appear, log out of Duolingo completely and log back in. Clear your browser cache if you are using the web version, or restart the app if you are on phone. If the problem continues, contact Duolingo support through the app's Help menu — they can remove a language from your account if the interface is not working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a language delete my account?
No. Removing a language only hides it from your active courses. Your account, profile, and all other languages remain unchanged. You can remove all your languages and still have a working Duolingo account.
Can I remove a language and add it back with my progress intact?
Yes. Duolingo saves your progress even after you remove a language. When you add it back, you can resume from where you left off, and all your old lessons and points are still there.
What if I remove a language by accident?
You can add it back when ready by going to Settings, selecting Add a new language, and choosing the language you removed. Your progress is saved, so nothing is lost.
Do I lose my streak if I remove a language?
Your streak in that specific language is saved. If you add the language back later, the streak will still be there. Your overall Duolingo streak across all languages is not affected by removing one course.
Can I remove a language on my phone but keep it on my computer?
No. Duolingo syncs across all devices. If you remove a language on your phone, it is removed from your computer account as well, and vice versa. The change takes a few minutes to sync.