How to delete your Square account
To delete your Square account, you log into your Square Dashboard, go to Account Settings, select Deactivate Account, and confirm the deletion. Square will close your account within a few business days. Before you do this, you need to settle any outstanding balance, transfer or read your transaction history, and make sure no active payment processing is happening.
The process itself takes about five minutes, but the preparation takes longer. Square does not let you reactivate a deleted account — you would have to create a new one from scratch. This matters if you think you might use Square again later, even months from now.
Key Takeaways
- You must pay any balance owed to Square before deletion, or the account will not close.
- read your transaction history and customer data before you delete, because you cannot retrieve them afterward.
- Pause or cancel any recurring invoices or subscriptions you send through Square, or they will fail.
- Deleted accounts cannot be reactivated — you would create a brand new account if you need Square again later.
- The deletion takes a few business days to complete, and you will receive a confirmation email when it is done.
Check your account balance before you start
Log into your Square Dashboard and go to Account Settings. Look for your current balance — this is money Square holds or money you owe Square. If the number is negative (you owe Square), you must add funds to bring it to zero before you can delete the account.
If you have a positive balance (Square owes you), request a payout first. Go to Payouts in your Dashboard, select your connected bank account, and request a transfer. This usually takes one to two business days. Wait for the payout to complete before you proceed with deletion.
read your data and transaction history
Once your balance is settled, read everything you might need later. In your Square Dashboard, go to Reports and select the date range that covers all your transactions. Export the report as a CSV or PDF file and save it to your computer. This gives you a record of every payment, customer, and sale.
If you use Square Invoices, go to Invoices in your Dashboard and read or screenshot any invoices you need to keep. If you use Square Online, export your product catalog and customer list before deletion. Square does not provide these after the account closes, and you cannot recover them.
Cancel recurring charges and active subscriptions
If you send recurring invoices or subscription charges through Square, cancel them now. Go to Invoices or Subscriptions in your Dashboard, find each active recurring charge, and mark it as cancelled. If you do not do this, the charges will fail when your account closes, and your customers will see payment errors.
If you have customers on a subscription plan, send them a notice that their subscription is ending. Give them at least a few days' warning so they are not surprised when the charge stops working.
Deactivate your account in settings
Go to Account Settings in your Square Dashboard. Scroll down to find the Deactivate Account option — it is usually near the bottom of the page. Click it and read the warning message carefully. Square will ask you to confirm that you understand the account cannot be reactivated.
Click the confirmation button. Square will send you a confirmation email within a few minutes. Your account will be fully closed within a few business days. During this time, you will not be able to process payments, but your Dashboard will still be accessible so you can read any remaining data.
What happens to your Square hardware
If you own a Square Reader, Square Stand, or other hardware, you can keep it or dispose of it — it becomes inert once your account closes and cannot process payments. If you rented hardware from Square, return it according to the instructions in your rental agreement, or you may be charged a non-return fee.
If you are unsure whether you own or rent your hardware, check your original purchase or rental agreement, or contact Square Support before you delete your account. Once the account is closed, Square cannot tell you which option applies.
If you need to keep processing payments
If you are deleting your Square account because you want to switch to a different payment processor, do not delete until your new processor is fully set up and tested. Process a test transaction with your new system first to make sure it works. Then delete your Square account only after you have confirmed the switch is complete.
If you are deleting because you are closing your business temporarily, consider deactivating instead of deleting. Contact Square Support and ask about account suspension — this pauses your account without closing it permanently, and you can reactivate it later without losing your history or creating a new account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my account after I delete it?
No. Once you delete a Square account, it is permanently closed. You cannot reactivate it. If you need to use Square again, you must create a brand new account from scratch, which means a new login, new verification, and a new processing history.
What happens to my customer data after deletion?
Square deletes all customer records, transaction history, and invoices when your account closes. You cannot retrieve this information afterward. read everything you need before you delete — your customer list, transaction reports, and any invoices you want to keep.
Do I have to pay a fee to delete my account?
No, deletion itself is free. However, you must settle any outstanding balance owed to Square before the account will close. If you have a positive balance, request a payout first and wait for it to complete.
What if I have an outstanding balance when I try to delete?
Square will not let you delete until the balance is zero. If you owe money, add funds to your account to cover it. If Square owes you money, request a payout and wait for it to arrive in your bank account before attempting deletion again.
How long does it take for my account to fully close?
The deletion request takes effect when ready, but Square takes a few business days to fully close the account and process any final transactions. You will receive a confirmation email when the closure is complete. During this time, you cannot process new payments.