How To Deactivate or Delete Telegram Account Fast
Got alarmed about Telegram’s security issues or the fact the app doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption in its default setting?
Or perhaps you want to simply switch to another messaging app as your friends are leaving Telegram?
When it comes to deleting your Telegram account permanently, you have two options: deactivate the account through a mobile app or completely delete it via the official website.
In today’s guide you will learn:
- How to delete your Telegram account permanently;
- What happens to your messages and other data after you delete your Telegram account;
- How to secure data before deleting the account on Telegram
I made sure to keep this step-by-step guide simple so the procedure will be a breeze!
How to Deactivate Telegram Account on Mobile Device (Self Destruct)
Whether it is Android or iOS, there is no direct way to close a Telegram account.
All you can do is deactivate it first, where your Telegram account remains idle.
When you do not log in for that duration of time, it will be permanently deleted with all your data and messages (including secret chats).
This method works on both iOS and Android and is also known as a self-destruct option as you leave the account for self-destruction.
Then, you can uninstall the app.
Step by step instructions
Step1: Open the app on your mobile.
Step 2: Go to the “Settings” section.
Step 3: Find the “Privacy and Security” option.
Step 4: See a section called “Delete my account”.
Step 5: Find the “If away for” option.
Step 6: Set your preferred time frame.
If your account is not active within that time, the system will automatically delete that account.
The minimum time frame you can select is 1 month.
Other options are 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months.
If you don’t want to wait up to a few months, Telegram has another option for you.
How to Delete Your Telegram Account via Web Page
This method is available only via the official Telegram website. Unlike the mobile app self-destruct option, this method allows you to close your Telegram account immediately.
Step 1: Go to the official website of the telegram, https://my.telegram.org/.
Step 2: Click on the deactivation page of the site, https://my.telegram.org/auth?to=deactivate.
Step 3: In the box, provide your phone number (including country code) registered with your Telegram account.
Step 4: Click on the “Next” option.
Step 5: You will get an alphanumeric code for your registered mobile number - if you have the Telegram app still installed on your phone, it will be sent to your Telegram app as a text.
Step 6: Put the confirmation code in the given space and sign in to your Telegram account.
Step 7: Inside the “Telegram Core” section, click the “Delete my account” option.
Click on the “Delete My Account” button to confirm.
Step 9: A reminder will appear to make sure if you really want to delete it or not.
Click on “Yes, delete my account.” to confirm and delete your account.
This way, you can permanently delete your Telegram account.
Once you click “Yes, delete my account”, the only way to get back to it is to create a new profile.
What Happens When You Delete Your Telegram Account
In case you have any privacy concerns or want to know what happens to your profile and messages, this will be handy.
Message data will be erased from your device
When you opt to permanently delete your account in the Telegram mobile app, all your messages, including old chats data, will be deleted forever.
You won’t be able to retrieve them in any way.
Contacts will be gone
All of your Telegram contacts from the contact list will be deleted forever.
If you want to keep any of them, you need to save them beforehand.
Whether it is your important business associate or close family relations, you need to save the phone number from your contact list before you delete the Telegram account.
Messages in the Telegram group won’t be deleted
Any messages in groups or private chats you left, will stay and show up as sent by the account that no longer exists, similar to when you delete the Discord server.
Group admins: your group won’t be deleted
If you have any group or channel with your account, they will keep running as it is.
Only you will not be available to attend the group chats or view the groups.
If you are the only admin in any group, Telegram selects another group member for admin.
Telegram will remove messages and data for the groups from your device but they will remain inside the groups.
You won’t be able to open a new account with the same phone number for few days
Telegram does not allow you to create another account with the same phone number for the next two or three days. You have to wait for a few days after you close your Telegram account.
How to Export Data Before Account Deletion
Before you delete your Telegram account, you may want to preserve some of the data.
Telegram offers the export function to save the messages from the Telegram app before you close your Telegram account.
Download and open the Telegram app on your PC to avail of the ‘export’ feature and click sign in.
Then, follow the steps mentioned below.
Exporting Telegram data step by step
Step 1: Click on the three bars in the right corner.
Step 2: You will find a navigation menu.
Step 3: Select “Settings” from there.
Step 4: Scroll down a bit to find the “Export Telegram data” option.
Step 5: Click on that and enter.
Step 6: Choose which data you want to export.
Step 7: Then click on the “Export” option to complete the export on your PC.
Final Note
Online security and internet privacy affect users and their choices when it comes to software and apps they are using.
If you want to delete Telegram account, just follow this guide.
If you have security concerns, alternatively you might consider turning on end-to-end encryption and looking up an open-source version of the code yourself.
Also, see out other guides like Google Search History and how to erase it.
Telegram Account Deletion: FAQ
Is Telegram safe?
Telegram does not offer by default end-to-end encryption, which impacts the security level available to users.
After deleting the account, what happens to the messages that I sent to my contacts?
Anyone who received your message prior to deletion will have a copy of the messages you sent to them.
How to delete messages on Telegram?
Tap on the particular message for a long time. You will see a “delete” icon on the top.
Click on that and reconfirm to delete the message.
Karen is a senior technical writer and copywriter at Hypegrowth. Her area of expertize are social media apps and new media.