Feeling the Twitterverse a little overwhelming lately? Maybe those endless news cycles and hot takes are getting you down, or perhaps you just want a break from the social media grind. Whatever the reason, deactivating or deleting your Twitter account can be a great way to reclaim some peace of mind.
This guide will walk you through the process of both deactivating and deleting your Twitter account, on both your PC/laptop and mobile phone. But before we dive in, let’s understand the key difference between these two options.
Deactivation vs. Deletion: What’s the Difference?
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Deactivation: Think of this as putting your Twitter account on hold. During deactivation (which takes just a few clicks), your profile, Tweets, and Likes become invisible to others. You can also reactivate your account within 30 days if you have a change of heart.
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Deletion: This is a more permanent goodbye. Once you delete your account, it’s gone for good. Your profile, Tweets, Likes, and Direct Messages – everything gets wiped clean. There’s no coming back from this one, so make sure you’re absolutely positive before hitting that delete button.
Taking a Break: How to Deactivate Your Twitter Account
On PC/Laptop:
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Log in to your Twitter account. Head over to https://twitter.com/?lang=en and sign in using your username or email address and password.
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Navigate to Settings and Privacy. Once you’re logged in, click on your profile picture in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings and privacy.”
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Find the Deactivation Option. In the Settings and privacy menu, look for the “Your account” section. Here, you’ll see the option to “Deactivate your account.”
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Confirm Deactivation. Click on “Deactivate your account” and read the information on what happens when you deactivate. If you’re sure you want to proceed, click “Deactivate” again.
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Enter Your Password. Twitter will ask you to re-enter your password for security purposes. Once you do, your account will be deactivated.
On Mobile App:
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Open the Twitter app and tap on your profile picture in the top left corner.
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Go to Settings and Privacy. From the menu, select “Settings and privacy.”
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Find Your Account Section. Similar to the PC steps, tap on “Your account” within Settings and privacy.
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Deactivate Your Account. Here, you’ll see the option to “Deactivate your account.” Tap on it and read the information provided.
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Confirm Deactivation. Tap on “Deactivate” again to confirm your decision.
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Enter Your Password. Just like on PC, Twitter will ask you to enter your password for verification. Once entered, your account will be deactivated.
Saying a Final Goodbye: How to Delete Your Twitter Account
Important Note: Before we proceed with deletion, remember this is a permanent action. There’s no way to recover your account or any of your data once it’s gone.
On PC/Laptop:
Unfortunately, Twitter doesn’t allow direct deletion of your account through the PC/laptop interface. Here’s what you need to do:
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Use a mobile device. You’ll need to access your Twitter account through the mobile app to initiate deletion. Follow the steps mentioned above for mobile app deactivation (up to step 6).
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Wait 30 Days. After deactivating on mobile, Twitter holds a 30-day grace period. During this time, you can still reactivate your account if you change your mind.
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Post-Deactivation Window. Once the 30-day window is over, your deactivated account will be permanently deleted from Twitter’s servers.
On Mobile App:
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Follow the deactivation steps mentioned above for the mobile app (up to step 6).
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Wait 30 Days. As with deactivation on PC, there’s a 30-day grace period after which your deactivated account will be permanently deleted.