Telegram Account Deletion: Ultimate 2026 Guide

If you're wondering how to delete a Telegram account (or specifically how to delete my Telegram account), this guide will walk you through the process in simple steps.

Deleting your Telegram account is permanent and erases all your messages and contacts, so proceed only if you’re sure.

Below, we provide clear instructions to delete your account immediately, as well as alternative methods and answers to common questions.

How to Permanently Delete a Telegram Account (Step-by-Step)

You can permanently delete your Telegram account by using Telegram’s official deactivation page. Follow these steps to delete your account right now:

1. Visit the Telegram Account Deletion page: Open a web browser and go to the official Telegram deactivation page at my.telegram.org (Telegram’s account management site).
2. Enter your phone number: Input the phone number associated with your Telegram account (use the international format, e.g. +1 234 567890). Then click Next.
3. Get the confirmation code: Telegram will send a login code to your Telegram app (in your Telegram chats). Note: The code is sent via Telegram, not by SMS. Open your Telegram app to find the message with the code.
4. Sign in on the website: Enter the received code into the Telegram web page and click Sign In. This will log you into the account management page.
5. Click “Delete Account”: On the account management page, choose the Delete Account option. You may be asked why you are leaving – you can type a reason or leave it blank.
6. Confirm deletion: Click the red Delete My Account button, then confirm by clicking Yes, delete my account when prompted. This will permanently delete your Telegram account and all its data.

Important: Telegram warns that if you delete your account now, you might not be able to sign up again with the same number for a few daystelegra.ph. So, only delete if you’re sure you no longer need the account.

Deleting a Telegram Account on iPhone (Using the App)

Telegram’s iPhone app provides a built-in way to delete your account (this was added to comply with Apple’s requirements).

If you use Telegram on an iPhone, you can delete your account through the app itself with these steps:

1. Open Telegram Settings: Launch Telegram on your iPhone and go to Settings > Privacy and Security.
2. Find the Delete Account option: Scroll down to the “If Away For” section. This is Telegram’s account self-destruct setting. Tap on If Away For.
3. Tap “Delete Account Now”: In the If Away For settings, you should see an option to Delete Account Now. Tap this option.
4. Confirm on the prompt: Telegram will ask for confirmation. Tap Delete My Account to permanently delete your Telegram account.

After confirming, your account will be deleted just as if you used the web method. Remember that this action is irreversible and all data will be lost.

Deleting a Telegram Account on Android

On Android, the Telegram app does not have a direct “Delete Account” button in the settings. However, you can still delete your Telegram account easily on an Android device:

• Use the web method: Open your mobile web browser and follow the same steps from the “How to Permanently Delete” section above. The official deletion page works on mobile browsers, so you can complete the process on your phone.
• Or use the in-app link: In the Telegram Android app, go to Settings > Telegram FAQ. In the FAQ list, find and tap “Delete your Telegram account” under the Your Account section. This will open the official deletion page in your browser for you, where you can proceed with the steps as described.

Either way, the outcome is the same: once you confirm deletion, your account will be gone permanently. There is no Android-only deletion menu at this time, so using the web page is the primary method.

Automatically Deleting Your Telegram Account (Account Self-Destruct)

If you prefer not to delete your account manually, Telegram offers an auto-delete (self-destruct) option. This feature will automatically delete your account after a period of inactivity.

By default, Telegram will delete an inactive account after 6 months, but you can change this timer to 1, 3, 6, or 12 months:

1. Open Settings: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security in your Telegram app.
2. Set the inactivity period: Find “Delete My Account If Away For” and select a time frame (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year). For example, choose 1 month if you want your account to self-delete after a month of no use.

After you set this, you don’t need to do anything else. If you stop using Telegram entirely, your account will be automatically deleted once the chosen inactivity period passes.

Important: Keep in mind that simply not opening the app is enough – you must stay completely inactive. Logging in again will reset the timer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Does deleting the Telegram app delete my account?

A: No. Simply uninstalling or deleting the Telegram app from your phone does not delete your Telegram account. Your account (along with your chats) will remain on Telegram’s cloud servers even if the app is gone from your device.

To actually remove the account and data, you must follow the account deletion steps (or let it auto-delete after inactivity). In short, removing the app = logout, not deletion.

Q: What happens when I delete my Telegram account?

A: Deleting your account permanently erases all data tied to your account from Telegram’s servers. This includes all your cloud chats, messages, photos, videos, contacts – everything will be wiped and cannot be recovered.

Any groups or channels you created will remain active, but you will no longer be the owner. If you were the sole admin, those groups/channels become ownerless (other members can still use them, but certain administrative tasks might be limited until a new admin is assigned). Essentially, your presence is completely removed as if you never had an account.

Q: Can I recover or reactivate my Telegram account after deleting it?

A: No, account deletion is irreversible. Once you delete your Telegram account, there is no way to get it back – even Telegram support cannot restore it.

If you sign up for Telegram again with the same phone number, it will be treated as a new account, with none of your old data or chats attached. So be certain before you delete, because you can’t change your mind later.

Q: How soon can I sign up again with the same number after deleting my Telegram account?

A: You can sign up again with the same phone number, but not immediately. Telegram notes that if you delete your account, you may have to wait a few days before creating a new one with that number.

This is likely a security measure to prevent abuse. In practice, this waiting period is short (several days). After that, you can create a fresh account with your number if you want to return to Telegram.

Q: Why can’t I delete my Telegram account from the Android app?

A: Telegram’s Android (and desktop) apps currently do not offer a built-in Delete Account button. The account deletion process is designed to be done via the web for security reasons – it ensures you verify using your phone number and a confirmation code.

Only the iOS version of Telegram has added a direct in-app delete option (due to App Store guidelines). If you’re using Android, you’ll need to use the web deletion method as described above. (Alternatively, you can enable the inactivity self-destruct as a workaround, but that requires waiting for the set period.)

Q: Will my Telegram account be deleted if I just stop using it?

A: Eventually, yes. By default, Telegram will automatically delete an account that’s been completely inactive for 6 months. You can adjust this timeframe in your settings (“Delete My Account If Away For”).

If you want your account to disappear without manual intervention, you can set this to 1 month and simply log out and wait. Just remember that logging in again will cancel that deletion timer.

Q: Should I back up my chats before deleting my account?

A: If you have important messages or media, it’s a good idea to export your Telegram data before deleting the account. You can use the Telegram Desktop app to save your chats, since mobile apps don’t support direct export.

Keep in mind you cannot import these chats into a new account later – the export would only be for your personal backup. Once the account is deleted, the data on Telegram is gone forever.

Q: What if I can’t access the phone number (or Telegram app) associated with my account? Can I still delete it?

A: Unfortunately, no – you must be able to receive the Telegram confirmation code to verify and delete the account. If you lost your phone/number and cannot log in to Telegram on any device, you won’t be able to enter the code on the deletion page.

In that case, your only option is to let the account eventually self-delete via the inactivity timer. Always make sure you have access to Telegram (on at least one device) when initiating the deletion process, because the code is sent in-app for security.