Telegram telegram.org How to delete your Telegram account
Telegram's FAQ says to use the deactivation page at my.telegram.org. The login code arrives in a Telegram message, not SMS. Deletion is irreversible. You can also set the account to self-destruct after a period of inactivity in Settings.
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Step by step
- 1
Open the deactivation page
Go to the deactivation page linked from Telegram's FAQ on my.telegram.org.
- 2
Sign in
Enter your phone number. Telegram sends the login code as a message inside Telegram (not SMS), so you need an existing session open.
- 3
Confirm deletion
Follow the prompts to delete the account. Telegram says the process is irreversible.
Watch out for
- Deletion is irreversible.
- Groups and channels you created are left without a creator, though admins keep their rights.
- If your account has a 2FA password, enter it. If you forgot it, Telegram's API docs say deletion can be delayed by 7 days.
- The login code is sent inside Telegram, so you need access to an existing session.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Let it self-destruct
Telegram deletes accounts that stay unused. Telegram's privacy policy gives at least 18 months of not coming online as the default, and you can change the period in Settings.
What stays out there
Deleting your Telegram account stops Telegram from holding an active profile for you. It doesn't reach copies that other companies already have. Data brokers and people-search sites that collected your name, phone number or address, and old search results that point at your profile, stay where they are.
A public username and group memberships can be indexed elsewhere, and a phone number tied to the account can sit in caller-ID and marketing databases. Deleting the account doesn't reach those. Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them, so the cleanup doesn't stop at one account.
Frequently asked
Can I delete Telegram from inside the app?
Telegram's FAQ points to the deactivation page on my.telegram.org. Check Settings in your app version for any in-app option.
What is Telegram's self-destruct setting?
It deletes an account after a period of inactivity. Telegram gives at least 18 months of not coming online as the default, and you can change the period in Settings.
Can I recover a deleted Telegram account?
No. Telegram says the process is irreversible.
What happens to my groups if I delete Telegram?
Telegram says groups and channels you created are left without a creator, though admins keep their rights.
Sources
Related guide Guide: How to Delete Yourself from the Internet Something changed? If these steps no longer match what you see, tell us and we'll re-check it.
