Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org How to delete your Wikipedia account
Wikipedia doesn't delete accounts. The closest option is courtesy vanishing: tag your user pages for deletion, then submit the global vanish request form. Your account gets a random name and is globally locked, but your edits stay.
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Step by step
- 1
Know what vanishing is
Wikipedia says you can't delete an account, because contributions are licensed under CC BY-SA and GFDL. Courtesy vanishing is the closest equivalent.
- 2
Tag your user pages for deletion
Mark your own user pages for deletion before you submit the request.
- 3
Submit the global vanish request form
Fill in the global vanish request form. Once submitted, a request can't be cancelled.
- 4
Wait for the rename
A request is granted automatically if the account has made no edits on any wiki. Otherwise it goes into a review queue. A global renamer or steward renames the account to "Renamed user" plus a random string, the account is globally locked and its email address is removed.
Watch out for
- Vanishing isn't anonymity. Edits stay and are re-attributed to the new name.
- Links to your old username, such as talk page signatures, aren't changed.
- Vanishing is discretionary. It's generally refused for blocked users or users with active sanctions.
- It's meant to be irreversible in practice.
- Temporary accounts can't be vanished or deleted, but they expire after 90 days.
Other ways to do it
- 1
Walk away without vanishing
You can stop using the account, scramble your password and remove the email address from it so nobody can recover it.
What stays out there
Vanishing hides your username on Wikipedia going forward. Edits stay, old signatures keep the old name, and copies of Wikipedia pages on other sites, search results and people-search profiles that already show your username aren't affected.
Serus finds where your details are listed and removes them from the sites and services that hold them, including people-search sites where you live. See how Serus works.
Frequently asked
Can you delete a Wikipedia account?
No. Wikipedia says contributions are licensed under CC BY-SA and GFDL, so accounts aren't deleted. Courtesy vanishing is the closest option.
Will my edits disappear if I vanish?
No. Edits are re-attributed to the new username but not removed.
Can a vanishing request be refused?
Yes. It's discretionary and is generally refused for users who are blocked or have active sanctions.
Can I undo courtesy vanishing?
It's intended to be irreversible in practice, and a submitted request can't be cancelled.
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.
