How To Delete Your Telegram Account Permanently in 2024

To delete your Telegram account instantly, you must visit the Telegram Deactivation Page and follow the step-by-step guide below. You can also set up your account to self-destruct after a period of inactivity using the Telegram app on your device.

After deleting your account, your messages, contacts, and media are permanently erased from their servers. Messages sent in group chats will remain for other participants. Telegram's recent privacy policy update suggests that some information, including your IP address, is retained and potentially shared with authorities.

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What To Do Before Deleting Telegram

Once you delete your Telegram account, your contacts, groups, and chats can't be recovered. However, you can save important conversations, files, and media by using Telegram's export option before deleting your account.

It's also important to know that your Telegram messages will remain visible to other members of Telegram groups or public channels even after your account is deleted. Before deleting your account, make sure to wipe all your data from groups, public channels, and other spaces.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Delete Your Telegram Account in 2024

If you want to delete your Telegram account instantly, open your browser and visit my.telegram.org. Note that this isn’t the same URL used for the Telegram Web version. This page is separate and isn’t used to access Telegram apps, channels, or any other content. Follow the steps below after you download your data:

1. Visit the Telegram Deactivation Page. Go to the Delete Account or Manage apps page and log in by entering the phone number you use for Telegram. After that, you’ll receive a verification code.
2. Enter the verification code into the designated area, and you’ll gain access to additional Telegram settings, such as API development tools and the option to delete your account.
   Without access to your Telegram account, you won't be able to sign in
3. Click Delete account. You'll be directed to a new page that outlines the consequences of deleting your account. You’ll also see additional information, like how to change your number in Telegram and what to do if your account is restricted due to spam-related activity.
   Your phone number gets entered automatically
4. Confirm your choice to delete your Telegram account. You can now remove the app from your devices. You can’t reactivate your account after deletion, and you’ll have to wait a few days to sign up again with the same number.

How To Delete Your Telegram Account on Android & iPhone Using the Self-Destruct Feature

You can change an option in the settings menu to automatically deactivate Telegram after a month of app inactivity. This can be useful if you want to delete your Telegram account without getting a confirmation code. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your Telegram settings. Click on the 3-line icon (hamburger button) in the upper left corner of your Telegram app. Tap on Settings, and select Privacy and Security.
   I used Android for this guide, but the steps are the same for iPhone
2. Click on Delete my account. Per default, if you refrain from using Telegram for one year, your account will be automatically deleted. If you don’t want your account active for that long, you can choose the shortest, 1-month period.
   Earlier, Telegram accounts were set to auto-delete after 6 months of inactivity

That’s it. As long as you don’t use your account for the specified period of time, it will be deleted along with all your conversations, contacts, images, and other data stored on Telegram’s cloud.

How To Use The Self-Destruct Feature To Delete Your Telegram Account on Windows & Mac

1. Open the privacy and security settings of your Telegram app. The options are easy to find on the desktop app interface.
   The steps for Windows and Mac platforms are identical to those for Telegram's mobile apps
2. Scroll down to find the Delete my account option. Just like with mobile apps, Telegram for desktop only offers the account self-destruction option.
   Your Telegram account will be deleted after 1 month

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Export Your Telegram Data Before Deleting

The option to export your data is only available on Telegram Desktop. If you use Telegram on your phone exclusively, you’ll need to download it on a computer first. It takes only a few minutes.

1. Open the Telegram app on your desktop device. Then click Settings > Advanced and scroll down to the bottom of the advanced settings list.
   The option was previously only available on Mac, but now it's on Windows too
2. Click Export Telegram data. You’ll see a long list of export settings.
   Depending on your data size and connection speed, this can take a while
3. Click Export. Now simply wait for all your data to download.

Wipe Your Data From All Telegram Spaces

When you delete your Telegram account, the app claims to erase all personal data, including messages, contacts, and any stored files from its servers. However, some metadata (e.g., IP addresses, device information, login times) may be retained. In jurisdictions where Telegram has legal obligations, this can be shared with law enforcement agencies. Telegram doesn't clearly define the duration for how long this data is kept.

Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help remove all your personal data from Telegram so no one has access to it after you delete your account:

1. Clear Personal Chats and Conversations

• Delete messages. Go through your chats and manually delete sensitive or personal messages from both your end and the recipient’s (use the "Delete for everyone" option where available).
• Leave group chats. Exit all group chats to ensure your participation history is removed and to reduce your data footprint within group conversations.
• Delete secret chats. If you’ve used Telegram’s Secret Chats, ensure these are deleted, as they are not stored on Telegram’s servers but locally on your devices.

2. Delete Shared Content in Channels

• Delete messages in public channels. If you’ve posted in public or private channels, delete your posts before deleting your account. Otherwise, these messages will remain even if your account is gone, but they won’t be linked to your username.
• Remove channel ownership. If you own a channel or group, transfer ownership to another member or delete the channel/group entirely before deleting your account.

3. Wipe Contacts and Personal Info

• Delete synced contacts. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete Synced Contacts. This ensures that any contacts you synced with Telegram’s servers are removed.
• Update or delete profile information. Before deleting your account, consider deleting or anonymizing your profile photo, bio, and username.

4. Revoke Active Sessions

• Log out of active sessions. Ensure that you log out from all active sessions on other devices, such as phones, tablets, and desktops. Go to Settings > Devices and terminate any other active sessions.

5. Revoke App Permissions

• Unlink connected apps and bots. If you’ve linked Telegram to third-party services, revoke those connections.
• Delete bot conversations. Manually delete conversations with bots, as they may store interaction history.

6. Check for Backups

• Disable Cloud Backup (if applicable). Telegram doesn’t offer traditional cloud backups like other messaging apps, but if you've manually backed up files or data from Telegram to another cloud service, ensure you delete these as well.

7. Uninstall the App

• Uninstall Telegram. After confirming your account deletion, uninstall the Telegram app from all your devices to ensure no residual data or app-related information remains.

How To Stay Safe on Telegram

If Telegram is compelled by legal authorities, it may retain and share relevant user data, such as IP addresses and account registration data (phone number, etc.). Plus, when using Telegram, you’re vulnerable to threats such as device malware, poor security practices, and potential data breaches. Here's what you can do to protect your privacy when using Telegram:

• Enable two-step verification. Set up a password in addition to the SMS code to add an extra layer of security to your account.
• Use secret chats. For sensitive conversations, use Telegram's Secret Chats feature, which provides end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages. But, even end-to-end encryption (E2EE) doesn't automatically guarantee privacy on a messaging platform.
• Adjust privacy settings. Customize your privacy settings to control things like who can see your phone number, the last time you were online, the channels you belong to, and your profile photo. Consider setting these to "My Contacts" or "Nobody."
• Be wary of suspicious links and messages. Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources to protect against phishing attacks and other harmful URLs.
• Limit sharing of personal information. Be cautious about sharing personal information in chats or groups, especially with users you do not know personally. Our cybersecurity research team has discovered that there’s a vast network of hackers sharing data leaks on Telegram.
• Disable contact syncing. By default, Telegram syncs your phone’s contact list to its servers. You can disable this by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Data Settings > Delete Synced Contacts and turning off Contact Sync. This prevents Telegram from uploading and storing your contact list.
• Manage active sessions. Review and terminate any suspicious sessions by going to Settings > Devices. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to your account.
• Delete old messages. Regularly clear out old chats and messages, especially in non-Secret Chats. You can also use Telegram’s feature to delete messages for both parties in a conversation, removing them from Telegram’s servers.
• Disable bots and third-party integrations. Bots and third-party apps may collect user data. Avoid using unnecessary bots, and if you do use them, review the data they collect. You can manage bot permissions in individual chats.
• Regularly update the app. Ensure you have the latest version of Telegram to benefit from updated security features and bug fixes.
• Use a VPN. A VPN masks your real IP address, making it harder for Telegram and third parties to track your location or identity. We regularly test VPNs to find the best ones that can access Telegram securely, even in countries like Russia.

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Understanding Telegram's Data Retention Policies

Telegram retains a range of user information, both during account usage and even after account deletion. The types of data that Telegram may retain includes:

• Account information. This includes the phone numbers used for account registration and login, your username, profile photo, display name, and bio.
• Message data. Telegram's servers store messages, media, and files shared in non-Secret Chats. Messages sent in groups are stored unless manually deleted, and any posts in public channels remain stored and accessible to others.
• Contact information. If you enable contact syncing, Telegram stores a copy of the user's address book (names and phone numbers of contacts). Any contacts shared in chats or groups may be retained.
• Metadata. Telegram stores IP addresses used to log in, your login times, and details about the devices used to access Telegram (e.g., model, operating system, etc.). It even keeps records of active and terminated sessions on different devices.
• Location data. If your share your location within chats or groups, that data is stored on Telegram’s servers.
  Media and files (photos, videos, documents). Files sent in non-Secret Chats are stored on Telegram’s cloud servers. Any media or files shared in group chats or public channels are retained.
• Payments and financial Information. If Telegram’s payment services (e.g., for bots or Telegram Premium) are used, transaction data and billing information may be stored. If third-party services like bots handle payments, that data may be stored by Telegram or third-party providers.
• Usage statistics. How frequently you interact with specific contacts, groups, or channels are also collected and stored. Even details about interactions with Telegram bots, including any services or data shared with those bots.
• Settings and preferences. Preferences related to notifications, privacy, security, and other settings are stored, as well as any accounts you’ve blocked.
• Deleted accounts. Even after account deletion, some metadata like IP addresses, login times, and device information might be retained for legal or operational reasons.

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FAQs on Deleting Your Telegram Account

How can I deactivate my Telegram account temporarily?

Telegram doesn’t offer the option to deactivate your account temporarily. If you want to stop using it for a while, simply delete your Telegram app and reinstall it when you want to come back. However, Telegram provides an automatic account self-destruct feature. This erases your account after 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year of inactivity.

How long does it take to delete a Telegram account?

The manual deletion process is instant. However, Telegram apps only include the self-destruct feature based on inactivity, so the deletion occurs after the specified period of time you selected (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year )​​. To delete your Telegram account instantly and permanently, you need to visit the Telegram Deactivation Page. If you set up the inactivity-based deletion method, the period will reset any time you open the app again.

Can I delete my Telegram account without a confirmation code?

Yes, but only indirectly through the account self-destruct feature. If you wish to delete your account without manually entering a confirmation code, you can set it to automatically delete after a period of inactivity.

Can I delete my Telegram account from another phone?

Yes, you can manage and delete your Telegram account from any phone. As long as you can receive the confirmation codes sent by Telegram, you can delete your Telegram account on any mobile device. You can also remotely log out of sessions on other devices through the Telegram app by going to Settings > Devices and terminating any session you wish. This does not delete your account, but removes access from that device​​.

How can I reactivate my Telegram account after deletion?

Once a Telegram account is deleted, it can’t be restored. If you delete your account, your messages and contacts are permanently erased. Telegram only retains data like your IP address and device information after account deletion. While you can create a new account using the same phone number after deletion, you won’t have access to your old chats or contact list from the previously deleted account.

What happens if I delete my Telegram account too often?

You usually have to wait a few days before creating a new account. This is to protect against potential misuse. Remember, once your account gets deleted, you won't be able to retrieve any messages, images, or downloads you had, so ensure you export your data before deleting it.

Does being banned from Telegram delete my data?

No, your data isn’t deleted if you’re banned or temporarily blocked from Telegram. In these cases, your data will still be there if your account is restored. Use Telegram’s data export option to save important information and protect it from accidental deletion.

Can I delete my Telegram account if I've forgotten my password?

Yes, Telegram doesn’t require a password for account deletion. Instead, the process is tied to your phone number. Here’s a step-by-step guide to deleting your Telegram account without a password.

Conclusion

I recommend using the desktop version to delete your Telegram account so that you can export your data beforehand — this feature isn't available on mobile devices. By exporting your data, you can retain important information like contacts and files.

However, deleting your account doesn't remove your messages from your contacts' chats or delete any files you've shared in public spaces. Before deleting your account, erase all your data from Telegram, as you won’t be able to do that later.