How to Delete Your Telegram Account: Complete Guide (2026)

Key points

• Telegram automatically deletes inactive accounts after 6 months (or 12 months per your settings).
• Manual deletion is permanent: you lose all your Telegram messages, groups and contacts.
• You can delete your account from any device via deactivate.telegram.org.

Understanding Telegram account deletion

Before deleting your Telegram account, it's important to understand the implications and back up what you want to keep.

What is permanently deleted

When you delete your Telegram account, all your messages, groups, channels and contacts are permanently erased. Your data is deleted from Telegram's servers. This action is irreversible — it's not possible to recover a deleted account.

Automatic deletion vs manual deletion

Telegram offers automatic deletion of inactive accounts: by default, an account unused for 6 months is automatically deleted. You can change this delay in privacy settings (up to 12 months). Manual deletion takes effect immediately with no delay.

Export your data before deletion

Before deleting your account, think about exporting your data from the Telegram desktop app (Settings > Data and Storage > Export Telegram Data). You can recover your messages, media and contacts locally.

1. 1

   Open Telegram on your computer or mobile.

2. 2

   Go to Settings.

3. 3

   Select Data and Storage.

4. 4

   Click on Export Telegram Data and choose what to keep.

5. 5

   Start the export and wait for it to complete.

Steps to delete your Telegram account

Telegram account deletion is done via the official portal, regardless of your device.

Via the Telegram deactivation portal

Go to the official Telegram deactivation portal. Enter your phone number in international format (e.g. +1 555...), then validate the code received by SMS or via the Telegram app. Confirm deletion by clicking Yes, delete my account. Your account is deleted immediately.

From the mobile app (iOS and Android)

On mobile, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > If Away For. You can set the inactivity period before automatic deletion. For immediate deletion, use the web portal above — the app doesn't offer a direct delete button.

From the desktop app

Like on mobile, the Telegram desktop app doesn't offer direct deletion from the interface. Use the deactivate.telegram.org portal from your browser.

1. 1

   From a browser, go to deactivate.telegram.org.

2. 2

   Enter your phone number in international format.

3. 3

   Press Next.

4. 4

   Retrieve the verification code sent by SMS or via Telegram.

5. 5

   Enter the code received and click Sign In.

6. 6

   Indicate a reason for deletion (optional).

7. 7

   Click Delete My Account and confirm.

Special cases: hacked account, remote deletion

If you no longer have access to your Telegram account or it has been compromised, here's how to proceed.

My Telegram account has been hacked

If you think your Telegram account has been hacked, act quickly: disconnect all active sessions via Settings > Privacy > Active Sessions then click Terminate All Other Sessions. Enable two-step verification (Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification) to secure your account.

Delete a Telegram account without access to the phone

Telegram is linked to a phone number. If you no longer have access to that number, it's very difficult to manually delete the account. Telegram has an automatic deletion system after inactivity (6 or 12 months). If you have access to the linked email, contact Telegram support to report the situation.

1. 1

   Open Telegram and go to Settings.

2. 2

   Click on Privacy and Security.

3. 3

   Click on Active Sessions.

4. 4

   Identify suspicious sessions and click Terminate All Other Sessions.

5. 5

   Enable Two-Step Verification with a strong password.

6. 6

   If you can't access the account, contact Telegram support.

Keep your Telegram messages with MonLivreSMS

Before closing your account, think about immortalizing your most important conversations.

Turn your messages into a book

With MonLivreSMS, you can print your Telegram conversations in a physical keepsake book. It's a unique way to keep a trace of your most precious exchanges — with a loved one, a parent, or a love story — long after closing your account.

1. 1

   Export your Telegram conversations from the desktop app.

2. 2

   Import them into MonLivreSMS.

3. 3

   Choose the layout and customize your book.

4. 4

   Order your physical book.