How to Permanently Delete Your Telegram Account
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Independent guide, not affiliated with Telegram
Telegram offers two ways out: delete now on the my.telegram.org website, or let the account self-destruct after a period of inactivity that you choose in the app. Both remove your messages, contacts and cloud data permanently.
Groups and channels you created keep running without you, with other admins remaining in charge. Export anything you want first using Telegram Desktop.
At a glance
- Time required: About 5 minutes
- Grace period: None for manual deletion
- Auto-delete: Default 6 months of inactivity; adjustable
- What is lost: Messages, contacts, cloud files, account name and username
Telegram: delete account page (official site) ↗
Before you delete
- Export chats and media in Telegram Desktop: Settings > Advanced > Export Telegram data.
- Promote another admin or transfer ownership of groups and channels.
- Cancel Telegram Premium in the app store if you subscribed there.
- Keep your phone handy — the login code is sent to the Telegram app.
How to delete your Telegram account
- Go to my.telegram.org/delete in a browser.
- Enter your phone number in international format (for example +44…) and click Next.
- Telegram sends a code to your Telegram app (not SMS). Enter it and sign in.
- Optionally give a reason, click Delete My Account and confirm.
- In the app you can instead set Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete my account > If away for to 1, 3, 6, 12 or more months.
Menus change often. If a button has moved, use the search box in the app's settings or the official help link above.
Signing up again
You can register again with the same phone number, but your old chats, contacts and groups won’t be restored. Telegram may limit repeated re-registrations with the same number for a few days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting my account remove all my messages?
Your account and cloud data are deleted. Messages already on other people’s devices remain in their chats, shown as from Deleted Account.
What if I don’t use Telegram for a long time?
Telegram automatically deletes accounts after the inactivity period set in Privacy and Security — 6 months by default.
Can I create a new account after deleting?
Yes, with the same phone number, starting from scratch.
Can I delete Telegram from the app alone?
Some versions show Delete Account in Settings; otherwise use my.telegram.org/delete or the self-destruct setting.