How to Permanently Delete Your Yahoo Account and Yahoo Mail
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Independent guide, not affiliated with Yahoo
Deleting a Yahoo account removes your Yahoo Mail inbox and address, contacts, calendar and any other Yahoo service you use with that login. Yahoo calls this terminating your account.
Yahoo deactivates the account first and deletes it after a recovery period (in most regions around 30 days; the exact period is shown during termination). Logging back in before then cancels the deletion.
At a glance
- Time required: About 5 minutes
- Recovery window: Shown on the termination page — typically around 30 days in most regions
- What is lost: Yahoo Mail, contacts, calendar, Yahoo username
- Paid services: Cancel Yahoo Mail Plus and other subscriptions first
Yahoo Help (search “delete your Yahoo account”) (official site) ↗
Before you delete
- Cancel paid subscriptions such as Yahoo Mail Plus; Yahoo may require this before termination.
- Save emails and contacts: forward important mail or download data from Yahoo’s privacy dashboard.
- Change your email on accounts that use your Yahoo address for login or recovery.
- Know your password and recovery info — you’ll need to sign in.
How to delete your Yahoo account
- Go to Yahoo’s Terminate your account page (login.yahoo.com/account/delete-user) and sign in.
- Read the information about what will be deleted and click Continue delete my account.
- Confirm your full Yahoo email address.
- Click Yes, terminate this account, then Got it.
- Don’t sign in during the recovery period if you want the deletion to go through.
Menus change often. If a button has moved, use the search box in the app's settings or the official help link above.
After termination
Your Yahoo Mail address stops receiving email. Yahoo may eventually recycle inactive usernames, so update important accounts before you delete. AOL accounts are managed by the same company but have their own termination page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a deleted Yahoo account?
Yes, by signing in before the recovery period shown during termination ends. After that it is permanently deleted.
Does deleting Yahoo Mail cancel Yahoo Mail Plus?
Cancel paid subscriptions first; termination may not refund remaining time.
Can I delete just Yahoo Mail and keep the account?
No. Yahoo Mail is the core of the account; terminating removes it all.
What about Flickr or Tumblr?
Those services now have their own accounts and deletion processes.