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How to Delete Your Telegram Account Permanently

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How to Delete Your Telegram Account: A Quick Guide

Do you hardly use Telegram? Do you feel your privacy is better off without it? Whatever your reason, it is easy to delete Telegram! Just follow these steps!

  1. Open your browser and go to the Telegram deactivation page.
  2. Fill in your phone number with your country code.
  3. Type in the code sent to your Telegram app.
  4. On the next page, click on “Delete My Account.”
  5. Confirm your decision by clicking, “Yes, delete my account.”

Deleting your Telegram account is permanent, and you’ll lose all your messages and media. We recommend creating a backup of your data before you go through with it.

Continue reading for step-by-step instructions on how to back up your data and delete your Telegram account.

Telegram is one of the top messaging apps today, with over 700 million monthly users.

Despite its popularity and its privacy-first reputation, Telegram isn’t the top choice for many people. The app has had its fair share of controversies, and with so many similar apps to choose from, it can be difficult to keep track of conversations on different platforms.

Whether you want to delete Telegram for privacy reasons or simply because you don’t use it as much as you used to, this article will show you how to go about deleting Telegram step-by-step.

Note: Unfortunately, it’s impossible to deactivate your Telegram account temporarily. The only option is to delete Telegram permanently.

If you do not want to engage with the app for some time, however, you can choose to uninstall Telegram rather than delete your account. Your data will remain on Telegram’s cloud, and your account will remain dormant until you re-install and use the app again.

First Things First: Make a Telegram Backup!

Before you delete Telegram and lose all your data, we recommend making a backup of your Telegram account. After all, deleting your account is permanent and, as Telegram puts it, “all your messages and contacts will be deleted beyond retrieval.”

Follow the steps down below to make a backup of your account.

Note: You can only do this from Telegram’s desktop app.

1. Click on the three lines in the top left corner of the app. Now, click on “Settings” and then “Advanced.”

2. Click on “Export Telegram data.”

3. You’ll need to select what messages and media to export. You can also set a storage limit for the export. Finally, you need to decide where to save the exported data on your device, and in which format—either HTML (readable by humans) or JSON (readable by machines).

4. Click on “Export,” and you’re all set to check out your Telegram data offline whenever you want.

How to Delete Your Telegram Account

There are two ways to delete your Telegram account: using the app’s self-destruct feature or doing so manually. We’ll discuss both options below.

Note: As far as we can tell, the browser version of Telegram doesn’t allow you to delete your account. Also, there are slight differences between the layout and features of Telegram’s desktop and smartphone apps. However, don’t let this throw you off; the steps are the same.

Delete Telegram account using self-destruction

Telegram allows you to specify a period of inactivity, after which your account will be deleted automatically. This is useful if, for instance, you’re not in a hurry to delete your account.

The standard time period is six months, but you can change this by following the steps below:

1. Open your Telegram app. Click on the three lines in the top left corner and go to “Settings.”

2. Click on “Privacy and Security.”

3. Scroll down and click on “Delete my account.”

4. Now, click on “If away for.”

5. You can now choose to have your account automatically deleted after one, three, six, or 12 months of inactivity. All you have to do is wait until the specified time elapses and your account will be automatically deleted.

Delete Telegram manually

If you don’t want to wait for your Telegram account to be deleted automatically, you can choose to delete it manually.

Note: There is no way to do this from the Telegram app. You can only delete your Telegram account from your web browser.

Follow the steps down below to delete your Telegram account:

1. Go to the Telegram deactivation page and enter your phone number with your country code. If you’re unsure about your country code, you can easily Google it.

2. Fill in the confirmation code sent to your Telegram app.

3. You’ll be directed to a page explaining the consequences of deleting your account. We recommend reading this information carefully. You can provide a reason for deleting your Telegram account if you want to. When you’re done, click on the blue “Delete My Account” button.

4. You have to confirm you want to delete your Telegram account by clicking “Yes, delete my account.” This is the final step. Once you click on this button, your account will be deleted permanently.

5. You have now deleted your Telegram account permanently. If you want to sign up for another account with the same phone number, you’ll have to wait a few days before you can do so.

Why Delete Telegram?

Telegram was launched in 2013, but its popularity has skyrocketed in the past few years as millions of people seek alternatives to WhatsApp and Facebook. There are many reasons to choose Telegram over WhatsApp, but there are also reasons to stop using Telegram. Here are the main ones.

No end-to-end encryption by default

While it has some unique features, critics have since lamented the fact that Telegram doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption by default. You need to activate “Secret Chat” before you get this level of encryption. This is different from other messaging apps, like WhatsApp, which has standard end-to-end encryption on all chats.

There’s also the fact that Telegram uses its own, relatively unknown encryption protocol—MTProto—rather than a well-recognized one.

Extremism and conspiracy theorists

Due to its lax approach to content moderation, Telegram has become a meeting place for right-wing extremists and conspiracy theorists.

At the height of the COVID pandemic, while social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram took measures to stop the spread of misinformation, Telegram didn’t. This made the messaging app a fertile ground for the growth of extremist ideologies.

A study published in 2021 by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue revealed that far-right groups spread COVID-19 conspiracy theories on Telegram as a way to radicalize and recruit new members. The study also found that these groups peddle extreme misogyny, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia on the messaging app.

Data collection practices

To provide its service and further its “legitimate interests,” Telegram may collect and store metadata from users’ devices for up to a year. The company collects some personal information about users, including your name, username, phone number, email address, contact list, and location data (when you share your location).

Telegram also stores users’ chat messages, photos, videos, and shared documents. According to the company, this data is “stored heavily encrypted.” Nonetheless, Telegram may be compelled to turn over user data by the government.

Telegram claims it has never had to release user information to the authorities. However, in June 2022, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Telegram had presented user data to the German police as part of a criminal investigation into terrorism and child abuse.

How to Keep Your Data Safe on Telegram

If you’re concerned about your privacy, deleting your Telegram account is not your only option. You can hang on to your Telegram account and secure your data by using a VPN. A VPN is a useful privacy solution that encrypts your internet traffic and routes your traffic through a server.

The top VPNs offer military-grade encryption. So, if you don’t trust Telegram’s encryption protocol, you can take matters into your hands and use a VPN to encrypt your traffic.

A VPN also changes your IP address and hides your real IP. This allows you to access geo-restricted content and bypass censorship blocks without any difficulties.

NordVPN is one of the top VPNs we recommend. It has a wide server network, excellent security and privacy tools, and it doesn’t store any user data.

If you’ve just deleted Telegram, and you’re looking for a great, privacy-oriented messaging app to replace it, there are several options to choose from. Check out our article on the best encrypted messaging apps.

If you’re interested in deleting your social media accounts, we have articles on how to delete your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and LinkedIn accounts.

How to Delete Your Telegram Account: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a specific question about deleting Telegram? Check out our FAQ down below to see if we’ve answered your question. If you can’t find your question below, read the full article above or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

How can I delete Telegram?

You can delete Telegram automatically using the self-destruct option, or manually. To delete your account manually, go to the Telegram deactivation page, fill in your full phone number (with your country code) and follow the steps. Our article on how to delete your Telegram account contains step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process.

What happens when you delete Telegram?

Deleting your Telegram account is permanent and irreversible. You will lose all of your chat messages and media if you haven’t saved them elsewhere. That’s why we strongly recommend making a backup of your data beforehand.

How can I delete my Telegram account from an iPhone?

Deleting your Telegram account from your iPhone is easy. You’ve got two options: using the app’s self-destruct feature, or deleting your account manually. For more information, check out our article on deleting Telegram.

Nathan Daniels Author

Tech journalist

Nathan is an internationally trained journalist and has a special interest in the prevention of cybercrime, especially where vulnerable groups are concerned. For VPNoverview.com he conducts research in the field of cybersecurity, internet censorship, and online privacy. He also contributed to developing our rigorous VPN testing and reviewing procedures using evidence-based best practices.

How to Deactivate or Delete Your Telegram Account

Telegram is a solid messaging app that keeps your chats encrypted and is rich with features. But if you're switching to a new messaging app, it's best to delete your Telegram account before you go.

Unfortunately, Telegram doesn't offer a direct switch you can flick in the app's settings. So, here are step-by-step guides showing you how to deactivate your Telegram account and how to delete your Telegram account.

How to Export Your Data Before Leaving Telegram

Telegram doesn't let you temporarily shut your Telegram account. Once you delete Telegram, you can't undo the action and revive your account or read your old texts by just logging back in.

Thankfully, Telegram offers an export option on its desktop clients in case there are any conversations you'd like to save for future reference.

To use it, install the Telegram app on your PC and sign in. Click the three bars in the top-right corner to reveal the navigation menu and select Settings.

Now, click on Advanced and scroll all the way down until you find the Export Telegram Data option. Enter that and choose the type of data you'd like to export.

You can specifically pick which chats are extracted, whether to exclude public channels, whether the archive should include videos or GIFs, the export format, and more. You even have the ability to download only the stickers you've sent on Telegram in the past.

Click Export and, depending on the size of your data, Telegram will complete the extraction in a few minutes. Tap Show My Data to view the file.

How to Delete Your Telegram Account Using the Mobile App

By default, Telegram erases your account if it's inactive for six months. However, you can edit that setting and adjust how long Telegram should wait before deleting your profile. Besides six months, you can set it to a month, three months, or a full year.

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You'll find the self-destruct option in the Telegram Android and iOS apps' settings. On the app, tap the three-bar menu button in the top-left corner and select Settings. Next, go into the Privacy & Security page and scroll until you reach the Delete my account section.

Here, select the If away for entry and define the new inactivity duration after which your account should self-destruct.

You can't deactivate your Telegram account temporarily. The only choice you have is to simply leave your Telegram profile inactive. If it helps, you can uninstall the Telegram apps from your computer and phone.

How to Immediately Delete Your Telegram Account

For those who can't wait a month, Telegram allows you to immediately kill your account and data as well. The tool is not present on any of the native apps and is only accessible on the web. This works on desktop as well as on any mobile browser.

To deactivate your Telegram account, head over to the My Telegram web portal, enter your Telegram phone number using the international number format, then click Next.

A confirmation code will be sent to you via Telegram and not by SMS, so ensure that you can access your Telegram account to retrieve the code.

Enter the code in the "Confirmation code" box and click Sign In.

On the next screen, click the Delete Account link. In the available text box, write your reason for leaving. Hit the Delete My Account button when you're ready.

Select the red Yes, Delete My Account option in the prompt and that's it. Telegram will delete your account and data permanently.

What Happens When You Delete Your Telegram Account

Before deleting your Telegram profile forever, it's best to understand the consequences of doing so.

When you delete your account, Telegram says it gets rid of all of your chats and data. Your account is terminated permanently and your messages, as well as contacts, are deleted beyond retrieval.

As for the channels and groups you built, they will continue to function normally even when you delete Telegram, and the existing admins will retain their privileges. In case you're the sole admin, Telegram will randomly assign an active member as the new admin.

On top of that, Telegram won't let you set up a new account with the same phone number again for at least a couple of days. In addition, deleting an account that has been limited due to spam-related activity will not remove the ban.

Why You May Want to Delete Your Telegram Account

Even though Telegram boasts some useful features, there are still several reasons why you may want to deactivate your Telegram account. Here are just a few reasons why you may want to delete Telegram:

1. Telegram Is No Longer the Best App for You

With so many instant messaging apps available, there's a chance Telegram is not the best messaging app for your needs anymore. Maybe there's a new IM app in town, and you want to shift your conversations there, or you're worried about Telegram features that may be exposing your location.

2. Your Friends Are Leaving Telegram

Perhaps, some of your friends or family members are no longer on Telegram. Hence, you're following them away from Telegram to new pastures in order to stay connected.

3. Telegram's Policies Worry You

Popular messaging apps often know a lot about you. It's also possible you are not comfortable with Telegram's open policies and its broad range of communities. Multiple reports claim Telegram is a hotbed for illegal activity and hosts channels where users can easily download new movies or music tracks for free.

4. You Don't Trust Telegram

Telegram doesn't encrypt chats by default and its security model has been criticized by some. In comparison, its competitor Signal is generally viewed with more trust around security and privacy.

Is It Time to Delete Telegram?

Telegram is a very competent messaging platform that's available across a host of platforms. However, if you've decided to quit Telegram, these methods will help you delete your Telegram account and preserve your chat data locally on your computer.

If you're still looking for a new home for your digital conversations, there are a number of Telegram alternatives you can try.

How to delete a Telegram account and is it possible to restore it after deletion

Telegram is used by hundreds of millions of people all over the planet. You or your friends probably have an account in this messenger, which allows you to chat and read news in telegram channels. But it is possible that someday the moment will come, and you decide to delete your Telegram account . You can find the reasons for such a decision yourself, and we will tell you how to get rid of the profile in the messenger once and for all.

You can delete a Telegram account, but think carefully before that

Content

  • 1 How to log out of Telegram
  • 2 Telegram - end sessions
  • 3 How to delete a Telegram account from your phone
  • 4 How to delete a Telegram profile 9013 9013 5 How to recover your Telegram account

How to log out of Telegram

If you leave the profile on the current gadget, you can only enter it using your phone number. In addition, there is another nuance, which I will talk about a little later. In the meantime, about how to log out of your Telegram account :

  1. Launch Telegram.
  2. Open the application settings by clicking the three-bar button (located in the upper left corner).
  3. Press the three-dot button (located on the top right).
  4. Select the "Exit" option and then confirm the action by pressing the appropriate button.

After the exit, secret chats will be deleted

Despite the fact that in this case we are not talking about deleted Telegram account , after logging out you will lose all information from secret chats . They are stored on the current device and will be automatically deleted upon exit. This is the nuance that I casually mentioned earlier.

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Telegram - end sessions

It happens that you were in Telegram through the computer , but forgot to log out of your account and left on business with your smartphone. In this case, I propose to figure out how end sessions in Telegram . To do this, you will need:

  1. Open Telegram settings.
  2. Go to "Privacy" and then "Devices".
  3. Click the "End all other sessions" button.

Each session can be ended individually

Now Telegram will work only on the current device, and on all other devices you will exit, losing access to secret chats, if any. However, this happens every time you press the "Exit" button, even on a smartphone, even on a PC.

How to delete a Telegram account from a phone

Telegram has an advanced security system, so you will not be able to delete someone else's Telegram account or, for example, get rid of your account with one touch. However, through the messenger application, you can set up automatic deletion of the profile after a period of inactivity:

  1. Launch Telegram.
  2. Open its settings.
  3. Go to the "Privacy" section.
  4. Scroll down the page and find the item "Delete my account".
  5. Tap on "If I don't log in".
  6. Select the period after which the Telegram profile will be automatically deleted.

The profile will be deleted after the specified period

The account will not disappear immediately, but only after a month or another period set in the settings. The report starts over as soon as you sign in to your account on one of your devices. Is it possible to delete an account in Telegram immediately? Yes! And I will talk about this in the next paragraph.

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How to delete a profile in Telegram

Now let's talk about how to delete a Telegram account forever without resorting to a long wait for the expiration, after which an automatic removal. You can get rid of your account only through the web version of Telegram , but the application will also come in handy along the way:

  1. Launch the browser on your smartphone or any other device.
  2. Go to the removal page available on the official Telegram website.
  3. Enter the phone number associated with your account and click Next.
  4. Launch the messenger application and open the Telegram system chat, where you will receive a message with the authorization confirmation code on the site.

    5. The code will appear in the system chat

  5. Copy it and paste it into the appropriate window on the official Telegram website.
  6. Complete the authorization by pressing the "Sign In" button.
  7. In the "Why are you leaving" line, describe the reason for your leaving Telegram.
  8. Click the "Delete My Account" button.

Think carefully before hitting the delete button

You can do the same on your smartphone or PC. Therefore, if you do not have a mobile device at hand, but you are authorized in Telegram on PC , then do the same, but only through the desktop version of the browser.

How to restore a Telegram account

Usually, when we talk about deleting an account in a particular service (for example, Google ), we still have the opportunity to restore the profile for a certain amount of time. But, if you ask if is it possible to restore your Telegram account , you will get a negative answer to your question.

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Unfortunately or fortunately, it will not work to return the deleted profile, because after pressing the "Delete My Account" button, all information instantly disappears without the possibility further recovery. By the way, we are warned about this several times when we try delete Telegram account . All information messages are in English, which is why many people believe that everything can be returned to its place if you quickly change your mind. But no! First think, then act.

How to delete a Telegram account: step by step guide

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RBC Trends explain what are the ways to leave Telegram without losing important data

A user may want to delete their Telegram account if they are worried about their security. When installing Telegram, the application requests access to the contact list on the smartphone. It also collects other data about the user's IP address and device type. All this information is stored for about a year.

Deleting an application deletes correspondence, photos and videos, as well as other data that was not previously downloaded to the device. However, the chats created by the user are saved, as well as his messages in them. They will need to be removed manually.

There is no account recovery function in Telegram.

Account self-destruction

Telegram has a function of account self-destruction. The messenger itself deletes profiles if they have not been logged in for a long time. This function can be activated independently. For this you need:

Deleting a Telegram account from a computer

To delete your Telegram account from a PC, you will need to do the following: