To permanently delete your Telegram account, visit Telegram’s official deactivation page, enter your phone number in international format, confirm the code sent to your Telegram app, and select Delete My Account. This action is permanent, so make sure you save anything important first.
Deleting Telegram is different from uninstalling the app. Removing the app only deletes it from your phone; your account, chats, contacts, groups, and cloud data remain active until you delete the account itself.
Before You Delete Your Telegram Account
Account deletion cannot normally be undone. Before continuing, consider these points:
- Your Telegram account will be removed permanently.
- Your contact list and Telegram cloud data may be deleted.
- You may lose access to saved media and important chats.
- You cannot restore the same account history simply by signing up again.
- People may still see messages you sent in shared groups or conversations.
- Groups and channels you created may remain, but your account will no longer manage them.
If you only want a break from Telegram, uninstall the app, log out from unused devices, or mute notifications instead of deleting your account.
How to Delete Your Telegram Account Immediately
Telegram account deletion is usually completed through its official web-based deactivation page.
Step 1: Open Telegram’s Deactivation Page
Open a web browser and go to Telegram’s official account-deactivation page:
Make sure you use the official Telegram website. Do not enter your login code on unknown websites.
Step 2: Enter Your Phone Number
Enter the phone number connected to your Telegram account.
Use the international format, including your country code. For example:
- India:
+91XXXXXXXXXX - United States:
+1XXXXXXXXXX - United Kingdom:
+44XXXXXXXXXX
Then select Next.
Step 3: Get the Confirmation Code
Telegram sends a confirmation code to your logged-in Telegram app. In many cases, the code is delivered inside Telegram rather than through an SMS message.
Open Telegram, find the message containing the login code, and enter it on the deactivation page.
Never share this code with anyone. Telegram codes can be used to access or delete your account.
Step 4: Confirm Account Deletion
After signing in:
- Select Delete Account or Delete My Account.
- You may be asked to provide an optional reason for leaving.
- Confirm the final deletion prompt.
Telegram will then permanently deactivate the account.
What Happens When You Delete Telegram?
Deleting a Telegram account has a wider effect than deleting the mobile app.
| Item | What happens after account deletion |
|---|---|
| Telegram profile | Removed |
| Contacts | Removed from your Telegram account |
| Cloud chats and saved media | May be permanently deleted |
| Secret Chats | Become unavailable because they are linked to your account and devices |
| Messages in groups | May remain visible to other members |
| Groups and channels you created | May remain, but your deleted account no longer manages them |
| Phone app | You can uninstall it after deletion |
| Same phone number | You can sign up again later, but previous account history will not return |
The exact appearance of old messages to other users can depend on the type of chat and Telegram’s current data-handling rules. Do not assume deleting your account will erase copies, screenshots, downloads, or forwarded messages held by other people.
How to Delete Telegram Account on Android
The deletion process is the same on Android because it uses Telegram’s official deactivation webpage.
- Open Chrome or another browser on your Android phone.
- Visit
my.telegram.org/auth?to=deactivate. - Enter your Telegram phone number with country code.
- Enter the verification code sent to Telegram.
- Select Delete My Account.
- Confirm the deletion.
You can also open the deactivation page from a computer if that is easier.
How to Delete Telegram Account on iPhone
On iPhone, use Safari or any browser to access the official deactivation page.
- Open Safari.
- Go to
my.telegram.org/auth?to=deactivate. - Enter your phone number in international format.
- Enter the code delivered to Telegram.
- Choose Delete My Account.
- Confirm the final prompt.
After the account is deleted, you can remove Telegram from your iPhone by pressing and holding the app icon, then selecting Remove App.
How to Set Telegram to Delete Your Account Automatically
If you do not want to delete Telegram immediately, set an inactivity period. Telegram can automatically delete your account if you do not use it for the selected period.
On Android or iPhone
- Open the Telegram app.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Privacy and Security.
- Find If Away For or Delete My Account If Away For.
- Select your preferred inactivity period.
The available time periods may vary by Telegram version. If you do not log in during the selected period, Telegram can automatically delete your account.
This is useful if you want to keep your account for now but do not want inactive data to remain indefinitely.
How to Delete Telegram Without Logging In
You generally need access to the phone number and Telegram login code connected to the account to delete it immediately.
If you cannot log in:
- Try to regain access to your phone number through your mobile carrier.
- Check whether Telegram is still logged in on another phone, tablet, or desktop device.
- Review Settings > Devices on an active session and remove unfamiliar devices.
- Use Telegram’s account-recovery and support options if you suspect your account has been compromised.
- If immediate deletion is not possible, the inactivity-deletion setting may apply only if it was configured earlier.
Be cautious of third-party websites claiming they can delete or recover Telegram accounts. Use only official Telegram tools.
How to Delete Telegram Messages Without Deleting Your Account
You do not need to delete your entire account just to remove a conversation.
Delete a Chat
- Open Telegram.
- Press and hold the chat on Android, or swipe left on iPhone.
- Tap Delete.
- Choose the available deletion option.
For some one-to-one chats, Telegram may allow you to delete messages for both sides. Read the confirmation screen carefully before proceeding.
Delete a Specific Message
- Open the chat.
- Press and hold the message.
- Tap the delete icon.
- Choose whether to delete it only for yourself or for both participants, if available.
Deleting messages is usually a better choice when you only want to clear one conversation.
How to Uninstall Telegram Without Deleting Your Account
If you just need to free storage space or take a social-media break:
- Back up any local files you need.
- Uninstall Telegram from your device.
- Do not use the Telegram deactivation page.
Your Telegram account remains active and you can sign in again later using the same phone number.
Common Problems When Deleting a Telegram Account
Telegram Did Not Send Me a Code
Check your Telegram app first. The confirmation code may arrive in a Telegram service message rather than by SMS.
Also verify that:
- Your phone number includes the correct country code.
- You are entering the number linked to your Telegram account.
- You have a stable internet connection.
- You are signed in on at least one Telegram device, if possible.
I Entered the Code but Cannot Delete the Account
Try the official deactivation page in another browser or clear browser cookies. Do not repeatedly request codes in a short period, as Telegram may temporarily limit login attempts for security.
I Deleted the App, but My Account Still Exists
Uninstalling Telegram does not delete the account. Use the official deactivation page to permanently remove it.
Can I Reactivate a Deleted Telegram Account?
You can create a new Telegram account using the same number if Telegram permits it, but your old chats, contacts, and account history will not be restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is deleting a Telegram account permanent?
Yes. Account deletion is intended to be permanent. Save important chats, files, and contact details before confirming.
Does deleting Telegram delete messages for everyone?
Not necessarily. Messages in group chats, forwarded content, screenshots, downloads, and copies held by other people may remain available. Delete sensitive individual messages directly where possible before deleting your account.
Can I delete my Telegram account from the app?
Immediate permanent deletion is generally handled through Telegram’s official deactivation webpage. The app does allow you to configure automatic deletion after a period of inactivity.
Will Telegram send the deletion code by SMS?
Telegram may send the code to your active Telegram app instead of SMS. Check Telegram service messages before requesting another code.
What happens to groups I created after deleting Telegram?
Groups and channels may remain, but your deleted account can no longer administer them. Add trusted administrators before deleting an account that manages an important group or channel.
Final Thoughts
To delete your Telegram account permanently, use the official deactivation page, confirm your identity with the Telegram login code, and select Delete My Account. Do not confuse this with uninstalling the app.
Before deleting, download important files, delete sensitive messages where possible, transfer group or channel administration, and make sure you are comfortable losing access to your account history.
