How to Delete Your X (Twitter) Account Permanently

Deactivate vs Delete

• Deactivate — the account disappears from public view immediately, but X holds it for 30 days. Logging in during that period restores everything.
• Delete — the same action, completed. After 30 days without logging in, the account and its data are permanently removed.

There is no separate "delete now" button. Deactivation is the mechanism; the 30-day wait is what makes it permanent.

Steps

1. Back up anything you want to keep first — download your archive.
2. Settings → Your Account → Deactivate your account.
3. Confirm with your password.
4. Do not log in for 30 days.

That last step is the one people fail. Opening the app to check "whether it worked" reactivates the account and restarts the clock.

What gets deleted

• Your tweets and retweets
• Likes, follows and followers
• Your profile and display name
• Direct messages

What does not disappear

• Other people's posts that mention you — those are their objects.
• Screenshots and reposts — outside X's reach entirely.
• Search engine caches — a lag of days to weeks.
• Archive services — may retain copies indefinitely.

If your goal is a targeted cleanup rather than a full exit, deleting the account is the wrong tool. Read the deletion troubleshooting guide instead.

Before You Go

Sign in to every site that used "Log in with X" and set a real password, or you will lose access to those accounts too. This is the most commonly missed step and the most annoying to recover from.

常见问题

Can I get my archive after deleting?

Only if you downloaded it before. Request it and wait for delivery, then delete.

Can I reuse the same handle?

Usually after the 30-day window, subject to availability. It is not reserved for you.

Is deleted data really gone?

From X's live systems, yes. From third-party copies, no.

结论

Account deletion is a clean exit if you want one — just download your archive first, detach every "Log in with X", and then leave it alone for 30 days.