How To Delete Your Telegram Account Permanently in 2025

I wish deleting Telegram was as simple as hitting “uninstall”, but it isn’t. And as much as I hate to admit it, I spent far too long finding the actual way to deactivate. This is mainly because my code never arrived (I was waiting ages for the SMS), only to discover it gets sent inside the app — mind-blowing revelation, I know.

Can you permanently delete your Telegram account? Yes, instant web deletion is the most effective way to delete your Telegram account permanently. It’s a simple fix, and even though the average Telegram user opens the app 21 times per day (LinkedIn, 2025)¹, most don't know about this method. Inactivity auto-delete is also a legitimate method to delete Telegram. I'll take you through both options step by step, as well as what to do if you lose your phone or switch numbers. Plus, a few tips on what you should do before and after removing your account.

How To Delete Your Telegram Account in 2025

Why can’t I delete my Telegram account? Despite Telegram having over 1 billion users worldwide (Demand Sage, 2025)², there are various reasons people have trouble deleting the app; most are waiting for the SMS code — you won't receive one, as it's sent directly within the app via the "Telegram" service chat. Others input the wrong phone number format (you need to use the +country code) or forget that they have two-step verification enabled, which can block login.

To delete your Telegram account and remove everything instantly, use Telegram’s web deactivation page. It took me less than 2 minutes to test this process (both via my phone and desktop), and the steps below are the exact ones that work.

Alternatively, the in-app self-destruct timer deletes your account after a specified period of inactivity, and the mobile app settings allow you to adjust this timer.

Permanently Delete Telegram via the Web

This is the most reliable and fastest way I’ve found to delete your Telegram account instantly. You can complete the process on your phone or desktop browser, but you’ll need to have access to your Telegram app to receive the confirmation code. Here’s how it works:

1. Find the Official Telegram Deactivation Page

Go to my.telegram.org/auth. This is Telegram’s official deactivation portal and not the mobile app. Also, avoid any third-party sites that claim to delete your account because they actually can’t.

It's also labeled as an authentication page, which is confusing

2. Enter Your Phone Number

Type your number in the full international format (for example, +1 for the US or +91 for India). Tap Next to proceed. And, if you've lost access to your phone number, you'll need to contact the Telegram support team before proceeding to the next step.

My confirmation code arrived inside the app instantly

3. Verify Your Account With the Code (Inside the Telegram App)

Telegram sends the verification code directly within your Telegram app, not via SMS. So, open Telegram on any device where you’re still logged in and copy that code (I know it’s a hassle). Check the Telegram chat (unarchive/unmute if needed).

The code should be 11 characters long

A 2-step verification code could block your login. Use the recovery email to reset the 2-step. If you never set one, you’ll need to wait out the inactivity timer or regain access to a device already logged in.

4. Sign in on the Web Page Using the Code

Enter the code into the web delete page and click Sign In. You’ll see a few account management options appear, including the option to delete your account.

Make sure to double check the code before signing in

5. Click "Delete My Account"

Select Delete Account and confirm your choice. Once this is done, you can safely uninstall the app from your devices. How fast is immediate Telegram deletion? It takes effect immediately upon confirmation on the web page. Telegram flushes your data from its systems and logs you out everywhere.

You won't be able to recover anything after deleting your account

Deleting your account doesn’t automatically cancel a store-billed Telegram Premium. You must cancel Premium where you bought it (Apple ID, Google Play/in-app “Manage”) before deletion to avoid renewal charges.

Delete Telegram From the App

If you open Telegram and try to delete your account (like any normal person would assume), you’ll quickly see the problem. The app itself doesn’t have an option to delete your account instantly. What you’ll find instead is the “Delete my account if away for” setting, which only removes your account after a long period of inactivity.

This method has a bunch of limitations:

• It’s not instant. If you want to delete your account right now, use the web browser method.
• Any login or opening the app on any device resets the countdown to zero.
• You need ongoing access to your account to let the timer run, so this feature is not helpful if you lose your phone, SIM card, or access to the app.
• Others may still see past messages or a “Deleted Account” label in old chats until the deletion is complete.

So, it’s only an option if you’ve already moved to another app and don’t plan to come back. However, if you want to delete your account immediately, you must use the web browser method.

Set Up Self-Destruct on Telegram To Delete After Inactivity

If you don't want to delete your Telegram account immediately, you can enable the self-destruct option. This automatically erases your account and all its data after a set period of inactivity.

What Gets Removed When You Delete Telegram (And What Doesn't)

When you delete your Telegram account, Telegram wipes almost everything tied to your profile. That said, not all your traces disappear immediately. Here’s what actually happens once you confirm deletion on the web page:

What Gets Removed

✅ All messages that are stored on Telegram’s servers. Your chats, media, stickers, contacts, and cloud backups are permanently erased.
✅ All active sessions. You’ll be logged out from every device, including phones, tablets, and desktops.
✅ Your account information. Your username, profile picture, and bio are deleted.
✅ Your secret chats. These are end-to-end encrypted and stored only on devices, so they vanish as soon as the account is closed.

What Doesn’t Get Removed

❌ Messages you sent to others. Telegram doesn’t retroactively delete those from the recipient’s chat history. Anyone you’ve messaged before will still see “Deleted Account” where your name used to be.
❌ Groups and channels you created. They remain active and can continue without you. Telegram automatically transfers admin rights to another member.
❌ Shared media in public groups. Photos, files, or links posted in public chats may remain visible to others.
❌ Usernames and phone numbers. After deletion, your old phone number can be reused for a new account, but your @username may stay unavailable for a short time before becoming free again.

If your goal is to remove every possible trace, delete your messages and media manually from major groups before confirming the account deletion. This ensures Telegram’s servers and chat histories don’t retain copies linked to you.

Unable To Delete Telegram? Troubleshooting Tips

Even if you follow every step correctly, Telegram’s deletion process can fail for a few common reasons. Here’s how to fix the most frustrating ones I’ve personally run into or seen my friends struggle with.

What To Do After Deleting Telegram

Once your Telegram account is deleted, there are still a few cleanup steps to ensure that no leftover data or traces remain on your devices or linked accounts.

1. Remove any residual app data and cache. Before uninstalling Telegram, ensure that you clean any small amounts of cached data or media files that may remain on your phone or computer.
   • On Android, go to Settings and search for Telegram. Click on it, then tap the Storage option. Now, clear cache and data, and then uninstall the app.
   • On iPhone or iPad, simply deleting the app removes most local data.
   • If you use Telegram Desktop, ensure that you manually delete the Telegram Desktop folder from your system files.
2. Revoke Telegram logins on third-party sites. If you’ve ever used your Telegram account to sign in to other websites or bots, visit those services and disconnect Telegram manually. Look for Login with Telegram connections under your browser settings or the third-party app’s account page.
3. Notify close contacts you’ve moved. If you’re switching to another platform like Signal, WhatsApp, or Discord, let your primary contacts know before deleting Telegram so they can reach you elsewhere. You can simply send a quick message and let them know you’ve moved.

Doing these steps ensures you’ve thoroughly cleaned up your old Telegram footprint and prevents confusion or lingering data after deletion.

Alternative To Deleting Telegram: Wipe Your Data

If you’re not ready to delete your Telegram account, you can still clean it up and regain control over your privacy. These steps help you limit exposure, reduce spam, and make Telegram feel like a fresh start without losing access to your existing chats.

1. Leave or mute groups and channels. Exit inactive or spam-heavy groups and channels, or at least mute them to reduce noise. You can also delete entire chat histories to remove old messages and media from Telegram’s servers.
2. Tighten your privacy settings. Go to Settings, click on Privacy and Security, and review who can see your phone number, last seen, forwards, and calls. Limiting these to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” keeps your information private and stops strangers from adding you through group interactions.
3. Turn off “Find by Phone Number” and control who can add you. Go to Telegram’s Privacy settings, look for Phone Number, and switch off “Find by phone number” so your account won’t appear to people who have your number saved. You can also limit who can add you to groups or channels using the Groups & Channels settings.
4. Use a new number on a fresh account. If your old number or account has been compromised or spammed, consider creating a new Telegram account with a different phone number. But before doing so, back up any important chats or media and inform trusted contacts about your new account to avoid confusion.

These steps don’t delete your account, but they make Telegram far more private and manageable. This is perfect if you just want to reset your experience instead of leaving entirely.

How To Stay Safe on Telegram

Even if you decide to keep your Telegram account, a few privacy tweaks can make a big difference. Telegram gives you control over what others see, but most regular chats are still stored on its servers. Here’s how to make your account safer and your conversations harder to track.

• Use Secret Chats for sensitive conversations. Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption and are stored only on your devices. To start one, open a chat, tap the person’s name, and select Start Secret Chat. These messages can’t be forwarded, and you can set them to self-destruct after a specified time.
• Limit who can see you. Go to Settings, look for Privacy and Security, and review who can see your last seen phone number, calls, and group invites. Change each of them to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” to stay under the radar and reduce unwanted messages.
• Turn off cloud backups for sensitive media. Telegram’s cloud system is convenient, but it means your media and documents stay on its servers. Avoid sending sensitive files in regular chats or public groups to keep them from being stored online.
• Use a VPN to protect your privacy. If you’re serious about privacy, using a virtual private network (VPN) adds another layer of protection. It hides your IP address, encrypts your internet connection, and prevents ISPs or local authorities from tracking your Telegram activity. Will using a VPN protect your privacy on Telegram? Absolutely, a VPN also helps you access Telegram in countries where it’s restricted or monitored.

Pre-Delete Checklist

Before deleting your Telegram account, it’s worth taking a few quick steps to avoid losing important data or leaving behind unintended traces.

• Export your data first. Can you export your data before deleting? Telegram allows you to download your messages, photos, and documents before they are deleted. On desktop, go to Settings, look for Advanced, and select Export Telegram Data to save everything locally.
• Notify your important contacts. Let friends, family, or coworkers know you’re deleting Telegram so they can reach you elsewhere.
• Clear private chats and files. Delete sensitive conversations or media from large groups before you remove your account to prevent “Deleted Account” placeholders from showing up in old chats.
• End active sessions. Open Settings, look for Devices, and sign out of all active sessions so your account is fully logged out everywhere.
• Check your username. Will your @username be available to others after you delete it? Eventually, yes. Telegram may release it after a short holding period, so someone else could claim it later if you ever decide to rejoin.

FAQs on Deleting Your Telegram Account

Conclusion

Deleting your Telegram account isn’t difficult once you know where to look, but it’s easy to get tripped up by small details, such as the in-app confirmation code or the self-destruct timer. I know I did. Whether you’re leaving for privacy, security, or just to simplify your digital life, the web deletion method is the fastest and most reliable way to wipe everything clean.

Just take a few minutes to back up what matters, clear private chats, and review your privacy settings before you go. If you decide to stay on Telegram, consider using a VPN and Secret Chats to keep your data secure.

References

1. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/telegram-reaches-1b-users-durov-outpaces-whatsapp-copycats-jha-khssc/
2. https://www.demandsage.com/telegram-statistics/