Deleting your Telegram account is an irreversible process that permanently erases all of your messages, data, groups, contacts, and account information. However, you may reach a point where leaving Telegram is the right choice for you.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to permanently delete your Telegram account across all platforms, discuss the consequences of deletion, reasons for leaving Telegram, and the top messaging alternatives worth considering after deleting your account.
Overview of Permanently Deleting Your Telegram Account
Before diving into each step, here is a high-level overview of what‘s involved in permanently deleting your Telegram account:
- You need to delete your account directly through Telegram‘s website or mobile app settings.
- All of your Telegram data (messages, groups, contacts, etc) will be erased permanently with no way to recover it.
- You‘ll be removed from any Telegram groups or channels you‘ve joined.
- If you reinstall Telegram, you‘ll have to create a brand new account and start fresh.
- The deletion process varies slightly depending on whether you use Telegram on desktop, iPhone, or Android.
Now let‘s walk through how to delete your Telegram account on each platform.
Delete Telegram Account on Desktop
Deleting your account via the Telegram website is quick and straightforward:
- Go to the Telegram account deletion page at https://my.telegram.org/
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Enter your phone number, including country code (e.g. +1 for US numbers)
💡Pro Tip: Make sure to use proper international formatting for your phone number.
- Click ‘Next‘ and Telegram will send a confirmation code to your Telegram inbox
- Enter the confirmation code Telegram sent you
- Click ‘Delete Account‘ on the left sidebar
- Select a reason for deleting your account
- Click ‘Delete Account‘ again and confirm the permanent deletion
Once confirmed, all Telegram data for your account will be erased with no recovery options. Make sure to back up anything important before proceeding!
Delete Telegram from an iPhone
Deleting your account from an iPhone only takes a few taps:
- Open the Telegram app on your iPhone
- Tap your Profile icon in the top left
- Go to ‘Settings‘ > ‘Privacy and Security‘
- Tap ‘Delete Account‘
- Choose ‘Delete My Account‘
- Confirm your phone number to proceed
And your account will be permanently deleted right away.
Delete Telegram Account on Android
Here are the steps to delete your Telegram account from an Android device:
- Launch the Telegram app on your Android phone
- Tap ≡ Menu > ‘Settings‘
- Choose ‘Privacy and security‘
- Scroll down and tap ‘Delete my account‘
- Select ‘Delete account in 1 month if away‘
- Avoid opening Telegram for 1 month and your account will auto-delete
By staying off Telegram for a full month, Android will automatically erase your Telegram account data completely.
Telegram Account Deletion: FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about deleting your Telegram account:
Is it possible to recover my Telegram account after deletion?
No, once your Telegram account is deleted, there is no way to retrieve or restore it. The deletion is permanent.
Can I back up my Telegram data before deleting my account?
Yes! You can manually export chats or use a third party tool to back up your Telegram data before deletion.
What happens to my Telegram groups if I delete my account?
You will be automatically removed from any Telegram groups, channels, or bots you joined when your account is deleted.
If I reinstall Telegram after deleting my account, can I restore my old data?
No, you‘ll have to create an entirely new account and start fresh. Your old account and all associated data will be gone.
Reasons for Deleting Your Telegram Account
There are a variety of reasons you may want to permanently delete your Telegram account:
- Privacy and security concerns – Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram doesn‘t use end-to-end encryption by default, which raises privacy red flags for some users.
- No longer using the app – If you‘ve stopped using Telegram, you may wish to delete your old account and data.
- Negative experience – Perhaps you‘ve had toxic encounters on Telegram and want to delete it.
- Save device storage – Removing Telegram can free up storage space on your mobile device.
Before taking the plunge, be certain you‘re ready to permanently erase your Telegram account and messages.
What to Consider Before Deleting Telegram
Before deleting your Telegram account, please keep these key points in mind:
- Permanent data loss – Your messages, contacts, groups, files, etc. will be erased with no recovery method. Back up important data before deletion.
- You‘ll leave all groups/channels – You‘ll be removed from any Telegram group or channel you‘ve joined.
- Can‘t restore account – There‘s no way to retrieve your old Telegram account after deletion. The process can‘t be reversed.
- Start fresh if reinstalling – If you reinstall Telegram, you‘ll have to create a brand new account and start from scratch.
Top 5 Telegram Alternatives
Once you delete Telegram, you may want to move to a new messaging app. Here are 5 top-rated Telegram alternatives to consider:
| Messaging App | Key Features | # of Users |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption, group chat, free calls | 2 billion | |
| Signal | Encrypted open source messaging | 40 million |
| LINE | Fun stickers, video calls, groups | 214 million |
| Viber | Encrypted calls & chats, multi-platform | 1 billion |
| Messaging, moments, payments, games | 1.2 billion |
Analyze this comparison table and read reviews to decide which messaging app best suits your needs after leaving Telegram behind.
Delete Your Telegram Account with Confidence
I hope this in-depth guide has provided everything you need to permanently delete your Telegram account quickly and easily. Make sure to fully back up your Telegram data before deletion, as the process can‘t be reversed.
Let me know if you have any other questions about deleting your Telegram account permanently! I‘m happy to help.
