How to Delete Your Twitter Account

chief Twit Elon Musk — If you're itching to leave Twitter after Elon Musk's acquisition of the social media platform in late October 2022, we'll tell you how. Koshiro K/Shutterstock

Twitter used to be fun. Now it's just draining. After Elon Musk's $44 billion takeover of Twitter was finalized Oct. 27, 2022, the ubiquitous social media platform, which has been around for more than a decade, has been in chaos. Advertisers are bailing and so are users.

Maybe you've decided to delete your account, too. Deleting a Twitter account is easy; it's coming to that decision that takes some real thought.

Before you can delete your account, Twitter requires that you deactivate it. Deactivating your Twitter account essentially puts it on a break for 30 or 120 days. If you do nothing during that time, Twitter will delete your account permanently. For those of you ready to pull the trigger and get yourself off what is currently one of the most volatile social media platforms, follow the directions below:

Access Your Account Settings

Go to Twitter.
Click the "More" button on the left-hand rail.
Click "Settings and Support."
Choose "Settings and privacy."
Choose "Your account."

Deactivate Your Account

This is the step that allows you to actually deactivate your account. Deactivating your account does several things. Your display name, @username and public profile won't be viewable on Twitter, but you have two choices for a reactivation period: 30 days or 12 months. This allows you to restore your Twitter account for up to 30 days or 12 months after you deactivate it.

Click 30 days or 12 months.
Click "Deactivate."
Read the account deactivation information, then click "Deactivate."

Log in Later or Surrender Your Username

After you click deactivate, Twitter will require you to confirm your password. Once you type in your password, you have to confirm again that you want to deactivate by clicking the "Deactivate" button.

If you don't log back into your account for 30 days or 12 months, your account will be deleted permanently. Once it's deleted, all of your information will disappear and your username becomes available for reuse by someone else. This is important. Musk is considering changes to how Twitter verification works, so protecting certain usernames, especially those that are proprietary, could be important in the future.