What to do if you’re tired of Telegram, but simply deleting the app from your device doesn’t seem sufficient? For instance, you might want other users to be unable to message you at all. We’ll explain how to permanently delete your Telegram account and what you need to know before doing so.
What You Need to Know Before Telegram Delete Account
Before deleting your account, remember that unlike most other messaging apps, you cannot restore your Telegram profile in the same form. While you can return to the app with the same phone number, it will be a completely different, clean profile. Deleting your account will remove all the messages and contacts associated with it.
Additionally, note that deleting your account and then trying to recover it will not help if you were banned for violating rules. The app’s anti-spam system remembers everything, so you will just waste your time. Also, keep in mind that before you can register again with your old phone number, several days must pass.
Another point concerns owners of public accounts. If you were previously an owner of channels or groups on Telegram, be aware that after deletion, all of them will remain without a creator; however, all administrators will retain their rights.
Understand Telegram’s Data Retention Policies
When considering account deletion, it’s crucial to understand Telegram’s data retention policies. According to Telegram’s privacy policy, the platform retains certain information even after you delete your account. This includes IP addresses, device information, login records, and account registration data such as your phone number. This data is stored on Telegram’s servers and may be retained for an unspecified duration. While Telegram does not clearly define how long this data is kept, being aware of these policies can help you make an informed decision about your privacy and data security.
How to Completely and Permanently Delete Your Account on Telegram Manually
The platform offers two main methods for completely deleting an account: manual deletion or self-destruction of the profile after a set period. Here’s how to manually delete your Telegram account on various devices.
From a Phone
If you need to quickly delete your Telegram profile, this can only be done on the Telegram deactivation page. The instructions are the same for both iPhone and Android devices.
Open the messaging app on your phone.
Go to settings and scroll down to “Telegram FAQ.”
Find “Delete your Telegram account” in the list and click the link.
You will be redirected to a page describing the necessary steps for deletion.
Click on “deactivation page” to access the page where you can delete your account.
Enter the phone number linked to your Telegram profile and click “Next.” The official bot will send a confirmation code that needs to be entered in the designated field.
On the next page, the system will ask for a reason for deletion. This step can be skipped by clicking “Delete my account” directly.
To permanently delete your account, click the red button saying “Yes, delete my account.” This is your last chance to turn back.
Note To fully delete your account, it is not necessary to use the device where the SIM card linked to the account is installed. The code will come through the messenger itself, not via SMS.
From a Computer Using Telegram Web Version
For some users, it may be more convenient to delete their account from a computer using the Telegram web version. Follow these steps:
Open any browser on your PC and go to the deactivation page.
Enter the phone number associated with the account you want to delete and click “Next.”
Open Telegram on your computer or smartphone and copy the code sent by the bot into the “Confirmation code” field.
Click “Sign in.”
Choose a reason for deletion and click “Delete my account” (you can leave this field blank).
Finally, confirm deletion by clicking “Yes, Delete my account.”
How to Set Up Automatic Account Deletion in Telegram
In addition to manual deletion, you can set up your Telegram profile to automatically delete after a specified period of inactivity. In this case, the account is automatically deleted after a specified system period.
By default, this period is six months but can easily be changed in settings. The maximum auto-deletion period is two years. If you do not log into the app with your current account during this time, it will be deleted along with all messages, multimedia files, contacts, and other stored data.
To manually set up an automatic deletion period:
Go to Settings.
Select “Privacy” → “Delete my account” → “If I don’t log in.”
Set the inactivity period after which your account should be deleted.
How to Transfer Data Before Deleting Your Account on Telegram
Using the “Export Data” feature allows you to download all important information onto your computer and save it in case you decide to delete your account.
Exporting lets you copy information about your account as well as all personal chats, photos, stickers, and other data with just a few clicks. This includes all previous messages, ensuring nothing is lost.
To do this:
Launch Telegram on Windows.
Go to Settings → Advanced.
Scroll down and select “Export Telegram Data.”
Check off necessary items and then click “Export.”
You can save the data archive on your PC by choosing one of two formats: HTML or JSON, as well as selecting a folder for saving it.
Unfortunately, the export data feature is only available for the desktop version of the app; exporting chats from mobile clients (Android or iOS) is not possible.
Can You Delete an Account If You No Longer Have Access to the Verification Code?
Unfortunately, it is impossible to delete a deleted Telegram account if you’ve lost access to it; such functionality is not provided by Telegram.
The only option is to restore access using the phone number associated with your profile. If you’ve lost access to that number too, you’ll have to wait for automatic deletion of your account due to inactivity—this could happen after one month or up to 24 months depending on settings.
Post-Deletion Considerations
After you delete your Telegram account, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, deleted accounts cannot be restored. Once you delete your Telegram account, all messages, contacts, and media associated with it are permanently erased from Telegram’s servers. However, messages you sent in group chats will remain visible to other participants even after your account is deleted. Additionally, Telegram may retain certain metadata, such as IP addresses and device information, even after account deletion. Understanding these post-deletion considerations can help you better manage your expectations and privacy.
Can I Sign Up to Telegram Again After Deleting My Account?
Yes, you can sign up to Telegram again after deleting your account. However, there may be a waiting period before you can create a new account with the same phone number. This waiting period is designed to prevent potential misuse and ensure the integrity of the platform. If you decide to return to Telegram, be prepared for this temporary delay before you can set up a new account.
Alternative Options: What You Can Do Instead of Deleting Your Account
Deleting an account is a drastic step that not everyone can take; however, it may not even be necessary for you. For instance, if you simply want to manage your account settings within the Telegram app, logging out of the messenger may suffice.
Log Out of Telegram
It’s no secret that users can log into their accounts from multiple devices using one phone number, leading to potential confusion. To avoid this:
Open Telegram.
Click on three lines in the upper left corner.
Select Settings.
Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Log out.
Before logging out, users should delete messages manually to ensure they are not retained on other devices.
Note After logging out, all secret chats will automatically clear from that device but will remain unchanged on others’ devices. To ensure they disappear without a trace before logging out, manually clear information by opening any secret chat and clicking three dots in the upper right corner followed by “Clear History.”
End Sessions
If you’ve lost access to one of your devices or want to manage multiple Telegram accounts and end sessions as needed from your personal profile:
Go to Settings.
Click through Privacy → Devices.
Select any device from the list where you’ve previously logged in and click “End Session.” To log out from all devices except for current one at once, just click “End all other sessions.”
Explore Alternative Messaging Apps
If you’re thinking about deleting your Telegram account, you might want to explore alternative messaging apps that offer similar features and security. Some popular alternatives include:
Signal: Known for its strong focus on privacy and end-to-end encryption, Signal is a secure messaging app that many users trust.
WhatsApp: Another widely-used messaging app, WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption and a variety of features that make it a versatile choice.
Google Messages: This app provides end-to-end encryption and integrates seamlessly with other Google services, offering a comprehensive messaging experience.
When choosing an alternative messaging app, consider factors such as security, features, and user interface to find the best fit for your needs. Each of these apps has its own strengths, so take the time to explore them and decide which one aligns best with your preferences.
Is It Necessary to Delete Your Account If It Was Hacked?
Deleting an account on Telegram due to hacking should be considered a last resort — only if information in personal chats contains highly confidential details. Telegram’s servers have robust security measures to protect user data, making it unlikely that hackers would access it. In other cases, it’s better to attempt restoring access using the linked phone number first and then change your password.
Another option is logging into your account from another device and checking for active sessions within it; if hackers didn’t think of unlinking all devices first, you might still have time left before they do so.
User Reminder: How to Delete Your Account on Telegram
Finally, let’s reiterate some important points you should remember before deleting your profile on Telegram:
Unlike most messaging apps, once deleted, you cannot recover your Telegram profile. Remember, deleting your Telegram account permanently means all your messages and contacts will be erased from the server.
There are two main ways provided by the platform for complete deletion: manual removal or self-destruction after a set period.
If you need quick deactivation of your Telegram profile, this can only be done through a special deactivation page.
Besides manual removal options available within settings allow self-deletion after periods of inactivity.
Using “Export Data” allows saving important information before deletion.
Simply logging out can unlink devices from your Telegram account without full deletion.
If access has been lost due hacking incidents consider restoring access first rather than outright deletion.
By following these guidelines and understanding what actions are possible regarding managing accounts within Telegram effectively ensures better control over personal data security while using this messaging platform!
This article was originally Posted on Coinpaper.com
