Overview
A deleted ChatGPT account cannot be restored. If you deleted the account yourself, you may be able to create a new account using the same email address after 30 days. A deactivated account has a different recovery process.
Check whether your account was deleted or deactivated
If you see “You do not have an account because it has been deleted or deactivated,” your next step depends on what happened to the original account.
If you deleted the account yourself, it cannot be restored. Wait at least 30 days before creating a new account with the same email address.
If you did not delete the account, check your email for instructions about account deactivation, age verification, or a policy issue. Waiting 30 days does not reactivate a deactivated account.
For help with a deactivated account, see: Why Was My OpenAI Account Deactivated?
Deleting your account cancels eligible subscriptions billed directly by ChatGPT. If you subscribed through the Apple App Store, cancel that subscription in the App Store. If you subscribed through Google Play, check your subscription and cancel it if it is still active. For instructions, see: Canceling your ChatGPT subscription.
Change your account without deleting it
If you can still access your original account, you may be able to change your email address or add a password without deleting the account. For instructions, see: How to change your email address.
Open Settings and select Security and login. If Password shows Add, select Add and follow the instructions.
If these controls are not available, your account may not be eligible.
Create a new account after deletion
Wait at least 30 days after deletion before reusing the same email address.
Open ChatGPT or the API Platform, select Sign up, and create a new account with the same email address.
To create an account sooner, use a different email address or, if your email provider supports it, an email alias such as jane+new@example.com.
A new account does not restore the chats, files, or saved memories from your deleted account.
If your email address is still unavailable
If more than 30 days have passed, make sure the original account was deleted rather than deactivated. If it was deleted and you still cannot create a new account with the same email address, contact OpenAI Support.
If you need to verify a phone number
A phone number can verify the first API key for up to three accounts. Deleting an account does not reset that limit. For more information, see: Phone verification requirements.