Overview
Deleting your ChatGPT account is permanent. Review the available deletion options and any subscription or account consequences before continuing.
Consider other options before deleting your account
Account deletion is permanent. If you only want to stop paying, change your email address, change how you sign in, or remove a conversation, you may be able to do that without deleting your account.
To stop paying, see: Canceling your ChatGPT subscription.
To change your email address or review sign-in options, see: How to change your email address.
To remove a conversation, see: Deleting and archiving chats in ChatGPT.
To review available memory controls, see: Memory in ChatGPT.
Understand what happens when you delete your account
Deleting your account will prevent you from using the account to access OpenAI services, including ChatGPT and API. If you delete your account, we will delete your data within 30 days, except we may retain a limited set of data for longer where required or permitted by law.
Before deleting your account, check any subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play. Deleting your account does not cancel an Apple subscription. Cancel any mobile subscription you no longer want before deleting your account. For instructions, see: Canceling your ChatGPT subscription.
Check your Ads account before deletion
If the email address for your OpenAI account is also used to access an Ads account, deleting your OpenAI account may prevent you from accessing or managing that Ads account. Deleting your OpenAI account may not pause or cancel active ad campaigns, which could continue serving and accruing charges.
Before deleting your account:
Pause or end any active campaigns in Ads Manager.
Make sure another authorized user with the appropriate permissions can access the Ads account.
If you are the only person with access, contact Support before deleting your OpenAI account.
If you only want to cancel your ChatGPT subscription, see: Canceling your ChatGPT subscription. Deleting your account cancels subscriptions billed directly by ChatGPT. Before deleting your account, check and cancel any Apple App Store or Google Play subscription you no longer want.
Delete your OpenAI account
Delete your account directly in ChatGPT. If you cannot sign in, use the Privacy Portal to submit a verified deletion request.
Self-service account deletion is not available in ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, or ChatGPT for Healthcare workspaces. Contact your organization for help with a managed account.
Delete your account in ChatGPT
ChatGPT on web
Open your account menu and select Settings.
Select Account.
Next to Delete account, select Delete.
Enter your account email or phone number and type DELETE when prompted.
Select Permanently delete my account.
Mobile apps (iOS and Android)
For device-specific instructions, see:
Delete your account through the Privacy Portal
If you cannot sign in to ChatGPT, submit a deletion request through the Privacy Portal:
Go to the Privacy Portal.
Select Make a Privacy Request.
Select I have a consumer ChatGPT account.
Select Delete my ChatGPT account, then follow the verification steps.
You must be able to verify the email address or phone number already linked to your account. If you cannot access either, or a deactivated phone-only account cannot complete verification, contact OpenAI Support for an ownership review.
Understand what happens to your data
Deleted and archived chats
Deleted chats are permanently removed from OpenAI systems within 30 days, unless they were already de-identified and disassociated from your account or must be retained for security or legal reasons.
You cannot recover a deleted chat. To remove a conversation from your sidebar without deleting it, archive it instead.
Archived chats follow the same retention rules as other saved chats. You can manage archived chats in Settings.
For more information, see: Deleting and archiving chats in ChatGPT.
Memory deletion
Memory controls depend on your account and the version of memory available to you. To review the controls available for your account, open Settings and select Personalization. For more information, see: Memory in ChatGPT.
Model improvement and business data
For personal ChatGPT accounts, eligible content may be used to improve OpenAI models, depending on your settings. For more information, see: How your data is used to improve model performance.
By default, OpenAI does not use content from ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, or ChatGPT for Healthcare workspaces or the API Platform to train its models. For more information, see: Enterprise privacy.
FAQ
Can I reuse my email address after deleting my account?
Yes. You can create a new account using the same email address after 30 days, provided the prior account was fully deleted (not deactivated).
Can I reactivate my account after it's been deleted?
No. Deleted accounts cannot be reactivated, but you can create a new account with the same email address after 30 days.
To create a new account, select Sign up on the ChatGPT or API Platform sign-in page. Keep these limits in mind:
Email addresses: You can use the same email address after 30 days.
Phone numbers: A phone number can verify the first API key for up to three accounts. Deleting an account does not reset that API verification limit, even if the number can be reused for a new ChatGPT account after 30 days.
Phone verification is not required to create an OpenAI account.
Phone verification is required for a new account to generate their first API key on platform.openai.com.
Note: We do not permit reactivating email addresses that were previously associated with an Enterprise organization, or were disabled for a violation of our terms or policies.
Can I still use ChatGPT without logging in?
Yes. To save a conversation, sign in or create an account. When you are signed out, ChatGPT supports one conversation at a time. For more information, see: The ChatGPT home page.
How many times can I use my phone number for API verification?
Phone verification is required when generating your first API key, not when creating a ChatGPT account.
A phone number can verify the first API key for up to three accounts.
Deleting an account does not reset that API verification limit.
With some exceptions, we do allow consumers who have deleted their ChatGPT account to re-register using the same phone number. If you have permanently deleted your ChatGPT consumer account (and your account was not disabled for a violation of our terms or policies), we will remove the phone number from our system after 30 days. Once that happens, you may sign up again with the same number.
For more information, see: Phone verification requirements.
Can I change my authentication method after account deletion?
Deleting your account does not let you change your sign-in method.
If you originally signed up with Google, Apple, or Microsoft, you may be able to add a password without deleting your account.
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.
Why do I get the error, "You do not have an account because it has been deleted or deactivated"?
This error means the account associated with your email address was deleted or deactivated.
If you deleted the account yourself, it cannot be restored. If you did not delete it, 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?
For more information, see: Creating a new ChatGPT account after deletion.