How to Delete a Telegram Account

So, you have decided to part ways with the Telegram app. Okay, but how are you gonna do it? Deleting your Telegram account isn’t as easy as you might think. Though the app is loved and used by many, the app surely comes with several controversies that make it not the first app when thinking of choosing a messaging application.   

Despite its claims of a privacy-first approach, the Telegram app lacks certain nuances that make it a fully secure application. This is one of the major reasons why users choose to opt for their competitor apps like WhatsApp or Signal. 

So, whether you want to shift to another app for these kinds of reasons or want to detox from the messaging game altogether, knowing how to effectively delete your Telegram account is critical to keeping your data safe and your chat secure. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of deleting a Telegram account from Android, iOS, and PC/Desktop platforms, as well as explain how to export your data before bidding farewell to the app.

Overview of Telegram

Starting from the top, Telegram was launched in 2013 by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai. Since then, the app has become a frontrunner in the messaging app industry. With over 700 million monthly active users in 2023, according to Bankmycell, the app continues to grow in popularity. 

Telegram offers a wide range of services, including group chats, channels, file sharing, and voice calls. However, circumstances might arise when a user decides to delete a Telegram account permanently. The app generates revenue through its optional subscription-based service, Telegram Plus, and occasional crowdfunding campaigns.

How to Export Data Before Deleting the Telegram Account

Telegram doesn’t let you freeze your account or delete Telegram temporarily. So, if you want to export data from your account, you have to do it before actually deleting your account. Moreover, before bidding adieu to Telegram, it might make sense to export your data for safekeeping. Here’s how you can do it:

• Download the Telegram app into your PC/Mac and sign in.
• Tap on the 3-line icon and go to Settings.
• Click on Advanced and scroll down until you find the Export Telegram Data option on your screen. 
• Tap on that section and choose the type of data you would like to export.
• Then, select the chats you wish to extract and choose whether you want to include media files in the export.
• Choose a storage location and tap “Export.”
• The app will then export your data. However, it might take a few minutes, depending on the size of the file.

How to Delete Telegram Account from Android

First, let’s talk about Android users. In Android, Telegram will not allow you to just willy-nilly delete your account instantly. Instead, it follows a clever approach that can delay or might even discourage the user from deleting the telegram account from Android. Here, you can set an away limit to delete your account. This means that if the user does not use the Telegram app for a specific period of time, the app will deactivate your account permanently. 

Here, we explained how to delete a Telegram account permanently on Android in a few simple steps:

• Firstly, you will need to open the Telegram app and go to Settings by clicking on the dropdown button.

• In the settings section, Tap on “Privacy and Security” to reach the next window

• Then, scroll down toward the bottom and locate the “Delete My Account.”
• There, you will see an “if away for” section;  click on it.

• Select the desired time after which you wish you would like Telegram to automatically delete your account.

• That’s it! If the user does not use the Telegram app for the selected period, then the Telegram account will be deleted automatically. 

Also Read - How to Delete a Snapchat Account

How to Delete Your Telegram Account from iOS

The steps required to remove the Telegram account from iOS platforms are a little different from the Android version. Unlike Android, where you can’t instantly delete your account, deleting a telegram account in iOS in real-time is possible. The iOS version allows its users to deactivate Telegram instantly. 

For iOS users, the process to deactivate Telegram is as follows:

• Firstly, launch the Telegram app on your iOS device.
• Tap on the 3-line dropdown and go to Settings by tapping the gear icon in the bottom right corner.
• Then, select “Privacy and Security”.
• Scroll down to locate the “Delete My Account” section.

• Tap on the “If away for” section and click on “Delete account now.”

• Then, you will see a follow-up screen. Tap on continue to proceed.

• Enter your registered phone number and click on continue.

• Finally, click on “Delete my account” to remove the Telegram account instantly. 

How to Delete Telegram Account from a PC/Desktop

Telegram also offers you an option to delete Telegram account permanently via any web browser. If you primarily use Telegram on your PC/Desktop, here’s how you can delete your account:

• Open any preferred web browser and go to the Telegram Deactivation Page.

• Enter your phone number associated with the Telegram account and tap on the “Next” button.

Note: Remember to put the country code before putting your phone number.

• You will receive a confirmation code on your phone.
• Enter the code on the website and click on the “sign-in” button.

• On the following page, click on the delete account button. 

• Then, enter your reason for leaving and click on “Delete my account.”
• Finally, Telegram will once again ask you if you’re sure that you want to delete Telegram. Click on “Yes, delete my account.” 
• Voila! You have successfully deactivated Telegram.

Conclusion

To sum up, deleting your Telegram account is a pretty straightforward process, although the inability to delete the account instantly on Android devices sure makes things a little bit tricker. But besides that, ensuring your data and privacy are secure is the topmost priority, and that is the thing that Telegram does right.

By following these steps, you can bid farewell to the app while safeguarding your personal information.

We hope that this article will help you safely exit from the Telegram application across all platforms. Mobileappdaily is always striving to bring you the latest IT updates and lists of the best IT companies. If you also own or are part of an IT or digital marketing company, you can list your product and elevate your business growth with high-quality leads.