Prepare to delete an online account
Check data to retain, subscriptions and connections before following a service’s closure procedure.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
An account can store memories, administer a page or provide sign-in to another service. Prepare its deletion carefully. This guide identifies checks; read current service help for conditions and timing.
Confirm account access, inventory useful data and responsibilities, and read the distinction between deactivation and deletion. Address subscriptions and useful connections separately. Follow the official procedure and keep confirmation without assuming every external copy disappears.
Examples to adapt
Fictional example: a personal account administers an association’s page. Transfer that role through the service before deleting the account.
Fictional example: an archive lacks expected files. Check before closure while you can correct the request.
Follow the method
- 1Identify dependencies
Record administered pages, associated accounts and sign-in to other services. Transfer team responsibilities before closure using the service’s process rather than sharing passwords.
- 2Keep useful material
Use a suitable offered export. Check the received file is readable and contains the required items. Store it privately; export does not guarantee future restoration.
- 3Read procedure effects
Distinguish temporary hiding, account closure and data-erasure requests. Review subscriptions and purchases separately because billing help may require another action. Record conditions displayed when deciding.
- 4Follow up and retain evidence
Use the official procedure after preparation. Keep date, reference and confirmation. For data remaining elsewhere, identify its controller and relevant process instead of repeating the first account’s closure.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record your observations. They are a reading aid, not an automatic assessment.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Account and recovery | Verify sign-in |
| Dependencies | Roles and connected services | Prepare continuity |
| Archive | Useful data and readable file | Check export |
| Closure | Effects and confirmation | Keep evidence |
Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.
What to check
Verify an export before it becomes your only copy.
Distinguish deletion from cancellation of paid services.
Retain necessary data and protect the archive.
Common questions
Are deactivation and deletion identical?
Read help; their effects on visibility and access may differ.
Does deletion remove every copy?
It does not guarantee removal of copies held by other people or services.
What if I cannot access the account?
Start with official recovery. CNIL notes the need to establish the link between your identity and the account.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.
Reference record for this resource
Identify the publisher, official destination and practical checks before using the service.
Read the CNIL record →