Delete Twitter X Account on iPhone 2026 — 6 Steps to Deactivate Temporarily or Permanently With the 30-Day Rule Explained

Temporary or Permanent Deletion — What's the Difference?

Before proceeding to delete your Twitter X account you need to understand one important rule that controls your account's fate: the 30-day rule.

Temporary Deletion (Deactivation): If you want to rest your mind from Twitter for a period while keeping your account and data, you can deactivate the account and return to it anytime within 30 days simply by logging in with your username, email, or phone number. You'll find everything as you left it — followers, tweets, and messages.

Permanent Deletion: If you want to leave Twitter X forever with no return, you apply the same deactivation steps — but the difference is that you don't log into the account again after deactivation. When 30 days pass without logging in, the account is permanently deleted from Twitter's servers and cannot be recovered.

Important warning: If you return and log in after deactivation the 30-day counter resets from zero. This means every login extends the period and delays permanent deletion.

What to Do Before Deleting the Account

If you want permanent deletion and plan to create a new account later with a different username there's no problem. But if you want to use the same username (Handle) in a new account in the future, you must change the username on the account being deleted before deactivating. After permanent deletion the same username or email cannot be used for any new account.

Steps to Delete Twitter X Account on iPhone

Step 1 — Open the Side Menu

Open the Twitter X app on your device. Tap your profile picture at the top left of the screen to open the side menu.

Step 2 — Go to Settings and Privacy

From the side menu tap "Settings and Privacy."

Step 3 — Enter Your Account Section

From the Settings page tap "Your Account" at the top of the list.

Step 4 — Select Deactivate Account

On your account page you'll find a list of options. Tap "Deactivate your account" at the lower part of the page.

Step 5 — Read the Warnings and Confirm

A page will appear explaining the consequences and terms of deactivation. Read the information then tap the "Deactivate" button at the bottom of the page.

Step 6 — Enter Your Password

To confirm your identity your account password will be requested. Enter it then tap "Deactivate" again. After a moment a confirmation appears that your account has been deactivated. The account is now deactivated and the 30-day counter has started.

What Happens After Account Deactivation?

During the 30-day period Twitter gradually begins hiding your profile from search results. After 30 days pass without logging in: the profile is permanently deleted, the username is erased, all your tweets, replies, and likes disappear from the platform, private conversations you had disappear, and the same username or email cannot be used for a new account.