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Home › Data › Accounts and data that are hard to delete
Data: What happens to your information · Tech & software

Accounts and data that are hard to delete: fair or not?

Creating an account usually takes a minute, but deleting it can mean hunting through menus, sending emails or calling, only to learn the account was merely deactivated. Even after you leave, some companies keep your data for years. Is it fair to make leaving so much harder than joining, and to hold on to your information after you go?

Is it fair for companies to make it hard to delete your account or to keep your data after you leave?

Be one of the first to vote.

What happens

Some apps and websites hide the delete option deep in settings, offer only deactivation, or tell you to email support. Others ask for extra steps, send you to a web page, or make you wait weeks. Logging in with a Google or Apple button can make it unclear which company holds your account at all.

After you delete, a company may keep some records, such as purchases, messages you sent to others, backups and data it says it needs for legal or security reasons. Some keep data indefinitely unless you live in a state with deletion rights and make a formal request. Deactivated accounts can also be restored, with your old data, when you log in again.

Why many people say it’s not fair

  • Joining is one click, while leaving can take many steps, emails or calls.
  • Deactivation is sometimes presented as deletion, so data quietly stays behind.
  • Old accounts you forgot about can be hacked and expose personal details.
  • Companies may keep data for years after you stop using the service.
  • Rights to deletion depend on which state you live in.
  • Paid subscriptions can keep billing even after you delete the app.

The other side

Companies say some steps protect you, such as confirming your identity so a hacker or prankster cannot delete your account. A waiting period lets people recover from accidental or rushed deletions.

They also say laws require them to keep certain records, such as tax, payment and fraud data, and that deleting data from backups takes time. Messages and posts shared with others may involve other people's accounts too.

Options you may not be told about

Apple requires apps on its App Store that let you create an account to also let you start deleting it inside the app, not just deactivate it. Look in the app's account settings.
On Google Play, apps that offer accounts must provide in-app deletion and a web page for deletion requests. Look in the Data safety section of the app's store listing.
Stopping Sign in with Apple only signs you out. Delete your account inside the app first, then remove it under Settings > your name > Sign in with Apple.
Californians and residents of other states with privacy laws can formally ask businesses to delete their personal information, subject to some legal exceptions.
If you pay through the App Store or Google Play, cancel the subscription there. Deleting an app or account may not stop the billing.

What you can do

  1. Cancel any paid subscription before deleting the account.
  2. Download any photos, files or records you want to keep.
  3. Look for Delete Account in the app's settings, and choose deletion over deactivation.
  4. If it is missing, email a deletion request and cite your state privacy rights if they apply.
  5. Save confirmations, and do not log back in during any waiting period.
  6. Report apps that refuse to the app store and the FTC or your state attorney general.

Rules and your rights

No federal law gives most adults a general right to delete their data. California's privacy law gives residents rights to know, delete and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, and several other states have similar laws, with exceptions such as records required by law. Apple's App Store rules require in-app account deletion for apps that allow account creation, and Google Play has similar rules. These are store policies, not laws. You can report problems to the FTC and your state attorney general.

Has this happened to you? Share what happened so others know what to expect.

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Related

Common questions

Why can't I find a delete account option in an app?

It may be under Settings, Account, Privacy or Profile. Apple and Google both require apps that let you create accounts to offer deletion. If you cannot find it, check the app's store listing or privacy policy for a deletion link, or contact the developer in writing.

Is deactivating an account the same as deleting it?

No. Deactivating usually hides your account while the company keeps your data, and logging back in can restore it. Deleting is meant to remove the account and its personal data, though some records may be kept for legal reasons. Apple says deactivation alone does not meet its deletion rule.

Does deleting an app cancel my subscription?

No. Removing an app from your phone does not cancel a subscription. Cancel it in your App Store or Google Play subscriptions, or with the company if you paid directly. Apple tells developers to remind users that billing continues until they cancel.

Sources: Apple Developer: Offering account deletion in your app (Guideline 5.1.1(v)) ↗ · Google Play Console Help: Understanding Google Play's app account deletion requirements ↗ · Apple Support: Manage your apps with Sign in with Apple ↗ · CalPrivacy: Making privacy easier for Californians (opt-out preference signals) ↗

General information, not legal, financial or real estate advice. Whether a practice is fair is a matter of opinion; votes and shared experiences are the views of site visitors, not AblePro, Inc. Rules and company policies change; check current terms and your state’s rules.