How to Permanently Delete a Mastodon Account

If you want to remove your presence from a Mastodon instance entirely, simply logging out or leaving the server empty does not erase your data. Your posts, profile, and media remain stored on the server unless you initiate a formal deletion process. This article explains how to permanently delete a Mastodon account from any instance, what happens to your data after deletion, and the important differences between deletion and other account actions.

Understanding Mastodon Account Deletion

Deleting a Mastodon account is a one-way action that removes your profile, posts, media, follows, and all associated data from the instance where your account is hosted. Unlike muting or blocking, deletion cannot be reversed. The process is handled by the instance administrator’s software, and the actual removal happens immediately after you confirm the action. However, due to the federated nature of Mastodon, copies of your public posts may remain visible on other servers for up to 30 days until the deletion request propagates through the network.

Before you delete, consider whether you want to migrate your followers to a new account instead. Mastodon offers a built-in migration tool that transfers your followers and follows to a different account without losing your community. Deletion is final and does not preserve any connection to your followers.

You must have access to the email address associated with your account. The deletion process sends a confirmation link to that email. If you have lost access to the email, contact your instance administrator directly for manual deletion.

Steps to Permanently Delete Your Mastodon Account

1. Log in to your Mastodon account
   Open your instance URL (for example, mastodon.social) in a web browser. Enter your email and password to sign in. Do not use a third-party app for this process; the deletion option is only available in the web interface.
2. Open Preferences
   Click the gear icon in the right sidebar or the hamburger menu on mobile. Select Preferences from the dropdown menu.
3. Navigate to Account settings
   In the left sidebar under Administration or Account, click Account. This opens your account settings page.
4. Scroll to the Delete account section
   Scroll down to the bottom of the Account settings page. You will see a red section labeled Delete account with a warning about permanent data loss.
5. Enter your password and confirm
   Type your current password into the text field. Click the red Delete account button. A confirmation dialog appears asking if you are sure. Read the warning carefully, then click Yes, delete my account.
6. Check your email for the confirmation link
   Mastodon sends a confirmation email to the address on file. Open that email and click the link that says Confirm account deletion. If you do not see the email, check your spam folder. The link expires after a few hours.
7. Wait for the 30-day redirection period
   After you confirm, your profile displays a message stating that the account is scheduled for deletion. Other users who visit your profile will see this notice. After 30 days, the username becomes available for registration again.

Common Issues with Mastodon Account Deletion

I clicked Delete account but nothing happened

This usually means the confirmation email was not sent or was blocked. Check your spam folder. If the email still does not arrive, add your instance’s email domain to your contacts list and try again. If that fails, contact your instance administrator and ask them to manually delete the account.

I deleted my account but my posts still appear on other servers

This is normal due to federation. When you delete your account, your instance sends a deletion request to all federated servers. Those servers process the request asynchronously, and it can take up to 30 days for all copies to be removed. If a particular server refuses to honor the deletion request, you can contact that server’s administrator directly.

I want to delete my account but I forgot my password

Use the Forgot password link on the login page to reset your password. Once you regain access, follow the deletion steps above. If you cannot reset the password because you lost access to your email, contact your instance administrator for manual deletion.

Can I delete my account from a third-party Mastodon app?

No. The account deletion option is only available through the web interface of your instance. Open a web browser, log in, and follow the steps above. Third-party apps like Tusky or Mastodon for iOS do not include the delete account function.

Mastodon Account Deletion vs Migration vs Deactivation

Item	Deletion	Migration	Deactivation
Data removal	All data removed from instance after 30 days	Original account kept but redirected	Account hidden but data remains
Follower transfer	Not possible	Followers moved to new account	Not possible
Username availability	Becomes available after 30 days	Username remains reserved	Username remains reserved
Reversibility	Not reversible	Partially reversible before final redirect	Reversible by logging in

Permanently deleting a Mastodon account removes your profile, posts, media, and follows from your home instance within 30 days. The process requires access to your email and your password. If you want to keep your community but move to a different server, use the migration tool instead. Before you delete, ensure you have exported your data archive from Preferences > Import and export > Request your archive if you want a backup of your posts.