How to Delete Your PayPal Account Through the Website or Mobile App

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All you need to know before closing the account & PayPal alternatives

Written by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: November 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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Closing a PayPal Account (Web Browser)

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Closing a PayPal Account (Mobile)

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Can you reopen a closed PayPal account?

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Alternatives to PayPal

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Q&A

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Tips

Do you need to close your PayPal account but aren’t sure where to find the option, whether online or in the app? We can help! Deleting your PayPal account is a simple process that’ll only take a few minutes, and in this article, we’ll outline how to do it step by step. Once your account is closed, you won’t be able to reopen it, so be sure to save any information you might need and take care of any scheduled or incomplete transactions first. Ready? Let’s get started!

Quick Steps

Go to https://www.paypal.com and log into your PayPal account.
Click on the Settings (gear-shaped) icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Navigate to the Account tab, then scroll down and select Close your account.
Review the Before you close your account... pop-up page.
Click the Close Account button to permanently delete your account.

Section 1 of 4:

Deleting a PayPal Account (Web Browser)

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1
Go to the PayPal website and log into your account. Then click on Log in in the window's upper-right corner and enter the email associated with your account and your password into the labeled fields. Click on Log In to access your account.^{[1]
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- You can use any web browser to close your PayPal account.
2
Withdraw all money in your PayPal account. Before you can close the account, you must verify it and transfer all remaining funds to your bank or a different PayPal account. Contact PayPal’s customer service if you need a check for the remaining balance instead.^{[2]
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- Consider making a copy of your PayPal transaction history before closing the account since your history will be deleted along with the account.
- To do this, navigate to Activity (on your account home page), then click the Download icon > All transactions > Download all.
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3
Pay off any remaining balances and cancel your recurring payments. Your account can’t be closed if there are unresolved issues, such as a dispute, pending transaction, or scheduled recurring payments. Resolve all outstanding balances you owe and any other potential account issues before attempting to delete the account.
- Remember: if you have any questions or need help resolving an issue, you can always contact PayPal’s customer service.
You'll find this gear icon in the upper-right corner of the window on your PayPal account homepage (the page that opens when you log in).^{[3]
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The Account tab is in the menu that runs horizontally across the top of your window, next to SECURITY, PAYMENTS, and NOTIFICATIONS. Scroll down, and you’ll find the Close your account button under the "Account options" section.
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Review the "Before you close your account..." page. When you select "Close your account," a new pop-up page will appear, explaining that PayPal will send all final docs related to your account to the email address set as your primary email. If you need to change your primary email, you can go back and do it on the ACCOUNT tab.^{[4]
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- You can also contact PayPal's customer service from this page if you have any questions or ask PayPal to delete your account data. There are links for both on the page.
- You may also be prompted to enter your bank account number if you have an attached account. However, if you don't see this prompt, you can proceed with the next step as usual.
At the bottom of the pop-up page, you'll see a Close Account button; when you're ready, click on it. From there, your PayPal account will be closed, and you'll get an email confirmation of the action. Congratulations! You’ve successfully deleted your PayPal account.^{[5]
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Section 2 of 4:

Deleting a PayPal Account (Mobile App)

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Download and log into the PayPal mobile app. Download the PayPal app on your mobile device if you haven't already. Open the app, enter the email address and password associated with your account as prompted, then tap Log in.
You'll be taken to your account homepage in the app when you log in. Look at the top-left corner of the screen, and you should see a circular icon featuring the profile photo associated with your account; click on it to proceed.
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Scroll down and select the Close your account option. Your profile page will show your name, photo, and a list of options (like Account info, Login and security, and so on). Scroll until you see Close your account and tap on it. Then, when prompted on the page that opens, select Close account to finalize the action.^{[6]
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- Remember you’ll still need to clear any outstanding payments, remaining balances, or account issues before closing your PayPal account through the mobile app!

Section 3 of 4:

Can you reopen a closed PayPal account?

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No, deactivated PayPal accounts are permanently deleted. That’s why saving any records you might need later is so important; otherwise, consider leaving the account open if you know you’ll need it in the future. Once it’s gone, you can’t reopen it. You’ll need to make an entirely new account to use PayPal once your old account is deleted.^{[7]
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- Closing your PayPal account won’t cancel any subscriptions or recurring payments to third parties, so sort them out before closing your account.

Section 4 of 4:

Alternatives to PayPal

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Explore other payment apps if you decide to leave PayPal. Do you still need a platform you can use to send or receive money after closing out your PayPal account? There are several notable and popular alternatives, so weigh your options and pick the one that best fits your needs:
- Venmo. Venmo is a popular, widespread payment app that allows you to send or receive money via bank account, credit card, or Venmo account balance.
- Cash App. Cash App is another popular payment app that can send or receive money via bank account, credit card, or account balance. It also offers savings opportunities from different vendors.
- Zelle. Zelle is a payment app compatible with many banks and credit unions, and it’s known for its quick transfer times, although it only works domestically (not internationally).
- Stripe. Stripe is a commonly used payment platform for businesses; its pricing is competitive and very customizable.
- Square. Square is an excellent platform for small businesses because it offers competitive, transparent pricing and a free version with many options.
- Skrill. Skrill is another platform for businesses that offers competitive pricing and service in over 200 countries.
- Wise. Wise can send and receive money internationally, with low exchange rates and maintenance fees.

Community Q&A

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Question

Is it possible to close an account and then start a new account with the same email address?

Community Answer

Yes, you can reuse your e-mail address that you have used on a previously closed Paypal account.

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My email address shows when I log in. How do I stop this from happening?

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Eliminate your cache and cookies. Select "Tools" or "Preferences" from your web browser's drop-down menu, and look for a tab or section with the name "privacy." There should be an option called "clear all history/cookies/cache." Click on that, and you should be given an option to pick what you want to delete (cache, cookies, history, etc.) and from where (the very beginning, a month ago, a week ago, etc.).

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Can I cancel my Paypal account over the phone?

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Yes. Just call Customer Service and they can help you step by step in closing your account.

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Tips

If you want to delete your PayPal transaction history, unfortunately, there's no way to do so without deleting the account. However, if you decide to delete the account, your history will also automatically be deleted.

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Logging into your PayPal account is mandatory if you want to close the account permanently (for security reasons).

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If you want to cancel a subscription payment on PayPal rather than the whole account, see:
- Cancel a PayPal Subscription
- Cancel a Recurring Payment in PayPal
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