Chess.com

How to Delete Your Chess.com Account

The exact steps, and the 10-day trap

Deleting is permanent, it takes ten days, and signing in during those ten days cancels the request. Closing an account is a different thing and can be undone. This page gives both paths, the steps on web and mobile, and what to save before you start.

The short answer

Sign in at chess.com/my-data, scroll to the Right To Be Forgotten section at the bottom of the page, enter your username and select Delete. The deletion completes after ten days, and it is permanent once it does. Do not sign in during those ten days, because signing in cancels the request.

Do this first

Three things are gone for good once the deletion completes, and Chess.com staff cannot bring them back either.

1.Download your games. Your archive goes with the account. Export it as PGN while you still can, so that you keep the games you want to study.
2.Cancel any paid membership. Deleting the account does not cancel a subscription that Google Play or the App Store is billing. Cancel it in the store that sold it.
3.Note your username. The deletion form asks you to type it exactly.

Delete on the web

1.Go to chess.com/my-data and sign in with your password.
2.Scroll to the bottom of the page, to the section named Right To Be Forgotten.
3.Enter your username and select Delete.

Delete on mobile

1.Tap More in the bottom menu, then Settings.
2.Select Account, then the option at the bottom of the screen.
3.Turn on Remove my data and read the disclaimer, then confirm.
4.Tap Delete Account to submit the request.

The 10-day window

The request is not immediate. Chess.com holds it for ten days, and during that period signing in to the account cancels the deletion and leaves the account exactly as it was. That is a safety net if you change your mind, and it is a trap if you forget: opening the app out of habit, or an app that is still signed in on an old phone, is enough to cancel the request.

After ten days without a sign-in, the deletion is permanent and cannot be undone by you or by Chess.com support. Sign out on every device before you start.

✓Prices and features checked on 28 August 2026. Sources: Chess.com support: how do I delete my account, Chess.com support: how do I close my account.

Close instead of delete

Closing and deleting are different actions, and most people who search for deletion actually want closing. Closing takes the account out of use but keeps the data, and it can be reversed. Deleting removes the account and its data for good. If you want a break, or you are angry after a losing streak, close it. You can come back to your games and your rating later.

Where to play next

If you are leaving over the free-tier limits, Lichess is free and open source with unlimited puzzles and analysis. The full comparison is on Lichess vs Chess.com, and the wider list is on Chess.com alternatives.

If you are leaving because a game takes too long, that is a different problem and a different fix. Zapp Chess starts every game in the middlegame and ends it on checkmate or a two-point material lead, so a game takes under three minutes.

Questions people ask

How do I delete my Chess.com account?

Sign in at chess.com/my-data, scroll to the Right To Be Forgotten section at the bottom, enter your username and select Delete. On mobile, open More, then Settings, then Account, turn on Remove my data and confirm.

How long does deletion take?

Ten days. During that period the request is still open, and signing in to the account cancels it. After ten days the deletion is permanent.

Can I get my account back after deleting it?

No. Once the ten days pass, the deletion is permanent and irreversible, and Chess.com staff cannot restore the account either.

What is the difference between closing and deleting?

Closing hides the account but keeps the data, and it can be reversed. Deleting removes the account and its data permanently. If you only want a break, close it instead.

Will my games disappear?

Your game archive goes with the account. Download your games as PGN before you start the deletion, because you cannot get them back afterwards.

Do I have to cancel my membership first?

Cancel any paid membership before you delete, so that the subscription does not keep billing through the store that sold it. Deleting the account does not cancel a Google Play or App Store subscription for you.

Steps and timings checked on 28 August 2026 against the Chess.com support articles on deleting and closing an account. This page is not affiliated with Chess.com.