Request and download your X archive before you deactivate the account. In X, go to Settings and privacy → Account → Data and permissions → Your X data, verify your identity, and choose Request data under Download your data. X sends an email or app notification when the ZIP archive is ready; download it while signed in to the same account. Only after you have a usable copy should you choose Your account → Deactivate your account. Deactivation starts a 30-day recovery period, and subscriptions purchased inside the X app may continue until you cancel them through their original purchase channel.
What happens when you leave X
X treats deactivation as the first step toward permanent deletion, not as an instant erasure. After you confirm deactivation, the account remains recoverable for up to 30 days. Logging in during that period can reactivate it. If you do not log in for 30 days, X says the account is deleted and the username is no longer associated with it.
That timing makes the order of operations important: request the archive, wait for it, download and open the ZIP, then deactivate. If you deactivate first, you may lose the practical ability to complete the archive workflow while the account is accessible.
Think of the process as two separate decisions. First, preserve the information you want to keep. Second, start the account’s deletion countdown. Finishing the first decision does not deactivate the account, so you can inspect the files and resolve billing or access problems before beginning the 30-day period.
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Before you start: access and account checks
- Sign-in access: You need to sign in to the X account to request the archive and later to download it.
- Identity-verification access: X sends a verification code to the email address and/or phone number on the account. Make sure you can receive that code.
- Confirmed email: X advises confirming the email address before requesting the archive. Check that address for the completion message.
- Time to wait: X says preparation may take a few days and does not promise a precise turnaround.
- Subscription review: Identify whether each paid subscription was purchased in the X app or on X.com before deactivating.
If you cannot access the confirmed email or verified phone number, the archive and deactivation processes can be blocked. Resolve that access problem while the account is still active rather than assuming deactivation will remove the verification requirement.
Do not schedule deactivation simply because you submitted a request. A request is not the same as a completed export. Wait for the ready message, download the file, extract it and open Your archive before you proceed.
How to request your X archive
- Sign in to X. Use the account whose data you want to preserve.
- Open Settings and privacy. On a desktop browser this is in the account navigation; in the mobile apps, open the account menu first. Labels can vary by platform version.
- Open Account.
- Choose Data and permissions.
- Open Your X data. X may ask you to verify your identity before showing the download controls.
- Complete verification. Enter the code sent to the email address and/or phone number on file. If neither is on file, X notes that you may be redirected to Account information.
- Find Download your data. Select Request data next to X.
- Wait for the ready notification. X says it will notify you by email or in the app when the archive is prepared. The stated preparation time is a few days, not a guaranteed number of hours or days.
The exact screen arrangement may differ between iOS, Android and desktop versions. Follow the labels in the version you are using; the route remains the same in substance: account settings, data permissions, Your X data, identity verification and Request data.
If a menu item is not where you expect it, use the account settings search or return to the main account menu rather than choosing a similarly named privacy option. The important destination is Your X data, followed by Download your data. Keep the account signed in until you have submitted the request successfully.
How to download the archive safely
- Open the completion email or app notification. Use the same X account that made the request.
- Sign in if prompted. X instructs you to download the archive while logged in.
- Start the download. The archive is delivered as a ZIP file.
- Save the original ZIP. Put it somewhere you control, such as a local folder or other storage you trust. Do not rely on a temporary browser-download location as your only copy.
- Check that the file opens. Use your operating system’s built-in ZIP utility or another trusted archive tool. If it will not open, download it again while still signed in and keep the first copy until the replacement is verified.
- Keep a second copy if the material matters. A separate copy protects you from losing the only downloaded file. X does not state a universal archive size, so choose storage based on the actual ZIP size shown on your device.
The archive is machine-readable and contains HTML and JSON files. It also includes a browser-viewable file called Your archive, which can help you inspect the exported material without opening each data file individually.
Download the file to a device with enough free space for both the ZIP and an extracted copy. Because X does not publish a universal archive size, check the size shown by your browser or file manager before copying it elsewhere. If you use external storage, treat it as optional: X does not require a separate drive, and the appropriate capacity depends on the archive you actually receive.
Keep the ready notification until you have confirmed the download. It gives you a way back to the download flow if the first transfer is interrupted. Do not delete the ZIP merely because the browser-viewable page opens; the ZIP is the untouched original and may be useful if an extracted file is moved or damaged.
What your X archive may contain
X describes the archive as a snapshot of account data rather than a promise that every listed category will appear for every account. The categories below are the ones X identifies in its archive and data-access documentation.
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| Category | What X says it may include |
|---|---|
| Profile information | Information associated with your X profile. |
| Posts | Your posts and related account activity represented in the export. |
| Direct Messages | Messages associated with the account, subject to X’s retention and deletion behavior described below. |
| Moments | Moments data where applicable. |
| Media | Media attached to posts, Direct Messages and Moments. |
| Follower and following lists | Your social-graph lists at the time represented by the snapshot. |
| Address book | Address-book data held by X for the account, where applicable. |
| Lists | Lists associated with the account. |
| Inferred interests and demographic information | Inferences X associates with the account; these are not necessarily details you entered yourself. |
| Ads seen or engaged with | Information about advertising that X records as seen or engaged with. |
Because X describes examples and categories rather than a universal inventory, do not assume that an absent category proves the data never existed. Conversely, do not assume that every account receives every category. The archive’s HTML and JSON files, together with Your archive, are the authoritative contents of the download you receive.
The export is a record of what X makes available in that snapshot, not a guarantee that it reproduces every screen or interaction exactly as you remember it. For example, inferred interests and demographic information are platform inferences, while profile details are information associated with the account. Read those categories differently when deciding what to retain or share.
Media is listed in relation to posts, Direct Messages and Moments. If a particular item is important, check the relevant folders or links in the extracted archive rather than assuming that a category heading means every historical attachment is present. The official description does not promise a fixed file count, date range or archive size.
Inspecting and preserving the downloaded files
Open the browser-viewable overview first
After extracting the ZIP, locate Your archive and open it in a browser. It provides a human-readable way to navigate the export. The JSON files are useful when you need machine-readable records or want to process data with software, while the HTML presentation is easier for a person to browse.
Keep the ZIP and the extracted folder
The ZIP is your untouched original; the extracted folder is your working copy. Retaining both lets you start over if a file is accidentally moved or changed. Preserve the folder structure when copying it, because links or references in the browser-viewable archive may depend on the files remaining together.
Protect sensitive material
An archive can contain private messages, contact information, media and inferred or advertising-related data. Store it where other people using the device cannot casually open it, and avoid uploading it to an unfamiliar service. If you share selected records, copy only those files rather than distributing the complete ZIP.
Use a clear filename and note the date you downloaded it so you can distinguish the original export from later copies. If you are preserving records for an administrative or legal purpose, keep the original ZIP unchanged and make any redactions or excerpts from a duplicate.
How to deactivate your X account after downloading
- Confirm your archive is usable. Open Your archive, check that the ZIP extracted successfully and make sure the copy is stored where you intend to keep it.
- Return to your account settings. While signed in, open Your account.
- Select Deactivate your account.
- Read the confirmation information. It explains the recovery period and any account consequences shown for your account.
- Confirm deactivation. Enter your password if X requests it and complete the confirmation flow.
Deactivation is not the same as immediate permanent deletion. X says the account can be restored for up to 30 days after deactivation: logging in during that window reactivates it. If there is no login for 30 days, X says the account is deleted and the username is no longer associated with it.
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Once you confirm, avoid logging in just to look around if your intention is permanent deletion. A login during the recovery period can reactivate the account. If you change your mind, deliberately sign in before the 30 days expire and confirm that the account has been restored.
What happens to Direct Messages and account records
X says sent Direct Messages are not deleted during the 30-day deactivation period. They are deleted when that period ends and the account is deleted. X’s data-access information also says that once the account is permanently deactivated, account information is no longer available in its Production Tools. If you need a record for personal, legal or administrative reasons, make sure it is in your downloaded archive before allowing the 30-day period to expire.
This is another reason to verify the archive before deactivation. The recovery window is not a substitute for a successful download: it is a period in which logging in can restore the account, not a promise that every account function or export option will remain available in the same way.
Subscriptions: check where you paid
Deactivating an account does not automatically cancel every paid subscription. The result depends on the original purchase channel.
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|---|---|---|
| Inside the X app | Subscriptions purchased through the app, including examples such as X Premium and Super Follows, remain active. | Manage or cancel them through the platform where you originally subscribed. |
| X.com | Subscriptions purchased on X.com automatically cancel after deactivation. | Confirm the purchase channel and retain any billing records you need before deactivating. |
When you are unsure, check the original receipt or the subscription-management screen for the platform that processed payment. Do not assume that deleting the app, signing out or deactivating the account has canceled an in-app subscription.
Check every paid feature separately. X’s examples include X Premium and Super Follows, but the key distinction is where the purchase was made. Cancel an in-app subscription through the relevant app platform before deactivation if you do not want it to remain active.
Troubleshooting the archive request
The archive is still pending
Check the confirmed email inbox, including filtered or junk folders, and check notifications in the X app. Allow the stated preparation time of a few days. X does not provide a universal guaranteed completion time, so a delay by itself does not establish that the request failed.
Stay signed in to the correct account when you follow the notification. If you manage more than one X account, verify the account name before starting the download so you do not save a different account’s archive by mistake.
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The verification code does not arrive
Confirm that you are checking the email address and phone number attached to the account, then request the code again from the verification screen. If neither contact method is available, X may redirect you to Account information or prevent completion until account access is restored.
X rejects the password during deactivation
X’s deactivation help guidance recommends requesting a password reset. Complete the reset, sign in with the new password and repeat the deactivation path. Keep the archive request and downloaded ZIP intact while you resolve the password issue.
You lost access to the confirmed email and verified phone
X says it may be unable to deactivate the account on your behalf when you have lost access to both the confirmed email and verified phone number. Try to recover one of those account-recovery methods first. Do not presume that simply waiting 30 days will substitute for identity verification.
The account reactivates unexpectedly
If the account appears to reactivate without you logging in, X says it may have been compromised. Secure the account, change the password, review connected apps, and then start the deactivation process again. Check that the archive remains safely stored before confirming the second deactivation.
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Keep the original download, check that it finished completely and try downloading it again from the ready notification while logged in. Compare the replacement with the first file only after the replacement opens. Do not delete the first copy until you have a readable archive.
The menus look different
X presents platform-specific instructions, so iOS, Android and desktop screens may not match. Look for the same sequence of account, data permissions and Your X data. If the labels differ, use the version-specific help instructions and confirm that the final action is Request data under Download your data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical leave-X checklist
- Sign in and confirm access to the account.
- Confirm the email address and verify that you can receive the identity code by email and/or phone.
- Open Settings and privacy → Account → Data and permissions → Your X data.
- Complete identity verification and select Request data under Download your data.
- Wait for X’s email or app notification; preparation may take a few days.
- Download the ZIP while logged in to the same account.
- Open Your archive, retain the original ZIP and make a second copy if needed.
- Review where each paid subscription was purchased and cancel in-app subscriptions through their original platform.
- Use Your account → Deactivate your account only after the archive is usable.
- If you change your mind, log in within 30 days to reactivate the account.
Questions to resolve before the 30-day window ends
Use the recovery period deliberately. If you log in, X can reactivate the account, so avoid signing in merely to inspect a file after you have confirmed the archive is complete. If you do need to recover the account, log in before 30 days have passed. After that period without a login, X says permanent deletion occurs, the username is no longer associated with the account, sent Direct Messages are deleted, and account information is no longer available in its Production Tools.
Before the window closes, confirm that you have the files you actually need, that any second copy can be opened, and that billing is handled through the correct purchase channel. Do not treat the absence of a category in the export as proof that the information never existed, and do not assume X publishes a fixed archive size or completion deadline.
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The safest sequence is therefore straightforward: request, wait, download, verify, preserve, review subscriptions, and only then deactivate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I download my X data before deleting my account?
While signed in, open Settings and privacy → Account → Data and permissions → Your X data. Complete the identity check, select Request data under Download your data, wait for X’s email or app notification, then download the ZIP while signed in to the same account. Do this before deactivation.
Can I download my tweets before deleting my X account?
Yes. Request the archive while the account is active. X says the export may include posts, Direct Messages, media, follower and following lists, Lists, profile information and other categories. The archive is delivered as HTML and JSON files in a ZIP.
How long does X take to prepare an archive?
X says preparation may take a few days. It does not promise a precise or universal turnaround, so check the confirmed email inbox and X app notifications while you wait.
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What is the 30-day X reactivation period?
Deactivation lasts 30 days. Logging in during that period can reactivate the account. If you do not log in for 30 days, X says the account is deleted and the username is no longer associated with it.
Will deactivating X cancel my subscription?
Not every subscription. Purchases made inside the X app, including examples such as X Premium and Super Follows, remain active and must be managed through the original platform. Subscriptions purchased on X.com automatically cancel after deactivation.
What if I cannot receive the verification code?
Check the confirmed email and verified phone number on the account. If you have lost access to both, X may be unable to complete the process or deactivate the account on your behalf. Recover one of those methods first.
What should I do if my X account reactivates by itself?
X says unexpected reactivation may indicate compromise. Secure the account, change the password, review connected apps and then repeat the deactivation process after confirming that your archive is safely stored.
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Does the archive include every piece of data from my account?
Not necessarily. X lists categories and examples but does not guarantee that every category appears for every account, nor does it state a universal archive size. Treat the files you receive as the authoritative contents of that export.
The Bottom Line
Request the archive first, verify your identity, download and open the ZIP while signed in, preserve the original and review subscriptions. Then deactivate through Your account → Deactivate your account, remembering that logging in within 30 days can restore the account.
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