Thinking of how to delete chess com account? This step-by-step guide will show you how to easily and permanently delete your chess.com account and all of your data.
Chess.com is one of the most popular chess sites with over 30 million members. With so many users, sometimes you may want to delete your chess.com account permanently. Maybe you no longer have time to play online chess or want to take a break. Whatever the reason, deleting your account is easy but not obvious.
In this article, you’ll learn the step-by-step process to chess.com delete account. We’ll cover how to cancel your membership, delete all your data, and make sure your account is gone for good. Follow these simple steps and you can permanently delete your chess.com account in just a few minutes.
Why Would You Want to Delete To Delete Chess com Account?
Here are some of the top reasons you may want to delete your chess.com account:
- You don’t have time to play online chess anymore
- You want to take a break from the site
- You’re concerned about privacy and want to delete your data
- You had a bad experience and no longer wish to use the site
- You want to create a new account with a different username
- You feel you spend too much time playing chess online
Whatever the reason, deleting your account is easy to do when you follow the right steps. Just be aware that once your account is deleted, it is gone forever along with all your data. So make sure you really want to delete your account before going through the process.
How to Permanently Delete Your Chess.Com Account
Follow these 10 simple steps to easily delete your chess.com account:
1. Log Into Your Chess.com Account
First, log into your chess.com account on the website. You’ll need to access your account settings to delete it.
2. Go to Account Settings
Once logged in, click on your username in the top right. In the dropdown menu, select “Settings”.
3. Scroll Down and Click “Delete Account”
In Account Settings, scroll down to the bottom and click the red “Delete Account” button.
4. Confirm Account Deletion
A popup will appear asking you to confirm deletion. Click the “Delete” button to continue.
5. Enter Your Password to Confirm
Type your account password and click “Confirm” to verify account deletion.
6. Cancel Any Active Memberships
If you have an active paid membership, cancel it first before deleting your account. You can’t delete with an active subscription.
7. Delete Connected Social Accounts
Unlink any social media accounts connected to your chess.com profile under “Connected Accounts”.
8. Sign Out of All Devices
Make sure to sign out of chess.com on any linked devices before deleting your account.
9. Submit an Account Deletion Request
If you can’t access your account, submit a deletion request to chess.com support.
10. Give it Some Time
It may take up to 72 hours for chess.com to process account deletions. Your account will be permanently deleted after that.
And that’s it! Just follow these simple steps and your chess.com account will be permanently deleted. All your data and chess games will be gone from their servers.
Why Deleting Your Chess.com Account is Permanent
When you request deletion of your chess.com account, it is gone for good. Here is why the deletion is permanent:
- No Account Recovery – Unlike deactivating your account, deletion is permanent. Your account cannot be reactivated or recovered.
- All Data Removed – Chess.com wipes all your personal data, games, history, connections, and other information from their servers.
- No Backups – Your account data is not backed up or archived. Everything is erased when your account is deleted.
- Accounts Merged – If you create a new account later with the same name, it will not contain any old data.
- No Reversals – Chess.com typically will not reverse account deletions after the fact. The deletion is meant to be permanent.
So don’t take deleting your account lightly! Make sure you want to remove it for good before going through with it.
What to Do Before Deleting Your Chess.com Account
Since deleting your chess.com account permanently removes all your data, here are some things you should do first:
- Download your data – Use the data export tool in account settings to download a backup of your info and games.
- Change email/passwords – If you use the same password on other sites, change them before deleting your chess.com account.
- Unlink social accounts – Disconnect any social media accounts linked to your chess.com profile.
- Cancel paid memberships – You’ll need to cancel any active paid subscriptions before you can delete your account.
- Sign out everywhere – Make sure to sign out of chess.com on any linked browsers, devices, and apps.
- Tell online friends – Let any friends or contacts on chess.com know you’ll be deleting your account.
Taking these steps first makes it easier to delete your account with no loose ends.
The Effects of Deleting Your Chess.com Account
What happens when you delete your chess.com account? Here’s an overview:
- Profile removed – Your username, bio, photos, stats and all profile details will be deleted.
- Games erased – Your entire chess game history, including wins, losses, ratings, and analytics will be wiped from chess.com.
- Content gone – Any forum posts, comments, blogs, videos, and other content you posted will be removed.
- Friends lost – Your contacts list will be erased, and you’ll be removed from your friends’ lists as well.
- Data wiped – All personal info, login details, linked accounts, and settings will be permanently deleted.
- No recovery – You will not be able to reactivate or restore your account after deletion. The process is permanent.
So be certain you want to delete your account, as the effects are irreversible!
What Happens If You Delete Your Account and Regret It?
Since chess.com account deletion is permanent, some people regret it later and want their accounts back. But what happens if you change your mind?
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover a deleted chess.com account. Some things that may occur if you regret deleting your account include:
- You’ll have to start over and create a brand new account.
- You can’t reuse your old username – it will appear taken.
- You’ll lose your entire chess game history and stats forever.
- Rebuilding your contacts list and profile will take time and effort.
- Purchased memberships, chests, and unlockables will be lost.
- There is no way to merge your old data into a new account.
For these reasons, think very carefully before choosing to delete your chess.com account. The decision is permanent, so don’t delete your profile if there’s any chance you’ll regret it later on.
Steps to Take if You Change Your Mind After Deleting
If you do decide to delete your chess.com account and later regret it, here are some steps you can take:
- Contact support – Explain the situation to chess.com support in case they can help. But account restoration is unlikely.
- Create a new profile – You’ll have to build a new chess.com account from scratch, including your bio, pictures, and settings.
- Add friends again – Search for your old contacts and send them new friend requests to rebuild connections.
- Play new games – Your game history is gone, so you’ll have to play new games to get back to your old rating and stats.
- Resubscribe – If you want access to paid features again, you’ll have to purchase a new membership.
- Link accounts again – Reconnect any social media accounts you want associated with your new profile.
While it takes effort to start over, these steps can help restore your presence if you regret deleting your account.
Can You Delete a Chess.com Account Without Accessing It?
What if you can’t actually log into your chess.com account to delete it? Maybe you forgot the password or username. Maybe the account is old and inactive. While it takes a few extra steps, you can still submit a request to delete an inaccessible chess.com account.
Here’s what to do if you can’t log into your account to delete it:
- Retrieve credentials – First try resetting your password to regain access if you can.
- Contact customer support – Explain to chess.com support you wish to delete the account but can’t access it.
- Provide details – Give them any account details you still have like username, email, name, etc.
- Make deletion request – Clearly state you want the account permanently deleted and all data erased.
- Follow up if needed – Check in after 72 hours if the account still exists. Repeat request.
As long as you provide enough verifiable details, chess.com can locate the account and process the deletion request even without direct access. But the process may take longer compared to self-deleting an active account you can log into directly.
Should You Deactivate or Delete Your Chess.com Account?
When you no longer want your chess.com account, you have two options – deactivate or delete. What’s the difference, and which should you choose?
Deactivating simply hides your profile and pauses your membership. Your data remains stored in case you change your mind. You can reactivate a deactivated account in the future.
Deleting is permanent and irreversible. Your account, personal data, and chess activity are wiped from chess.com forever when you delete.
So which is right for you? Here are some guidelines:
- Deactivate if: Taking a temporary break, plan to return, or want the option to reactivate later.
- Delete if: No longer want an account at all, privacy concerns, quitting chess.com for good, switching to a new account.
Deactivating is temporary, deleting is permanent. Think about your reasons for leaving before choosing between the two options.
Can You Retrieve Data from a Deleted Chess.com Account?
Once your chess.com account has been permanently deleted, all the data associated with it is erased from their servers as well. This includes your:
- Profile details and bio
- Chess game history and statistics
- Achievements, trophies, and medals
- Friends/contacts list
- Forum posts and comments
- Private messages and conversations
- Videos, photos, and other content
Unfortunately, none of this data can be recovered after your account is deleted. All of it is removed from chess.com systems and backups when your profile is erased.
Some steps you can take to preserve some data include:
- Use the data export tool before deleting to download info like your games.
- Manually screenshot profile details and stats you want to keep records of.
- Save copies of any forum posts or content outside of chess.com.
But no deleted account info can be retrieved from chess.com after the fact. The deletion is meant to be permanent, so if there’s any data you want to keep, be sure to save it beforehand!
Closing Thoughts
Deleting your chess.com account permanently erases your profile and data from their systems. While the process is irreversible, it is straightforward if you follow the proper steps.
Be sure to cancel memberships, download your data, and sign out everywhere first before deleting your account. And think carefully before deleting your profile in case you ever want to return to chess.com in the future.
Once confirmed, your account deletion is typically processed within 72 hours. Though your time playing on chess.com may end, the memories with friends you made can still endure.
FAQs About Deleting Your Chess.com Account
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about deleting your chess.com account:
Is it possible to delete my chess.com account?
Yes, chess.com allows you to permanently delete your account and all associated data.
Can I delete my chess.com account if I still have an active membership?
No, you’ll need to first cancel any paid subscriptions before deleting your account.
What happens when I delete my chess.com account?
Your account will be permanently deleted along with your profile info, chess games, messages, contacts, and other data.
Can I recover my account after deleting it?
No, once your chess.com account is deleted it is gone forever and cannot be recovered. The deletion is permanent.
Will I lose all my chess games if I delete my account?
Yes, all your chess games, puzzles, and other data will be permanently erased when you delete your account.
How long does it take to delete my chess.com account after requesting it?
It typically takes up to 72 hours for chess.com to fully process account deletion requests.
I can’t access my account. Can I still delete it?
Yes, you can submit an account deletion request to chess.com support if you can’t access your account.
Knowing the steps to delete your account makes it easy to remove it forever. Just make sure you really want to delete it, as the process cannot be undone!
