Deactivating or deleting your Airbnb account is a straightforward process that can be done directly through your account settings. With over 2 million Hosts worldwide, Airbnb makes it easy to take a break or permanently close your account if you no longer wish to use their services.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through how to delete Airbnb account, with detailed steps for deactivating, permanently deleting, and reactivating an account. We’ll also cover how Hosts can remove their listings without deleting their entire Airbnb account.
Overview of Deleting an Airbnb Account
There are two main options when deleting your Airbnb account:
- Deactivating – This temporarily hides your Airbnb profile and any active listings you have. Your data is retained in case you want to reactivate.
- Permanently Deleting – This closes your account completely and removes your data from Airbnb’s systems. Reactivating a deleted account is not possible.
Both options will cancel any upcoming reservations you have booked or that have been booked at your listings. Let’s look at how to do each below.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deactivating an Airbnb Account
Deactivating your account with Airbnb is the easiest way to take a break from using their services. Your profile and data will be hidden but retained in case you want to restore your account later on.
Follow these steps to deactivate your Airbnb account:
1. Navigate to Your Airbnb Account Settings
- On the Airbnb website, click on your profile icon in the top right.
- In the dropdown menu, select Account.
2. Click on “Deactivate Account”
- Under the Account tab, find the Settings section.
- Click the Deactivate account button.
3. Select a Reason for Deactivation
- Airbnb will ask why you are deactivating. Choose an option from the list.
- You can also enter an optional comment to provide more context.
4. Confirm Deactivation
- Click the blue Continue button.
- On the next page, click Deactivate account to confirm.
Once deactivated, your profile and any active listings will no longer be viewable on Airbnb. Your inbox and transaction history will also be inaccessible until you reactivate your account.
How to Permanently Delete Airbnb Account
To completely remove your information and close your Airbnb account, you’ll need to permanently delete it. This process is a bit more involved than deactivating:
1. Go to the Airbnb Account Deletion Page
- On your computer, go to the Airbnb delete account page.
- This can only be accessed on a desktop/laptop browser.
2. Click “Request to Delete Account”
- Under Delete your account, click the Request to delete your account link.
3. Review and Confirm Deletion
- Carefully read Airbnb’s information about account deletion.
- Click Next in the bottom right when ready.
- On the last page, click the red Delete account button to confirm.
4. Check your Email for Confirmation
- Airbnb will email you to confirm the account deletion request.
- Click the link in the email within 7 days to permanently delete your account.
Once your account is deleted, all associated data including listings, reviews, messages, and reservation history will be removed from Airbnb’s systems.
How to Reactivate a Deactivated Airbnb Account
If you simply deactivated your Airbnb account, you can still recover it by contacting Airbnb’s customer support team:
- Go to the Airbnb help page and click Help Center.
- Search for “reactivate account” and select the article on reactivating.
- Click Contact Airbnb support and explain you’d like your deactivated account reactivated.
- An Airbnb team member will assist in restoring your account so it is fully functional again.
With a deleted account, reactivation is not possible since all associated data has been permanently removed. You would need to create a brand new Airbnb account if you change your mind after deletion.
Removing Airbnb Listings as a Host
If you are an Airbnb Host with active listings, you have a couple options to remove your rental spaces without deleting your entire account:
Deactivate Listings
You can deactivate specific listings which will unpublish them and cancel any upcoming reservations:
- Go to your Listing(s) page from the menu.
- Click Deactivate listing below the listing name and description.
- Choose a reason and confirm deactivation.
Unlist Property on Airbnb.org
If you list your property through Airbnb.org for longer term rentals, you can remove it as follows:
- Go to Settings and click View profile and listings.
- Find your Airbnb.org listing and click Unlist property.
- Confirm removal and your unit will no longer appear.
This will only unlist the specific rental unit, your overall account will remain active. You can always relist or reactive listings whenever you choose as an Airbnb Host.
Key Things to Know Before Deleting an Airbnb Account
Here are some important points to keep in mind as you consider deleting your Airbnb account:
- Your profile and any active listings will become hidden immediately upon deactivation or deletion.
- Certain data like your reviews may still be visible to others even once deactivated or deleted.
- Airbnb will retain some of your personal information after deactivation in case you want to recover your account. This data is permanently deleted if you fully close your account.
- Any upcoming reservations you have made or that have been made at your listings as a Host will be canceled when you delete your account.
- You may not be entitled to any compensation from Airbnb for canceled reservations resulting from deactivating or deleting your account.
- Reactivating a deleted Airbnb account is not possible – you would need to create a brand new account.
Conclusion
Deleting your Airbnb account can easily be done through the account settings or deletion request page. Deactivating will temporarily hide your profile and listings while retaining your data with Airbnb. Permanently deleting will fully close your account and remove associated data from their systems.
We recommend contacting Airbnb’s customer support if you need any assistance with deactivating, deleting, or reactivating your account. They can also help Hosts with removing or deactivating specific listings without deleting their entire Airbnb account.
While closing your Airbnb account is relatively straightforward, we hope this step-by-step walkthrough clarifies the nuances between deactivation compared to permanent account deletion.
Here are some additional frequently asked questions about deleting an Airbnb account:
FAQs About How to Delete Airbnb Account
How long does it take to delete an Airbnb account?
- Deactivating an account takes effect immediately.
- Permanently deleting an account can take up to 30 days after confirming the deletion request.
Can you recover a deleted Airbnb account?
No, once an Airbnb account has been permanently deleted it cannot be recovered. You would need to create a new account if you change your mind later.
What happens to my Airbnb reviews if I delete my account?
- When deactivated, your reviews will be hidden but still exist in Airbnb’s system.
- If you permanently delete your account, your reviews will be anonymized but the content may remain on the platform.
Are there alternatives to completely deleting an Airbnb account?
Yes, you can simply deactivate your account or remove specific listings if you are a Host. This preserves your data in case you want to use Airbnb again.
Can someone else take over or gain access to my deleted Airbnb account?
No, your account cannot be transferred to someone else. When permanently deleted all account data is removed from Airbnb’s systems.
Will I get refunded for reservations if I delete my Airbnb account?
Most likely no – deleting your account is not grounds for a refund of any completed reservations or related service fees paid to Airbnb.
What happens if I delete my account as an Airbnb Host?
Your listings will become hidden and upcoming reservations will be canceled. Guests may still be able to view past reviews for your listings.
Can I delete just one of my listings if I’m an Airbnb Host?
Yes, you can deactivate specific listings without deleting your entire account as a Host. This simply unpublishes that particular rental space.
Who can I contact if I need help deleting my Airbnb account?
You can contact Airbnb’s customer experience team through their Help Center if you need assistance deactivating, deleting, or reactivating an account.
