Deleting your Spotify account is permanent and removes all your data

When you delete your Spotify account, the company removes your username, email, saved playlists, listening history, and payment information from its servers. This action cannot be undone — you cannot recover the account, your playlists, or your followers. If you want to keep your music history or playlists, save them before you start the deletion process.

Spotify does not offer a "deactivate" option that pauses your account temporarily. Your only choices are to keep the account active or delete it entirely. If you are canceling because of cost, you can downgrade to the free tier instead, which removes the monthly charge but keeps your account and playlists intact.

Key Takeaways

  • Spotify account deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed, so download or screenshot your playlists before you proceed.
  • You must delete your account through the Spotify website account settings page — there is no option in the mobile app.
  • If you have an active paid subscription, canceling the subscription does not delete the account; you must take a separate deletion step.
  • Deletion takes effect immediately, though Spotify may retain some data for legal or billing reasons for a limited time.

Steps to delete your account on the Spotify website

Go to www.spotify.com and log in with your username and password. Click your profile name in the top right corner and select Account from the dropdown menu.

Scroll down to the section labeled Danger Zone (or sometimes Delete Account). You will see a button that says Delete Account or Delete Your Account. Click it. Spotify will ask you to confirm your password one more time, then show you a warning that deletion is permanent. Type the word "delete" or click the confirmation button to complete the process.

The account is deleted immediately. You will be logged out, and the email address associated with that account cannot be used to create a new Spotify account for at least 30 days.

What happens to your playlists and saved music

Any playlists you created are deleted along with your account. If you shared playlists with other users, those playlists disappear from their libraries too. Playlists that other people created and shared with you will no longer appear in your account.

Before deletion, you can export your playlists by taking screenshots or copying the song titles into a document. Some third-party tools like Exportify or Stats for Spotify can download your playlists as CSV files, which you can then import into other music services like Apple Music or YouTube Music. These tools are not made by Spotify, so check their privacy policies before using them.

Canceling your subscription before deletion

If you have an active paid subscription (Spotify Premium, Duo, or Family), you should cancel it before deleting your account. Canceling the subscription stops the monthly charge, but the account itself remains active until you delete it separately.

To cancel, go to Account in your profile settings and scroll to the Subscription section. Click Change Plan or Cancel Subscription. Spotify will ask why you are leaving and may offer a discount to stay. You can proceed without accepting any offer. Your subscription ends at the end of your current billing cycle, and you will have access to Premium features until that date.

After your subscription ends, you can use the free tier or delete the account entirely. Deletion works the same way whether you have an active subscription or not.

If you cannot find the delete option

The delete account button only appears on the desktop website, not in the mobile app. If you are using a phone or tablet, open a web browser and go to www.spotify.com instead of using the Spotify app.

If you are logged in but do not see the Danger Zone section, try logging out and logging back in, or clearing your browser cache. Some older accounts or accounts with unpaid balances may have restrictions on deletion — if you see an error message, contact Spotify Support through the Help section of your account page.

What data Spotify keeps after deletion

Spotify removes your account from its active systems immediately, but the company may retain some information for legal, tax, or fraud-prevention purposes. This retained data is not linked to your account and cannot be used to identify you or restore your account.

If you had a paid subscription, Spotify keeps billing records for the time you were a customer, as required by tax law. These records do not include your listening history or personal preferences — only transaction information.

Alternatives if you want to keep your account

If you are deleting because of the cost, switching to the free tier removes the monthly charge while keeping your account, playlists, and followers. You will see ads between songs and have some feature limits, but your data stays intact.

If you are deleting because you do not use Spotify anymore, you can simply stop logging in. An inactive account does not cost anything and does not harm your other accounts or devices. You can return to it anytime within 30 days of your last login without losing your data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my playlists back after I delete my account?

No. Deletion is permanent and irreversible. Once your account is gone, your playlists and listening history cannot be recovered. If you think you might want them later, download or screenshot them before you delete.

Will deleting my Spotify account delete it from other apps or devices?

Yes. If you use Spotify login to sign into other apps (like Instagram, Discord, or fitness apps), those connections will break. You will need to create separate accounts or use a different login method for those services.

How long does it take for my account to be fully deleted?

Deletion takes effect immediately, and you will be logged out right away. Spotify removes your data from active systems within minutes, though some backup or archived data may persist for a limited time for legal reasons.

Can I use the same email address to create a new Spotify account after deletion?

Not for 30 days. After you delete your account, that email address is locked for one month. You can create a new account with a different email address immediately, or wait 30 days and reuse the original email.

What if I have a family plan — will deleting my account affect other family members?

If you are the account owner, deleting your account cancels the entire family plan for all members. If you are a family member, deleting your account removes only you from the plan. The owner can add a new member to replace you.