Amazon lets you close your account through your account settings, but the process has a few steps and some things to know before you start

To close your Amazon account, you go to Account Settings, find the section labeled Login & Security, scroll to the bottom, and select Close Your Account. Amazon will ask you to confirm your password and give you a reason for leaving. After you submit, the account closes within a few days — you'll lose access to your Prime membership, saved payment methods, and order history.

Before you close, check whether you have an active Prime membership, outstanding orders, or refunds in progress. Amazon won't let you close an account with pending transactions, so you may need to wait a few days or contact customer service to resolve them first. Also know that closing your account doesn't automatically cancel a Prime membership — if you're on a paid plan, you may need to cancel that separately to avoid being charged again.

Key Takeaways

  • You close your account through Account Settings under Login & Security, not through a separate website or phone line.
  • Amazon will not close your account if you have active orders, pending refunds, or an unpaid balance.
  • Closing your account deletes your saved addresses, payment methods, and order history, though Amazon keeps records for tax and legal reasons.
  • If you have an active Prime membership, cancel it separately before closing to avoid being charged again.
  • After you request closure, the account typically closes within a few days, but you lose access immediately.

What happens to your data when you close your account

When you close your Amazon account, you lose access to your order history, saved addresses, and payment methods stored in your account. Amazon does not delete all records immediately — the company keeps transaction data for tax purposes and to comply with laws around fraud prevention and chargebacks. This means Amazon can still see that you made a purchase if a dispute arises later, but you cannot view your own order history once the account is closed.

Your reviews, wish lists, and any content you posted to Amazon remain on the site even after closure, though they may appear under a generic name rather than your account name. If you want to remove reviews or wish lists before closing, do that first through your account settings. Kindle books, digital music, or other digital content you purchased will no longer be accessible after closure — you lose the right to download or stream them.

Reasons Amazon might not let you close your account

Amazon blocks account closure if you have an active order, a pending refund, or an outstanding balance. If you see an error message when you try to close, check your Orders page to see if anything is still in progress. Orders typically show as "Pending," "Processing," or "Shipped" — you need to wait until they arrive and any return window closes before closure is possible.

Refunds can take 3 to 5 business days to process, so if you recently returned something, wait until the refund appears in your account before trying again. If you have a balance owed — for example, from a declined payment or a subscription charge — you'll need to pay it first. Contact Amazon customer service through the Contact Us page in your account if you're unsure why closure is blocked.

How to cancel Prime before closing your account

If you have an active Prime membership, cancel it before you close your account to avoid being charged for the next billing cycle. Go to Account, then Your Memberships and Subscriptions, find Prime Membership, and select End Membership. Amazon will ask you to confirm and may offer you a discount to stay — you can decline and proceed with cancellation.

After you cancel Prime, you keep access to your account and can still shop on Amazon at regular prices. You can then close your account whenever you're ready. If you've already been charged for the next billing period after canceling, you can request a refund through the Contact Us page, though refunds are not may provide if you're past the return window for that charge.

What to do if you want to keep your account but stop using it

Closing your account is permanent and cannot be undone, so consider whether you actually want to delete it or simply stop using it. If you think you might shop on Amazon again in the future, you can instead just stop logging in — your account will remain open and inactive. You can reactivate it anytime by logging in with your email and password.

If you want to reduce Amazon's access to your data without closing the account, you can delete your payment methods, clear your browsing history, and remove saved addresses. You can also turn off personalized recommendations and limit ad targeting through Account Settings under Advertising Preferences. These steps give you more control without losing the ability to shop later.

Closing a business or seller account

If you're closing an Amazon Business account or a seller account, the process is different from closing a regular shopping account. For Amazon Business, go to Account Settings and look for Business Account Settings — the closure option appears there. For seller accounts, you must go to Seller Central, not your regular Amazon account, and navigate to Settings then Account Info to find the closure option.

Seller accounts have additional requirements: you must resolve all open orders, cancel any active subscriptions, and ensure your seller balance is zero. If you have unsold inventory in Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you need to remove it or have Amazon dispose of it before closure. This process can take longer than closing a regular account, sometimes several weeks.

What to do if you can't close your account

If you've resolved pending orders and refunds but still cannot close your account, contact Amazon customer service. Go to your account, select Contact Us, and choose the issue that best matches your situation — usually Account & Login Issues or Something Else. You can request a call, email, or chat with a representative. Have your account email and password ready, though you won't need to share the password with the agent.

Amazon's support team can see blocks on your account that aren't visible to you and can sometimes remove them. If there's a technical issue preventing closure, they can escalate the request. Response times vary — chat support usually responds within minutes during business hours, while email can take 24 to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reopen my account after I close it?

No. Once you close your account, it cannot be reopened. If you want to shop on Amazon again, you must create a new account with a different email address. You will not have access to your old order history or saved information.

Will closing my account remove me from Amazon mailing lists?

Closing your account stops most marketing emails, but Amazon may continue to send transactional emails related to past orders or refunds for a limited time. If you want to unsubscribe from all emails before closing, go to Communication Preferences in your account settings and turn off all notification types.

What happens to my Amazon gift card balance when I close my account?

Any unused gift card balance is lost when you close your account. Spend or transfer your balance to another account before closure. You can check your balance under Gift Cards in your account settings.

Do I need to close my account to stop using Amazon?

No. You can simply stop logging in and your account will remain inactive. Closing is permanent, so only do it if you're certain you won't want to shop on Amazon again. Inactive accounts don't cost you anything to keep open.

How long does it take for my account to fully close?

After you request closure, Amazon typically closes the account within a few days. You lose access immediately after submitting the request, but the backend processing can take up to a week. You won't receive a confirmation email once closure is complete.