How to delete your Chess.com account
To delete your Chess.com account, log in, go to your Settings page, scroll to the bottom, and click "Close Account". Chess.com will ask you to confirm by typing your username. Once you confirm, your account is permanently deleted — your username becomes available again, your rating history disappears, and you lose access to all your games and messages.
The deletion is immediate and cannot be undone. Chess.com does not offer a way to reactivate a closed account or recover your games afterward. If you think you might want to return later, consider taking a break instead by not logging in, which keeps your account and history intact.
Key Takeaways
- Account deletion happens immediately after you confirm your username and cannot be reversed.
- Your username becomes available for someone else to register once your account is deleted.
- All your games, ratings, messages, and profile information are permanently removed.
- If you might return to Chess.com later, simply stop logging in instead of deleting — your account will remain dormant.
- You do not need to contact Chess.com support to delete your account; the option is in your Settings.
Where to find the delete account option
Log into Chess.com and click your username in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, scroll all the way to the bottom of the left sidebar — you will see a section labeled "Close Account" in red text.
Click "Close Account" and Chess.com will show you a warning that explains the deletion is permanent. Read through it carefully, because the next step requires you to type your exact username to confirm. This prevents accidental deletions.
What happens to your games and rating after deletion
Once your account is deleted, your games are no longer visible to you or anyone else. Other players cannot search for your past games or see your rating history. Your username will no longer appear on leaderboards or in any public records on the site.
If you had a high rating or notable games, they will be gone. Some chess communities outside Chess.com may have saved or discussed your games before deletion, but Chess.com itself removes all traces. This is why some players download their games before closing their account — if you want a record of your games, you should export them first.
How to download your games before deleting
Before you delete your account, you can save your games in a standard format that other chess programs can read. Log in, go to your Games page, and look for a download or export option. Chess.com lets you download games in PGN format, which is the standard file type for chess games.
You can then open these files in other chess software like Lichess, Chess.com's free competitor, or desktop programs like ChessTempo or Arena. This way you keep a personal record of your games even after your Chess.com account is gone. The download process takes only a few minutes.
Reasons to delete versus reasons to keep your account dormant
Delete your account if you are certain you will not return to Chess.com and do not want your games or rating history to exist on the site. Some players delete because they want a fresh start elsewhere, or because they are concerned about their online presence and want to remove their account from the internet.
Keep your account if there is any chance you might play again later. A dormant account takes up no space and costs you nothing — you simply do not log in. Your games and rating stay there if you change your mind in six months or a year. Many players take long breaks and return without losing their history.
What to do if you change your mind
If you delete your account and then want to return to Chess.com, you cannot recover the old account. However, you can create a new account using the same email address or a different one. You will start with a new username and a blank rating.
This is why taking a break is often smarter than deleting. If you are frustrated with your rating or just need time away, stepping back for a few weeks or months lets you return without losing your history. You can always delete later if you decide you really want to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my account back after I delete it?
No. Chess.com does not restore deleted accounts. Once you confirm the deletion, your account and all its data are permanently gone. If you want to play Chess.com again, you will need to create a new account from scratch.
What if I forgot to download my games before deleting?
You cannot recover them. Chess.com does not provide deleted games to former users. This is why it is important to download your games before you close your account if you want to keep a record of them.
Will my username be available for someone else to use?
Yes. Once your account is deleted, your username becomes available immediately. Someone else can register and use that username. If you want to preserve your username, do not delete your account.
Do I have to contact Chess.com support to delete my account?
No. You can delete your account yourself through Settings without contacting support. The option is available to all users and works immediately. Support cannot reverse a deletion once it is complete.
What if I just want to take a break from Chess.com?
Simply stop logging in. Your account will remain active and dormant. You can return anytime without losing your games, rating, or username. This is a better option than deletion if you are unsure about leaving permanently.