Chess.com lets you delete your account through your account settings, but the process is permanent and cannot be undone
To delete your Chess.com account, log in, go to your Settings page, scroll to the bottom, and click the red "Close Account" button. You will be asked to confirm your password. After you click "Close Account" a second time, your account is deleted immediately. Your username becomes available for someone else to use within 24 hours.
Deletion is different from deactivation. When you delete, Chess.com removes your account entirely—your games, ratings, and profile disappear from the site. When you deactivate, your account goes dormant but can be reactivated later by logging back in. Most people who want to step away temporarily should deactivate instead.
Key Takeaways
- Deletion happens immediately and cannot be reversed; your account and all its data are gone for good.
- Your username becomes available for reuse after 24 hours, so someone else can claim it.
- If you think you might return to Chess.com later, deactivate your account instead of deleting it.
- You do not need to contact Chess.com support to delete—the option is in your Settings page under account closure.
- Deletion does not refund any paid membership or tournament entry fees you have already spent.
Where to find the delete option in Settings
Log into Chess.com and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. On the Settings page, scroll all the way to the bottom. You will see a red section labeled "Close Account" with a button that says "Close Account." This is the only way to delete your account through the site itself.
The button will not appear if you are not logged in, and it will not appear if you are viewing someone else's profile. Make sure you are logged into the account you actually want to delete.
What happens to your data after deletion
Once you confirm deletion, Chess.com removes your account from their active database. Your profile page no longer exists. Your games are no longer visible on the site. Your rating and statistics disappear. If you had a public profile with followers, those followers can no longer see your account.
However, Chess.com may retain some data in their backups or archives for legal or operational reasons—this is standard practice for most websites. If you have concerns about data retention beyond what appears on the live site, you can contact Chess.com support to ask about their data retention policy, though deletion itself is immediate and visible.
Deactivation as an alternative to deletion
If you are unsure about deleting permanently, deactivate your account instead. Deactivation hides your profile and stops your rating from changing, but your account still exists and can be reactivated by logging back in. Your games and history remain on the site but are not visible to other users while deactivated.
To deactivate, go to Settings and look for the "Deactivate Account" option, which appears above the "Close Account" button. Deactivation takes effect immediately, but you can reactivate anytime by logging in again. There is no time limit on how long you can keep an account deactivated.
Paid memberships and refunds
Deleting your account does not refund any Chess.com membership fees or tournament entry fees you have already paid. If you have an active paid membership (Chess.com Premium, Diamond, or Platinum), the remaining time on that membership is forfeited when you delete.
If you have a refund question about a recent purchase, contact Chess.com support before you delete. Once your account is gone, you cannot access your purchase history through the site, which makes it harder to dispute a charge or request a refund.
If you change your mind after deletion
You cannot reactivate a deleted account. Deletion is permanent. If you want to return to Chess.com after deleting, you must create a new account with a different email address. Your old username will be available for reuse after 24 hours, but you will start from zero with no rating, no games, and no history.
If you deleted your account by mistake and want to recover it, contact Chess.com support immediately. They may be able to restore your account within a short window (usually a few days), but this is not may provide. The longer you wait, the less likely recovery becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account on the Chess.com app instead of the website?
The delete option is only available on the Chess.com website, not in the mobile app. Log into Chess.com in a web browser, go to Settings, and scroll to the bottom to find the "Close Account" button. The app does not have this feature.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to delete?
Use the "Forgot Password" link on the Chess.com login page to reset your password. Once you log back in, you can go to Settings and delete your account. If you no longer have access to the email address associated with your account, contact Chess.com support for help recovering access.
Will deleting my account remove my games from other websites?
No. If you have imported your Chess.com games to other chess sites or databases, those games remain on those sites. Deleting your Chess.com account only removes your data from Chess.com itself. You would need to delete your accounts on those other sites separately.
Can I delete my account if I have an active tournament?
Yes, you can delete your account even if you are in the middle of a tournament. However, deleting will forfeit your tournament entry and you will not receive a refund. If you want to withdraw from a tournament without losing your entry fee, contact Chess.com support instead of deleting your account.
How long does it take for my username to become available again?
Your username becomes available for someone else to use within 24 hours of deletion. If you want to claim your username on a new account, you can create a new account after 24 hours have passed.