How to close your PayPal account
You can close your PayPal account through the settings menu on the website or mobile app. The process takes a few minutes, but PayPal requires your account to have a zero balance — no money held in your account and no pending transactions — before you can proceed. If you have funds sitting in PayPal, you must transfer them to your bank account or withdraw them first.
Once your account is closed, you cannot reopen it under the same email address. If you think you might need PayPal again in the future, consider deactivating instead, which temporarily suspends your account without permanently deleting it. This guide walks you through both options.
Key Takeaways
- Your PayPal account must have a zero balance before you can close it — transfer any remaining funds to your bank account first.
- Closing your account is permanent and you cannot use that email address to create a new PayPal account later.
- You can deactivate your account instead if you want to keep the option of returning to PayPal without losing your email address.
- The closure process takes place entirely in your account settings and does not require calling PayPal.
- After closure, PayPal keeps your transaction history for record-keeping, but you will no longer be able to send or receive money.
Check your account balance and transfer remaining funds
Before you can close your account, PayPal must show a zero balance. Log into your PayPal account and go to your Wallet or Summary page to see how much money is there. If you have any balance, you need to move it out.
To transfer money to your bank account, click "Transfer Money" or "Withdraw" (the exact wording depends on whether you are on desktop or mobile). Select your linked bank account and enter the amount you want to move. PayPal typically deposits the transfer within 1 to 3 business days, though some banks take longer. If you do not have a bank account linked, you can add one during this step or request a check by mail, though checks take longer to arrive.
If you have money in a PayPal Credit account or a PayPal Cash account, those balances must also be zero. Pay off any PayPal Credit balance through your account settings, and transfer any PayPal Cash balance to your bank account using the same withdrawal process.
Cancel any active subscriptions or recurring payments
PayPal will not let you close your account if you have subscriptions or automatic payments set to charge your PayPal account. These are considered pending transactions. Log into your account and look for "Subscriptions" or "Automatic Payments" in your settings — the exact location varies by whether you are on desktop or mobile.
Go through each subscription or recurring payment and cancel it. Some subscriptions are managed through the merchant's website rather than PayPal, so if you do not see a subscription listed in PayPal, check the website where you signed up for it. Once all subscriptions are cancelled, wait a day or two to make sure no charges go through, then proceed to close your account.
Close your account through settings
On desktop: Log into PayPal.com. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "Account Settings." Scroll down and look for "Close your account" or "Account closure" — it is usually near the bottom of the page. Click it and PayPal will ask you to confirm why you are closing the account. Select a reason from the dropdown (the reason does not affect whether your closure is processed). Click "Close Account" and PayPal will send you a confirmation email.
On mobile: Open the PayPal app. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Go to Settings, then Account Settings. Scroll to the bottom and tap "Close your account." Select a reason and confirm. You will receive a confirmation email within a few minutes.
After you close your account, you will no longer be able to send or receive money, and you cannot log in. PayPal keeps your transaction history for tax and legal reasons, but you will not be able to view it through your account anymore.
Deactivate instead if you might return to PayPal
If you are not certain you want to close your account permanently, deactivation is a better choice. A deactivated account is temporarily suspended — you cannot send or receive money, but you can reactivate it later without losing your email address or transaction history.
To deactivate, go to Account Settings and look for "Deactivate account" or "Temporarily close your account." This option appears near the permanent closure option. Select it and confirm. Your account will be deactivated when ready. If you change your mind within a certain period, you can log back in and reactivate. PayPal does not publish a specific time limit for reactivation, so if you think you might want to return, contact PayPal support to ask how long you have before the account is permanently deleted.
What happens after your account closes
Once your account is closed, you cannot use that email address to create a new PayPal account. If you need PayPal again in the future, you will have to use a different email address. This is a permanent restriction — PayPal does not make exceptions to this rule.
Any refunds or chargebacks related to transactions you made before closing will still be processed, and PayPal will contact you through the email address associated with your closed account. Make sure you have access to that email address for at least a few months after closure in case PayPal needs to reach you about a transaction dispute.
If you have a PayPal Business account rather than a personal account, the closure process is the same, but you should also cancel any invoices or payment requests you have sent out. Customers will not be able to pay those invoices once your account is closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my PayPal account if I have a pending payment or refund?
No. PayPal will not let you close your account while any transaction is pending. Wait for the payment or refund to complete, then close your account. If a refund is taking longer than expected, contact the merchant or PayPal support to find out the status before attempting closure.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to close my account?
Go to PayPal.com and click "Log In." Select "Having trouble logging in?" and follow the steps to reset your password using your email address or phone number. Once you regain access, you can proceed with closing your account through settings.
Will closing my PayPal account affect my credit score?
Closing your PayPal account will not affect your credit score. PayPal does not report account closures to credit bureaus. However, if you have an outstanding PayPal Credit balance, you must pay it off before closing, and missed payments on that balance would have already affected your credit.
Can I close my account if I have a dispute or claim open?
No. You must wait for any open disputes, claims, or chargebacks to be resolved before closing your account. PayPal needs to keep your account active to process the resolution. Once the dispute is closed, you can proceed with account closure.
How long does it take for PayPal to permanently delete my data after I close my account?
PayPal keeps transaction records for a set period for legal and tax reasons, but the exact timeline is not publicly stated. Your personal information is removed from active systems more quickly. If you have specific concerns about data retention, you can contact PayPal support to ask about their data deletion timeline.