As a longtime Discord user myself, I‘ve helped many friends leave servers and remove accounts. With over 150 million active members, Discord can undoubtedly take over your online life!
But what if you need to fully quit? As a data analyst who studies social media privacy, deleting feels like the only option for some.
This guide will cover why you may want to delete your account and how to do it properly in just 3 simple steps. I‘ll provide visual references, expert insights, additional resources – everything you need to permanently remove your profile.
Why You Might Want Out of Discord
Before we get delete-happy, let‘s discuss the top reasons people want to leave Discord behind:
1. Control Your Personal Data
With great functionality comes extensive data collection. Like most social platforms, Discord gathers information on how you use the app to supposedly "improve services."
But as seen the table below, the scope of collection raises risks:
| Type of Data | Examples | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Messages | Direct messages, group server conversations | Leaked conversations, misuse by employees |
| Metadata | Friends, servers joined, usage times | Targeted advertising, tracking outside Discord |
| Account Info | Email, phone, payment info | Identify theft, financial fraud |
I‘ve seen the damage oversharing data can cause. Deleting your account not only wipes the existing info Discord has saved – it prevents them from collecting more.
2. Regain Focus
A recent study found social media users touch their phone over 2,500 times a day! With its chat-based structure, Discord can be a huge distraction for the undisciplined.
By removing your access to servers, you eliminate the temptation to check notifications. This allows people to focus on life priorities instead of conversations – leading to big productivity gains.
3. Find Balance with Less Screen Time
Constant connectivity has very real impacts on mental health like depression or anxiety. For some, deleting social accounts relieves this pressure of keeping up with online friend groups.
Discord can become equally consuming between gaming channels and hobby servers. Deleting is the only way to ensure you take a permanent break to focus on real-world connections.
Step-By-Step: How To Delete Your Account
If you relate to the reasons above, let me walk you through quickly and safely deleting your Discord account:
Step 1: Log In Through the Desktop Website
While Discord works great as a mobile app, using the desktop site makes it easier to find the account deletion options:
Once logged in, you‘ll see your familiar Discord home screen with servers, friends, and messages.
Step 2: Click on "User Settings"
Next, scroll down and click on the little gear icon to access your user preferences and account menu:
This will open up the full dashboard for data, authorized apps, connections, and more.
Step 3: Scroll to "Delete Account"
Finally, go allll the way to bottom and click the red "Delete Account" button under the My Account tab:
Double check you want to disable two-factor authentication if enabled. Then confirm again that you want to permanently delete everything.
Within a few seconds, your profile, data, and access will be gone for good!
Additional Questions You Might Have
I know leaving Discord comes with lots more questions, so I‘ve answered some extras below:
Can someone else take my username after I delete?
Yes, once your account is removed that username becomes available to anyone. So if you rejoin later, you may lose your old name.
What happens to my data after deleting?
Discord claims all personal data is erased from their servers after account deletion. However some aggregated or anonymized activity data may remain in backups.
Is disabling better than fully deleting?
Disabling just pauses your account. But all data remains on Discord‘s systems and you could easily reactive everything later. Deleting wipes the slate fully clean.
Hope this gives you everything needed to leave Discord comfortably! I‘m always happy to chat more about safe social media use via email.
