How to Delete Your Etsy Account (Close or Permanently Remove)

If you've stopped using Etsy, or you're tidying up old accounts for privacy reasons, you might want your account gone. Etsy gives you two different ways out, and they behave very differently. One is a closure you can reverse. The other is a permanent deletion request that removes your account for good.

Most people search for delete when what they want is close, and a few people close when they really wanted deletion. I'll explain both using Etsy's help pages, what to sort out first, and the email address trap that catches people who want to come back later with a fresh account.

Closing versus permanently deleting your Etsy account

	Close account	Permanently delete
Where	Account settings	Account settings, Privacy
Can it be reversed?	Yes, you can reopen it	No, it's permanent
Timing Etsy mentions	No wait mentioned in the help	Can take around two weeks
Frees up your email?	No	Change the email first if you want to reuse it

Etsy also lists lighter options if you only want less of Etsy in your life: closing just your shop, or unsubscribing from marketing emails.

Before you delete your Etsy account: a checklist

Etsy's deletion help asks you to confirm a few things first:

• All your orders are fulfilled, if you sell.
• All your cases are resolved, and you don't expect to open new ones. You lose access to the case system after deletion.
• Nothing is outstanding on your account.
• You've saved any records you need to keep from the account.
• You won't need this email address for another Etsy account.

And one more from the account-closing help: leave any reviews for recent orders before you go, because you can't do it afterwards. If a seller made something lovely for you, now's the moment to say so.

Deciding between closing and deleting your Etsy account

Here's how I'd think about it. If you're leaving because you're busy, bored of the emails or not buying much at the moment, close the account or simply unsubscribe from marketing emails. You keep the option to come back with your purchase history and favourite shops intact.

If you're leaving for privacy reasons, or you know you'll never use Etsy again, permanent deletion is the cleaner choice. Just give yourself a day to be sure, because there's no undo button once Etsy has processed the request.

Steps to close your Etsy account

If you think you might come back one day, closing is the safer choice. Etsy's help gives these steps:

1. Sign in on Etsy.com and click your profile image.
2. Select Account settings.
3. Scroll to the Close Your Account section.
4. Choose a reason for leaving and add a comment if you like.
5. Click Close Account.

A closed account can be reopened later, which is what makes this the gentler option.

Steps to permanently delete your Etsy account

Etsy asks you to make a deletion request on Etsy.com:

1. Sign in on Etsy.com.
2. Go to Account settings and select Privacy.
3. Find Permanently close and delete your Etsy account.
4. Choose Request deletion of your data.
5. Check your email and follow Etsy's instructions to complete the request.

Etsy's help says deletion begins once any open issues are resolved, and it can take around two weeks. Depending on your activity, Etsy may keep certain information for a limited period for legal, security or compliance reasons before deleting it.

The Etsy email and username trap

This catches lots of people out. Etsy's help says closing your account won't free up your email address, username or shop name for re-use on a new account. If you plan to open a new Etsy account with the same email, change the email on your current account first:

1. Go to Account settings and find the Email section.
2. Enter a different email address and your current password.
3. Choose Change email.
4. Then close or delete the old account and sign up again with your original email.

Just be aware of the timing rule below before you do this.

Why the Close Account button may be missing on Etsy

• You changed your email recently. Etsy blocks closing for 7 days after an email change as a security measure.
• There's an open case in your shop. Resolve it and the button should appear.
• Something is still outstanding on your account. Clear it and try again.

If none of those fit, use the Contact support option at the bottom of Etsy's help pages.

Tidying your other accounts while you're at it

If you're deleting Etsy as part of a wider clear-out, the same care applies elsewhere: download what you want to keep, check which email each account uses, and decide whether you want a reversible break or a permanent goodbye. I've written similar walkthroughs on deleting a Zoom account and closing your Spotify account.

And if you're leaving Etsy as a buyer but still thinking about selling online one day, my guide on selling on Etsy from Egypt shows what's involved in setting up a shop from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete my Etsy account permanently?

Sign in on Etsy.com, go to Account settings, select Privacy and choose Request deletion of your data under Permanently close and delete your Etsy account. Then follow the instructions Etsy emails you.

What's the difference between closing and deleting an Etsy account?

Closing can be reversed and you can reopen the account later. Permanent deletion can't be undone and can take around two weeks to complete.

Can I use the same email for a new Etsy account?

Not unless you change it first. Etsy says closing won't free up your email, username or shop name, so update the email on your old account before closing it.

Why can't I close my Etsy account?

Etsy blocks closing for 7 days after an email change. An open case, or anything outstanding on your account, can also hide the Close Account button.

Should I leave reviews before deleting Etsy?

Yes. Etsy recommends leaving reviews for recent orders before you close, because you can't add them afterwards.