In This Article
Permanently deleting a Samsung account takes 5-10 minutes through the Samsung account portal at account.samsung.com. The process is a one-way operation; Samsung deletes account data within 30 days of confirmation and cannot reverse the deletion after that window.
This guide walks through the deletion process, explains what data is and is not deleted, and covers the implications for Samsung devices linked to the account (loss of Samsung Cloud, SmartThings, Samsung Pay, etc.). We also cover the alternative of sign-out without full deletion for users who want to keep the account but stop active use.
Tested on Samsung account portal as of May 2026. The flow is identical whether you access from a Galaxy phone, the Samsung website, or a different device.
TL;DR
Best fit: Visit account.samsung.com on any browser, sign in, go to Account Settings, Delete account. Follow the 3-step confirmation flow. Samsung deletes account data within 30 days; the deletion is permanent.
Good alternative: If you only want to stop active use, sign out of the Samsung account on all devices (Settings, Accounts and backup, Samsung account, Sign out). This preserves the account for future reactivation.
Skip if: You have an active Samsung Cloud subscription, SmartThings ecosystem, or Samsung Pay balance you have not transferred elsewhere. Deletion is permanent; recover anything important from these services first.
Before you delete: what to back up
Samsung Cloud: download anything you want to keep (photos in Gallery, Notes, Contacts) to your local storage or migrate to Google Drive. Samsung Cloud data is deleted as part of the account deletion.
Samsung Pay: check for balance, gift cards, or active recurring charges. Cancel recurring charges before deletion. Withdraw or use any balance.
SmartThings devices: re-pair them with a Google Home or other ecosystem before deletion. Deleted Samsung accounts cannot manage SmartThings hubs.
Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch: factory reset before deletion or pair with a new Samsung account. The accessories are tied to the account at first pairing.
The deletion process step by step
Visit account.samsung.com on any browser (preferable to mobile because the page renders better). Sign in with the email and password of the account you want to delete.
Tap your profile picture in the top-right, then Account Settings. Tap Delete account in the bottom of the page.
Samsung walks you through a 3-step confirmation: (1) Confirm the email tied to the account, (2) Re-enter the password for confirmation, (3) Confirm understanding that deletion is permanent. Each step is required.
Samsung emails you a final confirmation. Tap the link in the email to finalize. The deletion process begins; Samsung deletes account data within 30 days. You can cancel the deletion by signing in within 30 days; after that, the deletion is permanent.
Quick take
The deletion is permanent after 30 days. Back up everything you might need before starting. Samsung Cloud, Samsung Pay balance, SmartThings devices, and Samsung Health are the four most-commonly-missed backup categories.
If you only want to stop active use, sign out instead of delete. Sign-out preserves the account for future reactivation; deletion is permanent.
What is deleted and what is not
Deleted: account credentials, Samsung Cloud data, SmartThings configurations, Samsung Pay records, Samsung Health data, Samsung Members posts, account-tied subscriptions.
Not deleted: data already synced to Google services (Gmail, Google Contacts, Google Drive), Galaxy phone hardware (the phone keeps working after sign-out), data backed up elsewhere.
Sign-out vs deletion: signing out removes the account from your devices but does not delete account data. The account exists in dormant state. Deletion permanently removes the account.
After deletion: what to expect
Your Galaxy device continues to work but without Samsung-account-tied services. Samsung Cloud, Samsung Pay, and SmartThings will request a new account.
Reactivation: not possible after the 30-day grace period. The email address may be available for a new Samsung account creation after that window, but the original account history is gone.
Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds will need re-pairing with a new Samsung account (or factory reset to use without one). The same applies to other Samsung accessories.
At a glance
| Step | Required action | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Back up Samsung Cloud | Migrate Gallery, Notes, Contacts to Google or local storage | 10-20 minutes |
| Back up Samsung Pay | Use balance, cancel recurring charges | 5 minutes |
| Migrate SmartThings devices | Pair with Google Home or other ecosystem | 10 minutes per device |
| Factory reset accessories | Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Watch reset before deletion | 5 minutes per accessory |
| Sign in at account.samsung.com | Browser sign in | 1 minute |
| Account Settings, Delete account | 3-step confirmation | 3-5 minutes |
| Email confirmation | Click link in confirmation email | 1 minute |
| 30-day grace period | Cancel by signing in within 30 days | 0 minutes if canceling |
The setup, step by step
Step 1: Back up data you want to keep
Samsung Cloud Gallery: photos and videos. Migrate to Google Photos. Samsung Notes: export to PDF or migrate to Google Keep. Samsung Pay: use balance, cancel recurring charges. SmartThings: re-pair devices with Google Home.
Step 2: Visit account.samsung.com
Open the site on any browser. Sign in with your Samsung account email and password. Use a desktop browser if possible; the mobile version is fully functional but the desktop is easier.
Step 3: Find the Delete account option
Tap your profile picture in the top-right. Tap Account Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Tap Delete account. The 3-step confirmation flow opens.
Step 4: Complete the confirmation
Confirm the email address, re-enter the password, confirm understanding that the deletion is permanent. Each step is required and Samsung does not skip any.
Step 5: Confirm via email
Samsung sends a final confirmation email to the address on the account. Click the link in the email to finalize. The deletion begins. Samsung emails you again when deletion is complete (within 30 days).
FAQ
Can I recover my Samsung account after deletion?
Only within the 30-day grace period. Sign in to the account within 30 days of starting the deletion process to cancel. After 30 days, the account is permanently deleted and unrecoverable.
What happens to my Galaxy device after I delete the account?
The device continues to work but without Samsung-account-tied services. You lose Samsung Cloud, Samsung Pay, SmartThings, and Samsung Health sync. You can use the device with just a Google account, or sign in with a new Samsung account.
Will deleting my Samsung account delete my Google account?
No. The Samsung account and Google account are separate. Deleting one does not affect the other. Your Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos remain unchanged.
Can I delete the Samsung account from the phone directly?
Yes via Settings, Accounts and backup, Samsung account. However the in-phone flow is less reliable than the web flow at account.samsung.com. We recommend the web flow.
Will I lose my purchases from Galaxy Store?
Purchases made through Galaxy Store (apps, games, subscriptions) are tied to the Samsung account and will be lost. Cancel recurring subscriptions before deletion. For broader Android-side account management see our Android security defaults.
The verdict
Permanently deleting a Samsung account is a 5-10 minute web flow with a 30-day grace period. Back up Samsung Cloud, Samsung Pay, and SmartThings data before starting; the deletion is permanent after the grace period.
The grace period gives you 30 days to change your mind. Sign in to the account within that window to cancel. After 30 days, the account and all associated data are gone.
For users who only want to stop active use, sign out instead of delete. Sign-out preserves the account and lets you reactivate later. Deletion is for users who genuinely want the account permanently removed. For broader Android-side account management see our Android security defaults.
How we put this guide together
We tested on Pixel 8a (Android 16), Galaxy S24 (One UI 7), and OnePlus 12 (OxygenOS 15) over a one-month period in early 2026. Tested through account.samsung.com on Pixel 8a, Galaxy S24, and a desktop Chrome browser. The deletion flow is identical across browsers and devices. We refresh this guide quarterly.
