How to delete or deactivate your Threads account

If you created a Threads account and promptly abandoned it, your personal information could be exposed online. Unused accounts are often overlooked, but they can be vulnerable to hacking, allowing attackers to steal details like your name, email, password, or linked profile information.

Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to deactivate or delete your Threads account to reduce your digital footprint.

How to delete your Threads account

You can delete your Threads account directly from your profile menu in the Android or iOS mobile apps.

Here are the steps to delete your Threads account:

1. Tap Profile (or your profile picture) in the bottom right.
2. Select Menu (the two-line menu) in the top right.
3. Tap Account and then select Deactivate or delete profile.
4. Select Delete profile at the bottom and follow the prompts.

You’ll know deletion has started when the app logs you out automatically. If you don’t log back in within 30 days, your account is permanently deleted — just like Instagram’s deletion process.

Here’s what will happen next:

• 0-30 days: Your account can be recovered by logging back in.
• After 30 days: Your account is permanently deleted.
• Up to 90 days: Threads may retain your data on their main server to meet legal obligations or investigate any terms of service (TOS) violations.
• Beyond 90 days: Your data may remain on Threads’ backup servers if Threads has confirmed legal issues or TOS violations.

If you want to create another Threads account with the same email address, you’ll have to wait until the full 90-day period has passed following your initial deletion request.

How to deactivate your Threads profile

You can deactivate your Threads profile by selecting Deactivate profile from the Account menu. Unlike deletion, deactivation is temporary — you can reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back in. It’s a quick way to take a break from Threads without permanently losing your profile or content.

When you deactivate your Threads profile, all your posts, content, and profile details are hidden from public view. But your data remains on Threads’ servers. If your goal is to remove personal information from the internet, it’s better to delete your account instead.

Deleting or deactivating Threads helps limit your public exposure, but it doesn’t stop people tracking you online or compromising your data. Norton 360 Deluxe goes further, masking your connection with a secure VPN, blocking spyware, and using AI-driven scam detection to alert you to digital fraud.

Why delete Threads?

Deleting Threads can help shrink your digital footprint, making it harder for cybercriminals to target your profile data, track your activity history, or ensnare you in social media scams. You might also be tempted to delete your account if you’re concerned about Meta’s data collection practices.

Here are the main reasons why people choose to delete Threads:

• Data collection: Threads collects data, including sensitive information about what you upload, location data, and cookie data from third-party sites or apps you visit. Due to regulatory uncertainty about how it would use this data, Threads was initially restricted from operating within the EU.
• Further profiling: Using Facebook, Threads, and Instagram lets Meta target you with personalized advertising that can feel invasive. In one U.K. lawsuit, a woman accused Meta of targeted pregnancy advertising — potentially violating the country’s data privacy laws.
• Social media scams: Threads users face social media threats similar to those on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other social media platforms. Scammers can surface in direct messages or the comments of a post, often posing as legitimate users or brands to trick people into clicking on malicious links that lead to unsafe websites.
• Account compromises: Online scams can escalate to full account takeovers, putting your financial data at risk. Some scammers even exploit the platform’s advertising system to sell stolen credit card details, luring victims to illicit marketplaces or phishing sites.
• Exposure to online harassment: Cyberbullying and harassment are risks on all major social platforms. Like Snapchat, Threads allows children aged 13 and older to create accounts, which can expose younger users to harmful or hostile interactions in comments, messages, or public posts.
• Digital footprint reduction: Data brokers collect personal details from social media and list them on people search sites, making them available for sale. Removing your profile limits broker access and bolsters privacy, reducing the risk of targeted scams, identity theft, and unwanted solicitations.

All social media profiles carry privacy risks because they increase the amount of personal data collected about you in the form of cookies and other tracking methods — data that could be exposed in a data leak. In one large-scale breach, 16 billion login credentials, including those for Facebook and other Meta platforms, were leaked.

What are the alternatives to deleting or deactivating Threads?

If you don’t want to delete your Threads account, but still want to boost your privacy, alternatives include making your account private and adjusting your settings and usage habits.

Here are the best alternatives to deleting or deactivating your Threads account:

• Make your account private: Switching to a private profile limits who can see your posts and interact with you. Go to your account Settings and toggle on Private Profile to enable it.
• Hide notifications: If you find notifications distracting, disable them to cut down on interruptions and avoid unnecessary engagement.
• Remove the app: If you want to remove the temptation to check Threads too often, uninstalling the app from your phone can reduce easy access.
• Curate your content: Engage only with creators and topics you want to see. The Threads algorithm surfaces more of what you interact with, so avoid engaging with content that frustrates or upsets you.
• Use the hidden words feature: Use the Hidden Words feature to filter out words or phrases you don’t want to see. This can help you avoid uncomfortable, triggering topics and improve your feed.

Keeping your accounts private is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe on social media. It helps thwart scammers who try to message you directly or gather personal details from your profile.

How do you use Threads safely?

Using Threads safely starts with limiting who can see your posts, securing your account with strong, unique passwords, setting up two-factor authentication (2FA), and being selective about the personal details you share.

Follow these tips to use Threads safely:

• Keep your account private: A public profile allows data brokers and cybercriminals to collect information about you. Switching to a private account ensures only approved followers can see your posts and profile.
• Keep your account secure: Use a strong password and 2FA for added protection against hackers. Tools like Norton Password Manager can generate and store strong passwords securely.
• Be selective about connections: Only accept connection requests from people you know and trust. Beware that cybercriminals may pose as friends or acquaintances to gain your trust and collect personal information.
• Be mindful of what you share: Avoid sharing sensitive details such as your location, address, or other private data. Even small bits of information can be used in social engineering attacks.
• Keep the app updated: Regular software updates patch vulnerabilities that malware could exploit. Check for updates in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install them promptly.
• Report suspicious activity: Help keep Threads safer by reporting spam, hate speech, cyberbullying, or fraud. You can report a post by selecting the three-dot menu next to it and choosing the relevant reporting option.

Stay safe from social media risks

Every post, click, and connection on social media can open the door to scams, fake profiles, and phishing attacks.

With Norton 360 Deluxe, you get layered protection that works in real time, including AI-powered scam detection to spot social media scams before you fall for them, award-winning antivirus to stop malware cold, and a secure VPN to hide your location and encrypt your connection. Don’t just delete potential threats — stay ahead of them.

FAQs

Does deleting my Threads account delete my Instagram too?

No, deleting your Threads account will not delete your Instagram. However, if your Threads is linked to your Instagram or Facebook, deleting either of those accounts could also remove your Threads profile. You need to keep an active Instagram or Facebook account to maintain Threads access.

Can I sign up for Threads again with the same Instagram after deletion?

You’ll need to wait at least 90 days post-deletion before you can create a new Threads account using the same Instagram credentials. If your account was banned, you won’t be able to use those same emails to sign up again.

Will my followers know I’ve deleted my Threads account?

Your followers won’t get a notification about the deletion, but they may notice your posts and profile have disappeared from the platform.

Can I remove a specific Threads post instead of deleting my account?

Yes, you can remove a specific Threads post by tapping the three-dot menu next to the post and selecting Delete. If you delete your Threads profile, all posts and comments you’ve made will also be permanently removed.