Short answer: go to Settings → Account in Bluesky. “Deactivate account” hides your profile and posts until you sign back in. “Delete account” asks for an emailed code and your password, then permanently removes your account. Download a backup first either way.

Here is exactly what each option does, how to do it, and what can still be seen afterwards.

On this page:

Delete vs Deactivate at a Glance

Deactivate Delete
Profile and posts visible? Hidden Removed
Reversible? Yes – sign back in No
Followers and following kept? Yes, when you come back No
Handle kept? Yes Released
Needs an email code? No Yes
Good for A break, or a test run of leaving Leaving for good

Deleting the app from your phone does neither. Your account stays live until you deactivate or delete it from settings.

How to Deactivate Your Bluesky Account

  1. Open Settings, then Account.
  2. Tap Deactivate account.
  3. Read the confirmation and tap Yes, deactivate.

While deactivated, your profile, posts, replies and likes stop showing across the network, and you stop appearing in other people's follower and following lists and counts. Your data is not deleted; it is kept on your server, waiting. This is the right choice if you want a break from Bluesky but might be back, or if you are not sure yet.

How to Reactivate a Deactivated Bluesky Account

Sign in with your handle or email and your password. Bluesky will tell you the account is deactivated and offer to reactivate it. Once you do, your profile, posts and follow relationships come back as they were. It can take a little while for counts and lists across the network to catch up.

How to Delete Your Bluesky Account Permanently

  1. Back up your account first. Download your data before you delete anything. Deletion cannot be undone, and Bluesky cannot restore it for you.
  2. Open your account settings. In the Bluesky app or at bsky.app, open Settings, then Account.
  3. Choose Delete account. Scroll to the bottom and tap Delete account. Bluesky sends a confirmation code to the email address on your account.
  4. Enter the code and your password. Type the code from the email and your account password. App passwords will not work here.
  5. Confirm the deletion. Tap the final delete button. Your posts, profile and records are removed from your server and stop showing on Bluesky.

If the code doesn't arrive, check spam and make sure you can still reach the email address on the account. If you have lost access to that inbox, change the email in Settings first; you will need the code.

What Happens to Your Posts, Followers and Handle After Deletion

Your posts and profile

They are deleted from your server and drop out of Bluesky's app and search. Links to your posts stop working, and replies other people wrote to you stay up but lose the post they were replying to.

Copies elsewhere

Bluesky is an open network. Everything you posted was public and was sent out over the firehose as you posted it, so other services may have kept copies: archives, search engines, feed generators, research datasets, or anyone running a firehose consumer like the ones in our firehose guide. Deleting your account sends delete events, and well-behaved services honor them, but nobody can guarantee every copy is gone. The same is true of screenshots.

Your follows, likes, blocks and lists

These are records in your own repository, so they go with it. People you followed lose a follower, and lists you made disappear for anyone who used them. Because blocks are public records (see are Bluesky blocks public?), your blocks disappear too.

Your handle

A .bsky.social handle is released and could be registered by someone else later. If your handle is your own domain, nobody else can use it without control of that domain. If you want a fresh start later, you sign up for a new account; the deleted one can't be revived.

Your DMs

Messages you sent stay in the other person's conversation history as far as their copy of the chat goes. Assume anything you sent someone may still be visible to them.

What to Back Up Before You Go

Even if you're sure, save a copy. It takes a minute and it's the only way back to your posts.

  • Bluesky's own export. In Settings, under Account, Export my data downloads your repository as a CAR file. It's complete, but it isn't easy to read without tools.
  • A readable backup. Skyscraper's free Account Backups tool saves your posts, followers and following as HTML or JSON, no password required. Our backup guide walks through it.
  • Your photos and videos. Media you uploaded is part of the account. If any of it exists only on Bluesky, save it.
  • Your lists and starter packs. If other people rely on a list you made, consider handing it over before you leave, or warn them. See what happens when a list is deleted.

Alternatives to Deleting Your Account

Plenty of people delete because one part of Bluesky got to be too much. Some smaller fixes:

  • Too many notifications? Turn most of them off and keep only mentions and replies.
  • Harassment or pile-ons? Use reply controls, blocks, mute words and moderation lists. Our blocklists guide covers the strongest options.
  • Want privacy? Bluesky has no private accounts, but you can limit how logged-out visitors see your profile and lean on DMs and group chats for private conversation.
  • Want to leave Bluesky the company but not the network? You can move your account to another server and keep your followers. See how to move to another PDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between deactivating and deleting a Bluesky account?

Deactivating hides your profile and posts but keeps your data, and you can undo it by signing back in. Deleting permanently removes your account and cannot be undone.

How do I delete my Bluesky account?

Open Settings, then Account, and tap Delete account. Enter the confirmation code Bluesky emails you and your password, then confirm.

How do I reactivate my Bluesky account?

Sign in with your usual handle or email and password. Bluesky offers to reactivate the account, and your profile, posts and follows come back.

Does deleting the Bluesky app delete my account?

No. Removing the app from your phone does nothing to your account. You have to deactivate or delete it in Settings.

Are my posts gone forever after I delete my Bluesky account?

They are removed from Bluesky, but because posts are public as soon as they are made, third-party archives and services may have kept copies.

Can I get my Bluesky account back after deleting it?

No. Deletion is permanent. You can create a new account, but your old posts and followers will not come back, which is why a backup first is important.

Your Data in Skyscraper

Skyscraper can't delete or deactivate your account for you – that is done in Bluesky's own settings – but it helps with the part before:

  • Full HTML and JSON backup of your posts, readable without any tools
  • Account Data – browse everything in your repository, in lexicon or plain English, so you know what you're about to delete
  • Stats and recaps – your most-liked posts and year recaps, worth a look before you go

Download Skyscraper →