How to close your PayPal account
To close your PayPal account, log in, go to Settings, select Account, then find and click "Close your account" at the bottom of the page. PayPal will ask you to confirm the closure and may ask why you're leaving. Once you confirm, the account closes immediately, though it takes a few days for PayPal to fully process the closure on their end.
Before you close, make sure your account balance is zero. If you have money in your PayPal wallet, transfer it to your linked bank account first—PayPal will not close an account with a balance. If you have any pending transactions, disputes, or open cases, PayPal may not let you close until those are resolved.
After closure, you cannot reopen the same account. If you change your mind later, you'll have to create a new one with the same email address (after a waiting period) or use a different email entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Your PayPal account must have a zero balance before closure—transfer any remaining money to your bank account first.
- Pending transactions, refunds, or open disputes will block closure until they're resolved.
- The account closes immediately after you confirm, though full processing takes a few days.
- You cannot reopen a closed account; creating a new one requires either waiting or using a different email address.
- PayPal keeps records of your closed account for their own compliance purposes, even after it's gone.
Check your account balance and pending activity
Log into your PayPal account and go to your Wallet to see your current balance. If you have money sitting there, click "Transfer Money" and move it to your linked bank account. This transfer usually takes one to three business days, depending on your bank.
While you're in your account, check for any pending transactions. Go to your Activity or Transaction History and look for anything marked "Pending," "Processing," or "Unclaimed." If someone sent you money that you haven't accepted yet, you'll need to either accept or decline it before closing. Similarly, if you have any open refund requests or disputes, those must be resolved first—PayPal won't let you close an account with unfinished business.
If you have a PayPal Credit line or PayPal Working Capital loan attached to your account, you cannot close until that debt is paid off. Check your Accounts section to see if any credit products are active.
Steps to close your account through Settings
Once your balance is zero and there are no pending items, log in to PayPal and click the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. On the left side menu, select "Account." Scroll to the very bottom of the page—you'll see a link that says "Close your account" or "Close account."
Click that link. PayPal will show you a confirmation screen explaining that closure is permanent and that you won't be able to use the account again. You may see a dropdown asking why you're closing—this is optional, but PayPal uses the feedback to improve their service. Select a reason or skip it.
Click the final confirmation button. Your account is now closed. You'll receive a confirmation email from PayPal within a few minutes.
What happens to your information after closure
PayPal keeps your account information on file even after you close, for legal and compliance reasons. They retain transaction history, personal details, and payment records for seven years or longer, depending on the type of transaction and applicable law. This is standard practice for all payment processors and financial institutions.
You won't be able to log in or access your account after closure, but PayPal can still pull up your records if needed for a dispute, refund, or legal matter. If someone tries to send you money to the email address associated with your closed account, that payment will fail and the sender will be notified.
Reopening an account after closure
You cannot reopen the exact same account. However, you can create a new PayPal account using the same email address—but only after a waiting period. PayPal typically requires you to wait before reactivating an email that was tied to a closed account, though the exact length of this waiting period is not publicly specified and may vary.
If you don't want to wait, you can create a new account immediately using a different email address. Both accounts will be separate, with separate transaction histories and balances.
Reasons to close versus reasons to keep your account
Close your account if you no longer use PayPal, prefer another payment method, or want to stop receiving emails from them. Closure is also the right move if you're concerned about security and want to eliminate an unused account from your digital footprint.
Keep your account if you might need it later for receiving payments, refunds, or transfers. Even if you don't use PayPal regularly, keeping an inactive account costs nothing and leaves the door open. You can also simply stop using it without closing—your account will just sit dormant, and you can log back in anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have a balance left in my PayPal account?
Transfer it to your linked bank account before closing. Go to your Wallet, click "Transfer Money," and select your bank. The transfer takes one to three business days. PayPal will not close an account with any balance remaining.
Can I close my account if I have an open dispute or refund?
No. You must wait for the dispute to be resolved or the refund to complete. Once the transaction is finished, you can close. If you're waiting on a refund from a seller, contact them to speed it up.
Will closing my account affect my credit score?
No. Closing a PayPal account has no impact on your credit. PayPal is not a credit card issuer, so account closure doesn't appear on your credit report. If you have PayPal Credit debt, that must be paid off first.
Can I use the same email to create a new PayPal account right after closing?
Not immediately. PayPal requires a waiting period before you can reuse an email tied to a closed account. The exact length varies. Using a different email address lets you create a new account right away.
What if I closed my account by mistake?
Contact PayPal Support through the Help Center on their website. Explain that you closed by mistake and ask if they can reopen it. They may be able to help if the closure is very recent, but there's no may provide. Creating a new account with the same or different email is usually faster.