Deactivate Twitter Temporarily: A Guide to a Short Break

Twitter is fun until the pressure gets intense. When this happens, many users prefer staying away from the spotlight. One extreme action some users might take is deactivating their accounts. However, most of them just want to get a short break to get things back in order. So, there have been some questions about a possible way to deactivate Twitter temporarily.

There are a lot of speculations about Twitter deactivation because of the chances of it resulting in permanent deletion. After all, users only want to stay away for a while and don’t want to lose essential content. To clear up your confusion, here is a detailed guide to help you deactivate Twitter temporarily.

How Is Twitter Deactivation Different From Deletion? All the Details You Should Know

Have you ever wondered what distinguishes a deactivated Twitter account from a deleted one? Deactivating and deleting a Twitter account are two interrelated actions. But whichever one you choose determines what happens to your online presence. Most social media platforms allow users to delete their profiles, but Twitter offers the deactivation option as an alternative. 

Twitter deactivation is a simple solution to freeze your account without losing your username and old tweets. Deactivating your account removes your public profile and username from the platform. However, the account still exists on the Twitter database. On the other hand, deleting your account means your username and old tweets will no longer exist. Every detail about the account disappears forever.

How Can You Temporarily Deactivate Twitter?

Although most social media platforms allow users to deactivate their accounts, only a few allow it temporarily. Twitter is a famous platform with millions of users. It’s only fair that they can temporarily deactivate their accounts. However, many people are still puzzled about the possibility of this happening. This is why one of the popular deactivation FAQs is can you temporarily deactivate Twitter?

Well, Twitter allows users to deactivate their accounts temporarily. The platform understands its users and creates the deactivation option to meet their needs. Deactivation makes things easier for anyone seeking a break from the pressure. When you deactivate Twitter temporarily, your account freezes for 30 days before permanent deletion. 

Therefore, you must reactivate it within the 30-day deactivation period to avoid losing your account forever. The 30-day deactivation window gives you enough time to decide if you still want your account. Your public profile, username, followers, tweets, and the list won’t appear on Twitter during this period. This doesn’t mean you will lose them; The system will only hide every information about your account for 30 days. 

Your account will function normally after reactivation. Unfortunately, you will lose your account permanently if you don’t reactivate it before the 30-day deactivation window elapses. All your old tweets will become inaccessible. However, you can register the same username for other Twitter accounts.

What Happens When You Deactivate Twitter Temporarily?

When you deactivate your Twitter account, the system erases your profile on the platform. You must reactivate it before the 30-day deactivation window closes to revive your profile. The system assumes you no longer want your account if you don’t reactivate it during this period. It ceases to exist in their systems after the period elapses. At this point, you lose the opportunity to reactivate the deleted account.

Although the system hides your information after you deactivate Twitter temporarily, your username will still exist in some cases. For instance, mentions of your username on other  Tweets will still appear. However, these tweets will no longer redirect people to your profile because your profile is temporarily unavailable.

Also, the platform may keep some information on your deactivated account for security reasons. It is their way of ensuring the safety and security of the platform and other Twitter users. Your account data will exist on their database after deactivation. However, if you want your Twitter data, you must request to download it before deactivating your account.

How to Temporarily Deactivate a Twitter Account: Guide To Leaving for a While

The entire deactivation process puts your account on hold until permanent deletion. So, if you want to deactivate it temporarily, you must reverse the action within the given timeframe. Although the entire process seems complicated, it is more straightforward than you think. So, here is a guide to help you know how to temporarily deactivate a Twitter account.

Steps on How to Temporarily Deactivate Twitter on the Phone

Most tweeps prefer accessing the social media platform with mobile devices due to the convenience of navigating the Twitter App. Although the buttons and options in the App are easy-to-use, the deactivation process can still be confusing. Fortunately, you can achieve this with a few straightforward steps. Once you are able to navigate the App, you’ll finish within a few minutes. 

Therefore, here are the steps to complete the action on a mobile device:

1. First, launch the Twitter app on the phone. Then, log into your account with your login details. The screen display will automatically change to your timeline.
2. Check the top left corner of the screen for the profile icon; tap on it. A menu will appear; select the  “Settings and Privacy” option. 
3. Tap  “Account” on the next page and scroll to the bottom of the display page. Select “Deactivate Your Account.”  The screen display will change to the terms of account deactivation. 
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap “Deactivate.” A page will appear asking you to enter your current password to confirm your deactivation request. 
5. Enter your password and tap the deactivate button on the bottom right corner of the screen. This immediately finalizes the process.

After successful deactivation, you can now temporarily deactivate Twitter by reactivating it within the given timeframe. You should note that the 30-day deactivation period starts counting after a successful deactivation process. This straightforward guide answers your question about temporarily deactivating Twitter on the phone. But what if you wanted to use a desktop to deactivate your account?

Steps to Deactivate Twitter Temporarily on a Desktop Web Browser

While most users like using the Twitter App, others prefer the desktop version. Thus, there are still questions about deactivating accounts on desktops. Thankfully, the process is also straightforward. Here is how:

1. First, launch Twitter on a desktop web browser. Then, log in with your Twitter login details. This action will automatically direct you to the homepage.
2. On the homepage, locate the “More” option from the sidebar. A pop-up menu will appear with several options.
3. Select “Settings and Support.” A drop-down menu will appear; click on “Settings and Privacy.” Then, click on “Account.” 
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page in the account tab and click on “Deactivate Your Account.” Details of what to expect after deactivation will appear.
5. Locate a red “Deactivate” button at the bottom of the screen and click on it. A pop-up page will appear, asking you to enter your password to confirm the process.
6. Enter your current password, then click “Deactivate Account” to confirm your action.

This action helps to deactivate Twitter temporarily on a desktop. But, the entire process is only a temporary solution to get a break. It doesn’t resolve bigger issues like someone stalking you or hacking into your account. You don’t need to deactivate your account to resolve this; you can contact support for help.

How to Reuse Your Username After You Deactivate Twitter Temporarily

Usernames are unique, and many people require their usernames for proper recognition anywhere. After deactivating their Twitter accounts, some users may need to retain this identity. Some may want to access the platform with the same username on another account. However, others may want to secure their username in case of permanent deletion. Whichever way, the user needs to make their username and Email address reusable in the future. 

A deactivated account’s username and Email address become invalid until the 30-day deactivation window closes. After this period, another account can register this username. However, Twitter provides a way to allow you to reuse your username and Email address after deactivating your previous account. You must change your Email address and username before deactivating it. 

This action makes this information reusable after you deactivate Twitter temporarily and after permanent deletion.

Here is how to do it:

1. Log into your account on any device. Then, navigate to “Settings and Privacy” using the aforementioned steps.
2. Next, select “Account,” then click the username tab to enter a new username. Then, select Email to enter a new Email address in the tab. 
3. Choose “Save Changes” at the bottom of the display page. You will need to enter your password to confirm. Click on confirm after entering your password. 
4. You will receive a confirmation Email in your new contact Email address. Make sure to click the verification link in the confirmation email.

You have successfully switched usernames and Email addresses on your account by clicking the link. You can now deactivate it and reuse this information for another Twitter registration.

How to Reactivate Your Account After You Deactivate Twitter Temporarily

As mentioned, after temporarily deactivating Twitter, you have a 30-day period to reactivate your account. The reactivation process restores your account to its former state. Thankfully, Twitter has made it easy, so you won’t have problems accessing your account.

Here are the steps to perform the reactivation process:

1. Launch the Twitter app on any mobile device or open the website on a desktop web browser. 
2. Enter the Twitter login details for the deactivated account. 
3. A notification message will ask you to confirm your account reactivation. Choose “Reactivate” to access your account. 
4. This action will redirect you to your timeline. 

You have completed the process. However, your content may look different from normal. Your messages, tweets, followers, etc., may take a while to appear. This is normal and could take days or a few hours to complete. Also, you may experience some issues during the reactivation process. For example, you forgot your Twitter login details, or the reactivation option is unavailable after you log in. 

Well, forgetting login details is a common problem among users after temporarily deactivating Twitter. You’ll have to contact support for help logging in. In addition, an unavailable reactivation page is a temporary issue. However, if it persists toward the end of the deactivation deadline, you have to fill out the contact form for help.

How to Prevent Third-party App Access After You Deactivate Twitter Temporarily

Third-party apps are cool for their additional features and functions on Twitter. These apps enhance your experience on the platform. However, they can ruin your deactivation mission. How does this happen? The answer lies in the permission you give these apps to sign into your account.

A third-party app previously linked to your account during deactivation could sign in. This action can reactivate without you knowing. If you want to deactivate your account until you decide to reactivate it, you must remove all third-party app access. Removing their permission prevents them from doing anything after you deactivate Twitter temporarily. 

To do this:

1. Log into your account on any device and navigate to “Settings and Privacy.” 
2. Select “Security and Account Access,” then select “Apps and Sessions.”
3. Click on “Connected Apps.” You will see a list of all third-party Apps connected to your profile. Click on one of them.
4. Click on “Revoke App Permission.” Repeat this action for other Apps on the list. 

Once you remove every third-party app access, you proceed with the deactivation process. Your account will remain deactivated until you reactivate it by yourself.

Why Does Your Content Appear on the Internet After You Deactivate Twitter Temporarily?

After you deactivate Twitter temporarily, you may see some of your content on the internet. This happens because search engines like Google archive content from social media accounts sometimes. Twitter doesn’t have control over search engines, so a deactivation or deletion won’t erase archived content.

How to Stop the Internet From Getting Your Content Before Deactivating Twitter Temporarily

Search engines have third-party access to your profile and may use your content to generate results. This is normal and doesn’t affect your profile. Your contents only appear on the internet because of their relation to the search query. However, if you don’t want this to happen after you deactivate Twitter temporarily, you must make your account private.

Here is how to do it:

1. Log into your account through the mobile app or desktop web browser. Navigate to “Settings and Privacy.” 
2. Click on the search bar and enter “Audience and Tagging.” 
3. Click on the check box beside Protect your Tweet. 

Now, you can prevent your tweets from getting to the internet. This action prevents future content archival from third-party search engines. However, pre-existing contents may still appear. Also, if you later turn off the protection settings, previously protected content will become accessible. Another way to protect your content on the internet is to filter and delete tweets you want to hide. 

Clearing your timeline reassures you of such tweets staying off search engines. This is why here at TweetEraser, we have designed a simple web application that helps to filter and delete mass tweets. This easy-to-use application loads, imports, and deletes tweets and archives. In addition, this app operates without blocking your Twitter timeline with promotions. So, start filtering and cleaning your Twitter timeline today!