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What Happens When You Deactivate Twitter: The Entire Facts

Ochai Emmanuel

June 27, 2023 | 10 min read

Although many Twitter users deactivate their accounts every day, some are still unsure about what happens to these accounts. Thus, there has been some confusion regarding the fate of items like direct messages and followers after account deactivation. This is because some tweeps who deactivate their accounts do not aim for deletion. Instead, they do this to take short breaks from the social media platform. Therefore, questions remain about what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts.

Usually, when you deactivate your Twitter account, the platform usually erases most of your data, temporarily removing them from public view. Your public tweets could still be visible in search engine results during this period. However, most of your content will be inaccessible until you reactivate your account. If you do not, Twitter will finally erase traces of your account after the 30-day period. Well, this article exhaustively explains what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts. You can also deactivate twitter temporarily if you don’t want your account to be deleted permanently. On the other hand, to delete X account, visit the account settings and choose the option to deactivate it. Or to stop using the platform, follow simple steps to delete your Twitter account permanently. If you’re wondering, “Did Twitter delete my account?” you might need to check your email for any notifications or contact Twitter support for assistance.

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What Happens to DMs When You Deactivate Twitter? Do They Remain, or Do They Disappear?

Users place much importance on the secrecy of their private conversations. Others deactivate their accounts to do away with some conversations they want to go. However, there is still some confusion about what eventually happens to these conversations after they erase an account. Thus, people often wonder about what happens to DMs when you deactivate Twitter. 

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Regarding DMs, What Happens When You Deactivate Twitter?

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In regards to direct messages, questions abound about what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts. When you deactivate your Twitter account, the platform retains your messages. People at the other end of the conversations can still access them. However, the social media service limits other users from exchanging new direct messages with you. It remains this way throughout the 30-day waiting period. 

This is because while Twitter removes your account, tweets, replies, and other content from search results, it keeps certain information. Some of this information remains visible until the platform finally deletes your account. This process preserves your details all through the deactivation period. To delete an old Twitter account, navigate to Twitter’s settings, locate the account deactivation option, and follow the prompts to permanently remove it.

However, some users have noted that people can access direct messages from deleted Twitter accounts in their archives. Thus, there has been skepticism surrounding Twitter’s claims that deleting Twitter accounts deals with direct messages. This has made people unsure of what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts.

Can You Save Your DMs When You Deactivate Twitter Accounts?

Before deactivating Twitter accounts, users often save their direct messages. This is because they do not plan on returning to the platform. Also, you can save your DMs if unsure what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts. You can do this by saving your Twitter archive or by using a third-party application. 

Saving your Twitter archive saves an offline copy of your data efficiently, including your direct messages, tweets, retweets, and other information. Here is how to do that:

  1. Launch the Twitter application on your mobile device or open the website in your browser and log into your account. 
  2. Go to the left sidebar from your homepage and choose “Settings and Support.” 
  3. Open your “Settings and privacy” and head to “Your account.”
  4. From the options, tap “Download an archive of your data.” Twitter will require that you confirm your password to finalize your request. 
  5. The platform will also send an SMS verification code to your phone number, which you must verify.
  6. Twitter will send a notification when your archive is ready. Go back to the “Your account” page to download the file.
  7. Alternatively, you can download the archive file from the email notification you’ll receive. 

You can access all your direct messages from this archive at any time. Overall, it offers an excellent way to save your Twitter messages. It is a crucial backup plan if you’re not certain about what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts. 

Other third-party applications like Decipher Twit-DM allow users to download their Twitter DMs in PDFs. You must link your Twitter account, provide permissions, and export your messages. 

When You Deactivate Twitter, What Happens to Your Followers? Do They Remain Intact?

Another critical concern people have when deactivating their Twitter accounts is the fate of their followers. It is a valid issue for users with intentions of reactivating their accounts after a while. It is problematic to retrieve your account to find your followers gone. So, when you deactivate Twitter, what happens to your followers?

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With Your Followers, What Happens When You Deactivate Twitter

Usually, Twitter keeps your information intact within 30 days of account deactivation. This is so that it can quickly restore your X account it if you decide to reactivate it eventually. Well, most of this information remains inaccessible pending your return. Nonetheless, regarding your followers, here is what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts.

First, the social media platform stops your account from appearing in your followers’ news feeds. Also, your account does not appear in username searches; you are unreachable now. It remains this way until you reactivate your account. However, if you do not reactivate your account within this window, the platform effectively finalizes this deactivation process, making it permanent. 

Again, you will not appear on other users’ accounts, neither as someone they follow nor as their follower. Twitter immediately removes your accounts from private and public lists, preventing your followers from interacting with you. In addition, deactivating your account stops followers from tagging your username. Despite Twitter erasing most of your information, your information could remain visible for a few days. Concerning followers, this is exactly what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts.

Do You Lose Followers When You Deactivate Twitter? 

When you deactivate your Twitter account, the platform hides your information, including your followers and following. You would no longer appear on other users’ accounts as someone they follow. Thus, people often wonder if this factor affects your account even when you reactivate it. There are questions about what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts and if you lose followers.

You do not lose followers when you deactivate your Twitter account. Twitter hides all information regarding your followers and people you follow pending your return. However, you may not see a complete count of your followers immediately after reactivating your account. This is because it can take up to 24 hours for Twitter to restore your complete list of followers. If this does not happen within this period, the platform recommends you refresh your account. You can do this by logging out and logging back in. 

You may have to contact Twitter customer support if these do not work. Overall, your followers will remain intact even after you’ve deactivated and reactivated your Twitter account. Your followers will only shrink if some of your followers begin to unfollow you. You could also lose followers if some of your followers deactivate their accounts. Otherwise, regarding your number of followers, this is what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts.

What Happens to Your Tweets When You Deactivate Twitter? Does Twitter Retain Them?

Tweets are another major concern among people looking to deactivate their accounts. Twitter users fear losing their tweets due to their importance. To most users, tweets are the primary elements of an account. Even when deactivating accounts, many users make efforts to preserve them. So, what happens to your tweets when you deactivate Twitter accounts. 

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With Tweets, What Happens When You Deactivate Twitter?

Again, users often ask what happens when you deactivate Twitter accounts concerning tweets. Some users make these inquiries to get things straight before leaving the platform. Like most other elements on your account, Twitter retains your tweets but hides them when you deactivate your account. This means that your followers and other Twitter users will not have access to your tweets. The social media service removes them from the timeline for that deactivation period. 

This does not mean that deactivating your account entails losing your Twitter posts. An eventual return to the platform would trigger the return of your posts right where they belong. However, keeping your account deactivated over 30 days would mean losing your tweets and your entire account. In cases like this, the platform finalizes the removal of your posts forever. 

If you plan on returning, you may not consider your tweets gone immediately after deactivating your account. However, the social media website does not allow other users to interact with them. If a user tries to open the tweet, the platform will notify them of its removal. In the same way, users would see that your account is no longer on the platform.

Usually, it takes a few days for your tweets to disappear from the platform after account deactivation. Subsequent references to your tweets will open broken links. Well, regarding tweets, this is what happens when you deactivate your Twitter account.

Should I Backup My Tweets Before Deactivating a Twitter Account?

After getting a grip on what happens when you deactivate your Twitter account, you could still need some extra assurance. Although you can always recover your tweets after reactivating your Twitter account, backing them up could still be great. This especially applies to users having second thoughts about returning to the platform. If this is the case, it’s always better to back up your tweets before deactivating the account. Twitter account recovery can be initiated by following the steps on Twitter’s website, which typically involve verifying your identity through email or phone number linked to the account.

Several options exist for backing up your tweets. These options involve downloading your Twitter archive, using cloud applications, and employing third-party apps. Cloud applications offer extra advantages because they allow users to access their information on any device in case of loss. For instance, you could download your archive before uploading it and backing it to your Google Drive

You can also use third-party applications like twtData that help users save offline copies of their Twitter information. For instance, twtData permits users to download different copies of their tweets, direct messages, and other Twitter information. In this case, you may not necessarily need to return to the platform after deactivating your account. You can always consult the backup copy of your tweets when needed. 

Third-party applications such as those have proven useful over time, with Twitter users employing them due to their convenience. In the same way, do check out TweetEraser, a Twitter management tool that primarily helps with bulk tweet deletion.At TweetEraser, we have designed a simple, highly efficient web tool for deleting tweets in large numbers. This web tool also loads Twitter archives, performing complicated tweet deletion operations. It is ideal for tweeps who intend on cleaning their timelines. Start filtering and cleaning your Twitter timeline today!

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