Disconnect Plaid in three steps through your bank's settings
Plaid is a data connection service that apps use to read your bank balance and transaction history. To stop Plaid from accessing your account, you disconnect it through your bank's own security settings — not through Plaid itself. The process takes about five minutes and works the same way whether you connected Plaid months ago or last week.
The fastest route is to log into your bank's website or app, find the "Connected Apps" or "Authorized Applications" section (usually under Settings or Security), locate Plaid in the list, and select Remove or Disconnect. Your bank then revokes Plaid's permission to see your account. Any app that relied on that Plaid connection will stop working when ready — you will not be able to check your balance through that app until you reconnect.
If you cannot find the connected apps section, call your bank's customer service line and ask them to revoke Plaid access. They can do it in one call and will confirm when it is complete. Do not try to revoke access through the third-party app itself; that usually does not work because the app cannot force your bank to disconnect.
Key Takeaways
- Log into your bank's website or mobile app and look for Connected Apps, Authorized Applications, or Third-Party Access under Settings or Security.
- Find Plaid in the list and select Remove, Disconnect, or Revoke — the exact wording varies by bank.
- Once you disconnect, any app using Plaid to access that account will stop working until you reconnect it.
- If you cannot locate the setting yourself, call your bank's customer service and ask them to revoke Plaid access by name.
- Disconnecting Plaid does not affect your bank account itself — it only stops the data connection between Plaid and your bank.
Where to find the connected apps section at major banks
The location of the connected apps setting varies slightly by bank, but the pattern is consistent. Log into your bank's website or app and look for a Settings, Security, Privacy, or Account Management menu. From there, search for "Connected Apps," "Authorized Applications," "Third-Party Access," "App Permissions," or "Linked Accounts."
At Chase, this setting is under Settings > Security > Connected Apps. At Bank of America, it is under Settings > Security & Alerts > Authorized Applications. At Wells Fargo, look under Settings > Security > Connected Applications. At Citibank, it is under Settings > Security > Authorized Applications. At smaller regional banks, the path may be different — if you cannot find it after checking the main Settings menu, call the bank directly.
Once you find the section, you will see a list of apps and services that have permission to access your account. Plaid will appear by name. Click on it and select the option to remove, disconnect, or revoke access. The bank will ask you to confirm. After confirmation, Plaid no longer has permission to read your account.
What happens to your apps after you disconnect Plaid
When you disconnect Plaid, any app that was using Plaid to connect to that bank account will stop working. If you use a budgeting app like Mint or YNAB, a bill-pay service, or an investment tracker that relied on Plaid, those apps will show an error the next time they try to sync your balance. The app itself does not disappear — you just lose the automatic data connection.
You have two options at that point. You can reconnect Plaid by logging back into your bank's settings and re-authorizing it, which takes about two minutes. Or you can remove the app entirely if you no longer need it. Some apps offer alternative ways to connect — for example, you might be able to upload transactions manually or use your bank's own app instead.
Your bank account itself is not affected. Disconnecting Plaid does not close your account, change your balance, or affect any direct deposits or automatic payments you have set up. It only stops the third-party app from seeing your data.
Why you might want to disconnect Plaid
The most common reason to disconnect Plaid is that you no longer use the app it was connected to. If you stopped using a budgeting app six months ago but Plaid still has access, removing it reduces the number of services that can see your account information. Fewer connections means a smaller window for data breaches or unauthorized access.
Some people disconnect Plaid because they are concerned about data privacy. Plaid collects transaction data and sells anonymized insights to financial companies and researchers. If you want to limit how much of your financial data is shared, disconnecting apps you do not actively use is one way to reduce that flow.
You might also disconnect Plaid if you are switching banks or closing an account. When you move to a new bank, you will need to reconnect Plaid to the new account anyway, so there is no point keeping the old connection active.
Reconnecting Plaid if you change your mind
If you disconnect Plaid and later decide you want to use the app again, reconnecting is straightforward. Open the app that uses Plaid, look for a "Connect Bank" or "Link Account" button, and select your bank. Plaid will walk you through the authorization process again — you will log into your bank's website or app, and Plaid will ask your permission to access your account. Once you confirm, the connection is active again.
The reconnection process is identical to the original connection. You will not lose any data or settings in the app itself — only the live connection to your bank was severed. After you reconnect, the app will sync your current balance and recent transactions, and everything will work as before.
If you cannot find Plaid in your connected apps list
Sometimes Plaid appears under a different name in your bank's connected apps section. It might be listed as "Plaid Technologies," "Plaid Inc.," or under the name of the specific app you used to connect it — for example, "Mint" or "YNAB." If you see an app name you do not recognize, search for it online to confirm whether it uses Plaid before you disconnect it.
If you have looked through your bank's connected apps section and do not see Plaid at all, it is possible the connection was already revoked, or the app you used to connect it was removed from your phone or computer. In that case, there is nothing to disconnect — Plaid no longer has access to your account.
If you are certain you connected Plaid but cannot find it, call your bank's customer service line. Give them the name of the app you used to connect (for example, "I connected Plaid through Mint"), and ask them to check whether Plaid has active access to your account. They can tell you when ready and revoke it if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disconnecting Plaid affect my direct deposits or automatic bill payments?
No. Plaid only reads your account information — it does not control deposits, payments, or transfers. Disconnecting Plaid will not stop direct deposits, automatic bill payments, or any other recurring transactions you have set up with your bank.
Will my bank account be closed if I disconnect Plaid?
No. Disconnecting Plaid only removes permission for that service to access your account. Your bank account remains open and fully functional. Your balance, transactions, and all account features are unaffected.
Can I disconnect Plaid from just one app while keeping it connected to another?
No. When you disconnect Plaid through your bank's settings, you revoke its access to that entire bank account. All apps using Plaid to connect to that account will lose access. If you want to keep using Plaid with one app, you will need to leave it connected and then reconnect it to the other app later.
What if I disconnect Plaid and then forget which apps were using it?
Before you disconnect, take a screenshot or write down which apps you were using that relied on Plaid. If you forget, you can reconnect Plaid and then check each app to see if it syncs properly. Apps that were using Plaid will show a successful connection; apps that were not will show an error or will not have a Plaid option.
Is it safe to disconnect Plaid?
Yes. Disconnecting Plaid is safe and does not harm your bank account or your credit. It straightforward stops one service from accessing your account data. If you are not actively using an app that relies on Plaid, disconnecting it reduces the number of third parties that can see your financial information.