Deleting your Robinhood account requires you to sell or transfer all holdings first, then submit a closure request through the app or website

Robinhood will not delete an account that holds cash, stocks, options, or cryptocurrency. You must liquidate or move everything out before the closure goes through. The process itself takes a few minutes to request, but the waiting period varies — some accounts close within days, others take two to three weeks depending on whether there are pending transactions or unsettled trades.

If you have a margin account (borrowed money from Robinhood), you must pay back the full balance before closure. If you have open orders, they will be cancelled when you request deletion. Robinhood does not charge a fee to close the account.

Key Takeaways

  • Sell all stocks, options, and cryptocurrency, and withdraw all cash to a linked bank account before requesting account closure.
  • If you hold fractional shares, sell them through the app — you cannot transfer fractional shares to another brokerage.
  • Margin account balances must be paid in full; Robinhood will not close the account while you owe them money.
  • Submit the closure request through the app under Account Settings or through the website's Help Center, then confirm via email.
  • After closure, your account data and trade history remain available for tax purposes if you contact Robinhood support.

Sell or transfer all your holdings

Open the Robinhood app and go to your portfolio. Sell every stock, ETF, and option position you hold. If you own fractional shares (pieces of a share), sell those too — most other brokerages will not accept fractional shares in a transfer, so liquidating them now avoids complications later.

For cryptocurrency, sell it back to USD in the app. Robinhood does not allow you to transfer crypto to an external wallet, so selling is your only option.

Once everything is sold, the cash sits in your Robinhood account. Withdraw it to your linked bank account. Go to Account, then Transfers, then Withdraw, and select your bank. The transfer typically takes one to three business days.

Pay off any margin balance

If your account shows a negative cash balance or a margin loan, you owe Robinhood money. Deposit funds to cover the full amount before you can close the account. Go to Account, then Transfers, then Deposit, and send money from your bank. Once the deposit clears and the balance is zero, you can proceed with closure.

Robinhood will not process a closure request while an outstanding balance exists. If you are unsure whether you owe anything, check your Account Balance — it should show a positive number or zero.

Request closure through the app or website

On the Robinhood app, go to Account (the profile icon), then scroll to the bottom and tap "Contact Us" or "Help." Search for "close account" or "delete account." You should see an option to request account closure. Tap it and follow the prompts to confirm.

On the website, log in, go to Account Settings, and look for Account Closure or Deactivation. Some users find it faster to visit the Help Center, search "close my account," and click the link to submit a closure request form.

Robinhood will send a confirmation email to the address on file. Open it and click the link to verify the closure. Without this confirmation, the request does not go through.

What happens after you submit the request

Robinhood processes closures in batches. Your account may close within a few days, or it may take up to three weeks. If you have pending deposits, unsettled trades (trades that have not yet settled to your account), or open orders, the closure will be delayed until those clear.

You will receive an email when the account is officially closed. At that point, you can no longer log in. Your trade history and tax documents remain available — if you need them later, contact Robinhood support and request your records.

If you want to keep your account but stop using it

You do not have to delete your account if you straightforward want to stop trading. You can leave it open with zero balance indefinitely. Robinhood does not charge inactivity fees. This is useful if you think you might return to trading later, or if you want to keep the account for tax record purposes.

If you want to hide the app from your phone but keep the account, straightforward delete the app — your account remains active and you can reinstall and log back in anytime.

Transferring to another brokerage instead of closing

If you want to move your holdings to a different brokerage (like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard), you can request an ACAT transfer (Automated Customer Account Transfer) instead of selling everything. The new brokerage handles most of the work — you open an account there, request the transfer, and they pull your positions from Robinhood.

ACAT transfers typically take five to seven business days. Fractional shares still cannot be transferred, so you will need to sell those separately. Once the transfer completes, your Robinhood account will be empty, and you can then request closure if you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my account if I have unsettled trades?

No. Unsettled trades must clear before closure. Most trades settle in two business days. Wait for the settlement to complete, then submit your closure request. Robinhood will show you the settlement date in your Activity tab.

What if I forgot which bank account I linked to Robinhood?

Go to Account, then Transfers, and look at your linked accounts. You will see the bank name and the last four digits of the account number. If you need to change it before withdrawing, you can add a new bank account and transfer to that instead.

Do I lose my tax documents when I close the account?

No. After closure, you can still request your 1099 forms and trade history from Robinhood support. Keep your confirmation email showing the account was closed. You may need it if the IRS asks about your trading activity.

Can someone else close my account if I give them my password?

Technically yes, but Robinhood will send a confirmation email to your registered email address. If someone closes your account without permission, check that email when ready and contact Robinhood support to report unauthorized access.

How long does it take to get my money back after I withdraw it?

Bank transfers from Robinhood take one to three business days. Weekends and holidays do not count. If it takes longer, contact your bank — the delay is usually on their end, not Robinhood's.