You can close your PayPal account yourself through the settings menu, but you need to settle any balance first and understand what happens to your transaction history.

PayPal lets you close your account in a few steps, but the process depends on whether you have money in your account, pending transactions, or active subscriptions. The account stays closed permanently once you finish — you cannot reopen it under the same email address. If you want to use PayPal again later, you will need to create a new account with a different email.

Before you start, check your account balance and cancel any recurring payments or subscriptions tied to that PayPal account. Money sitting in your account must be withdrawn to your bank account or transferred out before PayPal will let you close it.

Key Takeaways

  • Your PayPal account balance must be zero before you can close the account — withdraw any remaining money to your linked bank account first.
  • Cancel all active subscriptions and recurring payments through PayPal before closing, or those merchants will not be able to charge you.
  • Closed accounts cannot be reopened, and you cannot create a new PayPal account using the same email address for 30 days.
  • Your transaction history remains visible to PayPal for record-keeping, but you will lose access to it once the account closes.
  • If you have an active dispute or claim, PayPal will not let you close until it is resolved.

Withdraw your money before closing

PayPal will not close an account that has a balance. Log into your account and check your balance — it appears at the top of your dashboard. If you have money there, you need to transfer it out first.

The fastest way is to transfer the balance to your linked bank account. Go to your Wallet, select your bank account, and choose "Transfer Money." Enter the amount and confirm. This usually takes one to three business days. If you do not have a bank account linked, you can add one before transferring, or you can request a check by mail (though this takes longer).

If you have money in different currencies, PayPal will convert it at their current rate when you transfer. Check the conversion before you confirm.

Cancel subscriptions and recurring payments

Before closing your account, find and cancel any subscriptions or automatic payments you set up through PayPal. These are payments that happen on a schedule — things like streaming services, gym memberships, or monthly donations that you authorized PayPal to charge.

To find them, log in and go to Settings, then Payments. Look for "Manage automatic payments" or "Subscriptions." You will see a list of every merchant that has permission to charge your PayPal account. Click on each one and select "Cancel" or "Turn off." Do this for every active subscription before you close the account.

If you do not cancel these first, the merchants will still try to charge you after your account closes. PayPal will decline the charge, but the merchant may contact you about the failed payment or try to collect another way.

Close your account through settings

Once your balance is zero and subscriptions are canceled, you can close the account. Log in to PayPal, go to Settings (the gear icon), and select Account. Scroll down to find "Close your account" — the exact wording may vary slightly depending on whether you are on mobile or desktop.

PayPal will ask you why you are closing. You do not have to give a detailed reason, but they may offer options like "I no longer need this account" or "I prefer another service." Select the one that fits and continue.

You will be asked to confirm. PayPal will warn you that the account cannot be reopened and that you will lose access to your transaction history. Read this carefully, then confirm the closure. Your account closes when ready.

What happens to your information after closing

Once closed, you cannot log back in or access your transaction history through PayPal. However, PayPal keeps records of your account for their own legal and financial reasons — they do not delete it from their systems.

If you need a record of a past transaction for taxes, a refund dispute, or other reasons, take screenshots or read your transaction history before you close. PayPal does not provide this information after the account is gone.

You cannot create a new PayPal account using the same email address for 30 days after closing. After 30 days, you can sign up again with that email if you want to.

If PayPal will not let you close

PayPal may block account closure if you have an active dispute, a pending refund, or a balance you cannot withdraw. If you see an error message when you try to close, check for these issues first.

Active disputes or claims must be resolved before closing — you cannot close while PayPal is investigating a transaction. If you have a pending refund from a merchant, wait for it to arrive before trying again. If you cannot withdraw your balance because of a limitation on your account, contact PayPal support to understand why the account is limited and what you need to do to unlock it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I close my PayPal account if I have a negative balance?

No. A negative balance means you owe PayPal money. You must pay the amount owed before closing. Contact PayPal support if you are unsure how much you owe or how to pay it.

What if I forgot the password to my PayPal account?

Use the "Forgot password?" link on the PayPal login page to reset it. You will need access to the email address or phone number linked to the account. Once you reset the password and log in, you can proceed with closing.

Will closing my PayPal account hurt my credit score?

No. Closing a PayPal account does not affect your credit because PayPal does not report account closures to credit bureaus. Your credit score is based on credit accounts like loans and credit cards, not digital wallets.

Can someone else close my PayPal account?

Only the account owner can close it. PayPal requires you to log in with your password and confirm the closure. If you believe someone else has access to your account, change your password when ready and enable two-factor authentication before closing.

Do I need to close my account, or can I just stop using it?

You can straightforward stop using it without closing. An inactive account does not hurt anything. However, if you want PayPal to delete your information and prevent any future charges, closing is the way to do it.