You can close a PayPal account yourself in a few minutes, but you need to settle any balance first

PayPal lets you close your account through your account settings. Before you do, you must have a zero balance — meaning no money sitting in your PayPal wallet and no pending transactions. If you have money there, you transfer it to your bank account. If you have active subscriptions or recurring payments set up, you cancel those first. Once your account is clear, you go into Settings, find the Close Account option, and confirm. PayPal will send you a confirmation email.

The process is permanent. Once you close the account, you cannot reopen it under the same email address. If you think you might use PayPal again later, you could instead just stop using it and leave it inactive — that avoids the email address problem. But if you are certain you do not want it, closing is straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Your PayPal account balance must be zero before you can close it; transfer any remaining money to your bank account first.
  • Cancel any active subscriptions or recurring payments through your account before closing, or they may cause problems.
  • The Close Account option is in your Settings menu under Account Information or Account Settings, depending on whether you use the app or website.
  • Closing is permanent and you cannot reuse the same email address to open a new PayPal account later.
  • If you might return to PayPal someday, leaving the account inactive is safer than closing it.

Check your balance and transfer money out

Log into your PayPal account and go to your Wallet or Balance section. This shows you exactly how much money is sitting in your PayPal account. If the balance is zero, you can skip to the next step. If you have money there, you need to move it to your bank account before closing.

Click on the money amount or look for a "Transfer" button. PayPal will let you transfer to a linked bank account. You choose how much to transfer — you can move it all at once or in smaller amounts. The transfer usually takes one to three business days to show up in your bank account. Wait until the transfer completes and your PayPal balance shows zero before you close the account.

Cancel subscriptions and recurring payments

If you have set up any automatic payments through PayPal — like a gym membership, streaming service, or monthly donation — you need to cancel those before closing your account. PayPal will not let you close if active subscriptions are attached to it.

Go to Settings and look for "Payments" or "Subscriptions." You will see a list of any recurring charges. Click on each one and select Cancel or Remove. Some subscriptions may ask you to confirm the cancellation through the merchant's website instead — if that happens, do that first, then come back to PayPal. Once all subscriptions show as cancelled in PayPal, your account is ready to close.

Find the Close Account option on the website

On a computer, log into PayPal.com. Click on the gear icon or "Settings" in the top right corner. Look for "Account Information" or "Account Settings" — the exact wording varies. Scroll down until you see "Close Account" or "Close Your Account." Click it.

PayPal will show you a confirmation screen explaining that closing is permanent and you cannot reopen the account with the same email. It may also ask why you are closing — you can answer or skip that part. Click the final Confirm button. You will get an email confirming the account is closed.

Close your account through the PayPal app

If you use the PayPal mobile app, the steps are similar but the menu layout is different. Open the app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right. Tap "Settings." Scroll down and look for "Account" or "Account Settings." Tap it, then look for "Close Account."

The app will show the same confirmation message as the website. Confirm that you want to close, and the account will be closed. You will receive a confirmation email on the address linked to that PayPal account.

What happens after you close your account

Once closed, you cannot log in anymore. Any money that was in the account is gone if you did not transfer it out — so make sure your balance is zero before you confirm closing. PayPal keeps records of your closed account for their own purposes, but you will not be able to access it.

If someone tries to send you money through PayPal after your account is closed, that payment will fail and the money will go back to them. You cannot use the same email address to open a new PayPal account — if you want to use PayPal again in the future, you will need a different email address.

If you want to keep the account but stop using it

Closing is not your only option. If you think you might use PayPal again someday — to receive money from a friend, make an online purchase, or anything else — you can straightforward leave the account open and inactive. There is no fee for an inactive account. You can log back in anytime and use it again without any extra steps.

This is especially useful if you have used the email address with PayPal for years and other people or services might have it on file. Keeping the account open preserves that connection without costing you anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have a pending transaction when I try to close?

PayPal will not let you close if money is moving in or out of your account. Wait for all pending transfers to complete — usually one to three business days — then try closing again. Check your transaction history to see what is still in progress.

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

No. You must settle any debt first. If you owe money, PayPal will tell you the amount and how to pay it. Once you pay what you owe and your balance is zero, you can close the account.

Will closing my PayPal account affect my credit score?

No. PayPal is not a credit account, so closing it does not show up on your credit report or change your credit score. It is different from closing a credit card or bank account.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to close the 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 your password and log in, you can follow the closing steps normally.

Can I reopen my account after closing it?

No. Once you close a PayPal account, it cannot be reopened. If you want to use PayPal again, you will need to open a new account with a different email address.