Legal & rightsPractical guide · updated for 2026
How to Ask a Company to Delete Your Data
Send a deletion request to the company's privacy contact, close the account first if you can, and list what you want removed. Some records must be kept by law, such as tax and transaction history, so expect a partial answer.
Have this ready
- Account details and the email used
- The privacy contact address
- A list of the data you want removed
Step by step
- 1Check the privacy notice for the deletion route and the contact address.
- 2Close or delete the account using the account settings, if the option exists.
- 3Send a written request naming the data you want deleted, such as account, marketing profile and uploaded files.
- 4Ask them to confirm what was deleted and what they must keep, with the reason.
- 5Keep the sent copy and the date, and follow up once if there is no reply.
- 6Remove the app's access from third-party sign-ins you used to create the account.
- 7If the request is refused without a lawful reason, use the regulator's complaint process.
Want it done with you?
I can walk you through it in a Magic Box, show you the exact clicks, or do it with you and keep the recording. You log in yourself; I never see your password.
Common questions
Will deleting the app delete my data?+
No. Uninstalling leaves the account and its data in place. Use the account deletion route or send a request.
Why can they keep some of my data?+
Legal obligations such as tax, fraud prevention and dispute records often require retention for a set period.
Does deletion remove my data from backups?+
Not immediately. Ask about the backup rotation period, which is often weeks rather than days.