Mindfully managing your online accounts is key to maintaining your digital security. Iif you’ve been trying to figure out how to close your Amazon account, and wondering why the process seems so complex, you’re not alone. There are plenty of reasons for wanting to boost your online security by closing your online retail accounts—especially when they have access to personal information such as your home address and banking details. Similarly, those online retailers will be trying their hardest to dissuade you from closing your account, in part by making the process more convoluted than it needs to be.
So if you’ve decided that it’s time to part ways with Amazon, it’s essential to do so in a way that guarantees the safety of your personal information. This guide will teach you how to delete your Amazon account securely and effortlessly.
What You Need to Know Before Deleting Your Amazon Account
Before deleting your Amazon account, there are a few things you need to consider.
- Deleting your Amazon account is an irreversible action. Deleting your Amazon account is permanent. Once deleted, you cannot recover your account or any associated data.
- Understand where else you’ll lose access. If you delete your account, you will lose access to any and all Amazon services linked to it, including Audible, Kindle, and Amazon Prime.
- Make sure you don’t have any pending transactions. Ensure that all orders have been delivered and there are no pending transactions or subscriptions, to avoid losing money (or never receiving your delivery).
- Be mindful of your gift card balance. Any remaining gift card balances will be forfeited (lost) upon account deletion, so make sure to spend them ahead of time.
If you’re happy with all of the above, you’re clear to proceed.
How to Delete Your Amazon Account on Desktop
To delete your Amazon account using a desktop browser, follow these steps.
- Visit Amazon’s website and log into your account.
- Click on Account & Lists in the top right corner.
- Under the full list of your account settings, there’s a subsection titled Manage your data.
- Within this section, select Close Your Amazon Account.
- You’ll see a data deletion warning, explaining the consequences of closing your account. It explains that deleting your account will delete your access across all global forms of the website: for example, deleting your account through amazon.com will also prevent you from accessing it through amazon.co.uk and other territories.
- You’ll be given the option to select a reason from a drop-down menu, explaining your decision to close your account. The options include: I’m not using this account anymore; I have another account; I want to create a new account; Account security concerns/Unauthorised activity; Privacy concerns; I have open issues with Amazon; I don’t want to provide a reason.
- You must then tick a box, confirming that you want to permanently close your Amazon Account and delete your data.
- There’s a disclaimer at the bottom of the page, explaining that Amazon will access what data they choose to keep, in line with their legal obligations. This might include transaction details.
How to Delete Your Amazon Account on Mobile
More than half of Amazon’s web traffic comes from mobile devices (53%), showing how many people are opting to use their handheld devices for shopping and selling. If you prefer to delete your Amazon account using a mobile device and the Amazon app, the steps are essentially the same, but you access your account information by clicking on the person-shaped icon at the bottom of the screen.
What happens after you delete your Amazon account?
Once your Amazon account is deleted, the majority of your personal information, order history, and preferences will be removed from Amazon’s databases. You will no longer be able to access any Amazon services or subscriptions associated with your account, and you will no longer receive emails or notifications from Amazon.
As previously mentioned, some data may be kept for regulatory purposes. This also means that, should you make a new account, Amazon may connect your new account to your previous details, and your new account may be flagged as suspicious.
How to Secure Your Personal Data After Deleting Your Amazon Account
There are still steps you should take to secure your personal data even after you’ve successfully deleted your Amazon account. These extra measures are especially important if you’re concerned that any of your information has been shared in a data leak.
- Review linked accounts. Make sure to disconnect any third-party services or accounts that were linked to your Amazon account.
- Monitor financial statements. Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions.
- Update passwords. Change passwords for your other online accounts, especially if they were similar to or the same as your Amazon password.
- Use a VPN. Installing a VPN (virtual private network) will hide your IP address and encrypt any data you share while using online services.
Taking these steps will help maintain your online security and protect your personal information, whether you continue to use Amazon’s services or choose to take your business elsewhere.
Take Ownership of Your Personal Data
At iolo, your digital security is our top priority. Our comprehensive antivirus and privacy solutions are designed to protect you from any and all online threats, and ensure your personal information always remains secure. Get in touch with our support team for more technical tips and to learn more about how we can help keep you safe online.
