How to Delete Your Spotify Account Permanently

Spotify dominates music streaming, serving over 422 million monthly active users as of Q4 2022. This represents nearly double the next biggest competing service in Apple Music.

But the move from music purchases to on-demand streaming remains relatively new. As recently as 2015, revenue from downloads and physical music sales still outpaced streaming revenue globally according to IFPI estimates.

Fast forward to 2022, and streaming accounted for 65% of total music industry revenue. So while Spotify grew rapidly in adopting listeners, some users now want to move on.

This guide covers everything involved in canceling your Spotify Premium subscription and permanently deleting associated online account data.

Why Would You Delete Your Spotify Account?

Despite Spotify‘s huge music catalog and popularity, several key pain points drive account closures:

Cost

Spotify Premium costs $9.99/month in the United States. Compared to competitor pricing, this sits on the higher end:

For casual listeners not fully utilizing Spotify‘s features, the ongoing expense is difficult to rationalize. Students and lower income users especially feel this pricing pinch.

Advertising Overload

The Spotify free, ad-supported tier attempts to cultivate future paying subscribers by intentionally limiting functionality and inundating users with ads.

Per Spotify‘s support site, free members hear ads around every 10 minutes of listening. Trying to avoid constant promotional interruptions drives some to delete accounts.

Audio Quality Restrictions

Premium Spotify streams songs at 320 kbps – comparable to competitors. But non-paying users get stuck at lower, distorted bitrates:

Again, Spotify uses audio quality limits as incentive to upgrade your account. By deleting, you bypass this caste system entirely.

Limited Mobile & Offline Access

Free Spotify listening requires an internet connection. Downloading songs locally for offline playback remains locked as premium-only.

This makes Spotify far less usable while commuting through tunnels, traveling abroad, or facing limited connectivity contexts where streaming fails.

Data Usage Concerns

Song streaming consumes sizable mobile data or home internet bandwidth that adds up over time:

Frequent Spotify listeners can blow through costly cellular data caps quickly, resulting in overage fees.

Ethical Objections

From [controversies like Joe Rogan spreading COVID misinformation on his popular Spotify-exclusive podcast](https://www.npr.org/2022/02/06/1078977416/ joe-rogan-podcast-misinformation-open-letter) to artist pay disputes, subscribers sometimes ethically object to aspects of the business itself.

Canceling accounts allows consumers to directly boycott the service financial.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Your Spotify Account

Are you ready to permanently close your Spotify account? As a long-time paying or free user, this guide talks you through the process directly.

Let‘s dig in!

Cancel Subscription First

Before account deletion, you must cancel any active Spotify Premium subscription associated with the profile.

Don‘t worry – cancellation stops future billing charges but your account temporarily continues fully-featured until the next pay cycle date.

To cancel Premium:

1. Login at Spotify‘s website
2. Visit account settings
3. Choose "Change Plan"
4. Select "Cancel Premium" option
5. Confirm cancellation

You‘ve now changed subscription status from Premium to Free. Your account switches at the next billing date.

Submit Account Closure Request

Once any Premium subscription deactivates, proceed requesting permanent closure of your Spotify account entirely:

1. Click profile picture > Help > Contact Us
2. Select "Closing Your Account" topic
3. Choose "Close Account" option
4. Verify and confirm account closure request

This initiates the account termination process. During the following week however you still retain full access in case you change your mind!

Spotify Completes Final Account Deletion

Spotify imposes a 1 week waiting period before permanently deleting all account data. I know from personal experience that this agonizing countdown clock makes you second guess the choice!

But if you stick it out, here‘s what Spotify forever erases after that week passes:

• Entire music libraries + playlists
• Saved albums, songs, or podcasts
• "Liked" song heart marks
• Following / Followers lists lose all connections
• Listening histories and habits data
• Profile details and customizations

So be absolutely certain before going past the point of no return!

Once fully executed though, the freed up username can be claimed to create a brand new Spotify account unconnected from the closed one. Just don‘t expect any follower or song data recovery!

Key Account Closure Tips

Keep these additional Spotify account deletion tips in mind through the process:

Backup Your Account Data First

Before terminating your profile, consider downloading your personal Spotify data for archiving using Spotify‘s privacy settings export tool.

This retains listening history statistics, track/artist libraries, playlists, favorites, followers, account activity information and more in computer-readable file form.

However extracted data cannot transfer or sync to any new Spotify account after closing the existing one. The sole purpose is personal archiving before losing access.

Unlink Facebook Account Integration

If you previously connected Facebook authentication to enable easier Spotify logins, unlink this association first in Spotify‘s settings before deleting.

Per Spotify‘s own account closure FAQs, "If your Spotify account is connected to your Facebook account, disconnect it before closing your Spotify account to make sure everything closes properly."

Lingering Facebook linkage risks profile data staying undesirably active after intended deletion. Prevent privacy complications later by unlinking now.

Only works on Web Browser Dashboard

Due to simplified management interfaces, cancelling Premium plans or deleting Spotify accounts entirely only works on the full desktop browser interface.

Don‘t frustrate yourself trying and failing to find relevant account settings options missing on both mobile and desktop app versions! Use your web browser dashboard to avoid getting lost seeking menus not available there.

Heed the 7-Day Account Recovery Deadline

As referenced earlier, Spotify grants a 7-day grace period after requesting account termination to reverse course and abort closure.

But no avenue exists for recovering or reversing deletion after that countdown clock expires. Playlists vanish forever and signing back up claims a blank new user profile lacking your entire history.

If having second thoughts, email Spotify customer support immediately within the 7-day cancellation pending window to attempt preserving your account as-is with all data intact. But don‘t delay or that old profile gets wiped!

Create New Account Credentials to Rejoin Spotify

Let‘s say after deleting Spotify entirely, you later have a change of heart and want to resubscribe or at minimum utilize the Free tier again.

While your old username gets freed up for anyone to claim after account closure, don‘t try re-registering for a new Spotify membership with the same old email address or username. This risks complications and errors according to Spotify guidelines.

Instead sign up with brand new login credentials – a different unique email and username. For best results managing your online identity after deleting any service, start 100% fresh!

Top Spotify Alternatives to Consider

Leaving Spotify means losing access to its vast song catalog and popularity. But luckily many competitors fill the music streaming space.

Which Spotify alternative fits your listening preferences best? Here‘s how core options compare:

Take time considering Spotify alternative pros and cons aligned with your listening preferences. For example, maybe Tidal‘s audiophile-grade lossless sound quality appeals to your ears and headphones over other options.

Keep an open mind trying competitors as well if still unsatisfied after deleting Spotify. Change inspires progress!

FAQs: Deleting Spotify Membership

Here are answers to additional common questions about permanently deleting Spotify accounts and data:

Does deleting Spotify delete my playlists?

Yes, account termination erases all playlists, music libraries, listening activity histories and everything else tied to the profile after the 1-week pending closure period expires.

Can I re-use my old Spotify username?

Correct – once fully deleted from the closed account, Spotify usernames become available for anyone (including you) to claim for new account creation.

Just don‘t expect automatic merging of any listening histories, playlist data or previous followers by reusing an old name. Brand new unconnected profile either way.

Does uninstalling the app delete my account?

No! The Spotify mobile or desktop apps are just access points tied to your broader online account and data.

Uninstalling the apps themselves has no impact on subscriptions or your account status. You must log into Spotify via web browser to manage cancellation of payments and account deletion fully.

Can I restore my account after deletion starts?

Only within 7 days – once requested, account closure gets a 1-week pending period before permanently executed. This provides a final window to reverse course if having second thoughts.

Contact Spotify customer support within those 7 days to attempt aborting the deletion lined up. But no guarantees of reversibility exist – so best decide definitively upfront before moving to close it fully.

I hope this guide covered everything needed in detailing how to cancel your Spotify Premium subscription fully while deleting your entire account for good.

The process involves more considerations than many users first assume. Take time thinking through the irreversible repercussions before putting in your account termination request with Spotify.

But once committed – best of luck pursuing new music streaming ventures!