> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.researchgate.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.researchgate.net/account-settings/deleting-your-account.md).
# Deleting your account
#### Page contents
* [How can I delete my account?](/account-settings/deleting-your-account.md#deletingyouraccount-howcanideletemyaccount)
* [Why is my deleted account still appearing in search results?](/account-settings/deleting-your-account.md#deletingyouraccount-whycanistillfindmyprofileinsearchengines)
* [How can I delete an account I can no longer access?](#h_01j3qctn38jzjx4ja65dzk3a1b)
Deleting your ResearchGate account is permanent and cannot be undone. Before deleting your account, please keep in mind that you can update your profile, publication list, email preferences and privacy settings without having to delete your account. If you're sure you want to proceed with deleting your account, follow the steps below.
#### **How can I delete my account?**
If you decide to delete your account, here’s how:
1. **Log in** to your ResearchGate account.
2. Go to your [Account settings](https://www.researchgate.net/settings/account).
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Delete account**.
4. Confirm your decision by clicking **Continue**.
5. If you’d like to, you can share details about why you're deleting your account. Your feedback helps us improve ResearchGate.
6. To finalize the deletion, enter your password and click **Delete account**. If you've forgotten your password, you can find out how to reset it [here](/account-settings/logging-in.md).
7. Your account will be deleted, and you’ll be logged out.
If you change your mind and wish to rejoin ResearchGate, you can sign up again at any time by visiting [researchgate.net](https://researchgate.net/) and clicking "Join for free."
#### Why is my deleted account still appearing in search results?
Once your account is deleted, the old profile URL redirects to our researcher index. We cannot control what the major search engines choose to keep on their search results, and it may often take some time for these pages to disappear from results due to the speed with which search engines manage and index changes to web pages.
#### **How can I delete an account I can no longer access?**
If you’d like to delete your account but are unable to[ log in](https://www.researchgate.net/login), [reset your password](https://www.researchgate.net/application.LostPassword.html), or recall the associated email address, you can submit an account deletion request [here](https://www.researchgate.net/contact?ticket_form_id=26539200920209).
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://help.researchgate.net/account-settings/deleting-your-account.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.