Deactivating or deleting your account
You control your own Esqase account. From Settings > Account, in the Danger zone at the bottom of the page, you can deactivate your account (a reversible pause) or delete it (permanent, after a recovery window). Both options sign you out of every device and remove you from every firm you belong to.
Note: This is about your personal Esqase account. It is different from leaving a single firm (see Managing firm members) and from a firm owner closing a whole firm (see Your Esqase subscription).
Before you begin
- If you own a firm, hand it off first. You cannot deactivate or delete your account while you are the owner of any firm, because a firm always needs an owner. The Danger zone shows which firm(s) you own and links you to transfer ownership. Use Transfer firm ownership (or delete the firm) for each one, then come back.
- You will be signed out everywhere. Deactivating or deleting ends your active sessions on all devices.
- You are removed from every firm. Your firm memberships are dropped. Your past work (time entries, notes, documents, and so on) stays in each firm and remains attributable to you for the firm's records.
Open the Danger zone
- In the sidebar, open the user menu and click Account.
- Scroll to the Danger zone section at the bottom of the page.
📷 Screenshot: The Danger zone section of the Account page, showing the Deactivate account and Delete account options (and, if you own a firm, the notice asking you to transfer ownership first).
Suggested image: images/account/account-danger-zone.png
Deactivate your account
Deactivating pauses your account. You are signed out and removed from your firms, but your account and personal data are kept, and you can come back at any time.
- In the Danger zone, click Deactivate.
- Confirm in the Deactivate your account? dialog.
- You are signed out and returned to the sign-in screen.
To reactivate: just sign back in with your email and password. Your account is restored automatically. You are not put back into your old firms, so ask a firm owner or administrator to invite you again (see Joining a firm).
Note: Because Esqase bills firms per active member, deactivating lowers the per-member cost of each firm you were in (prorated).
Delete your account
Deleting schedules your account for permanent removal after a recovery window, so an accidental deletion can be undone.
- In the Danger zone, click Delete account.
- In the Delete your account? dialog, type DELETE to confirm.
- Click Delete account. You see a confirmation that your account is scheduled for deletion, and you are signed out.
Recovery window: for 30 days your account is suspended but recoverable. Signing back in with your email and password during this window cancels the deletion and reactivates your account (you are not returned to your old firms). After 30 days, your account and personal data are permanently removed and your email address is freed; this cannot be undone.
Important: If you want a copy of any firm's data, ask that firm's owner to export it before you go. A firm owner can export firm data from Settings > Billing (see Your Esqase subscription).
📷 Screenshot: The Delete your account? dialog with the type-DELETE-to-confirm box and the red Delete account button.
Suggested image: images/account/delete-account-dialog.png
What is kept and what is removed
- Deactivated: your account, profile, and personal data are kept. Firm memberships are dropped (restored only by a new invite). Reactivate anytime by signing in.
- Deleted (after 30 days): your account and personal data are permanently removed and your email is freed for reuse. Work you created inside a firm stays with that firm as part of its records.
Troubleshooting
- The Deactivate and Delete buttons are disabled. You own a firm. Transfer ownership of each firm you own (or delete it) first; the notice in the Danger zone links you to the right place.
- I changed my mind after deleting. Sign back in within 30 days to cancel the deletion and reactivate your account. After 30 days it cannot be recovered.
- I can't sign in after deactivating. Use the same email and password you always used; signing in is what reactivates the account. If you forgot your password, see Passwords and account recovery.