How to Delete a Tuta (Tutanota) Account

Last updated: July 6, 2026 · Verified against the current process

Quick answer Export your mail using Tuta's built-in export (you can't use IMAP because the mailbox is encrypted), move your logins to a new address, and cancel any paid plan. Then in the Tuta app open Settings, find your account/login section, and look for Delete account. Confirm with your password. The address is retired permanently and can never be registered again.

Tuta — the encrypted email service formerly called Tutanota — deletes accounts cleanly, but its privacy design changes two things you'd take for granted elsewhere. You can't back up over IMAP because the mail is end-to-end encrypted, and once an address is deleted it's blocked forever so no one can reuse it. Plan around both before you close the account.

Export your encrypted mail

Because Tuta encrypts your mailbox end to end, no ordinary mail client can read it over IMAP or POP. The only way to keep a copy is Tuta's own export, which decrypts messages locally on your device.

  1. Install the Tuta desktop app

    The desktop client is the most reliable way to export in bulk. Sign in with the account you plan to delete.

  2. Select and export your messages

    Select the emails or an entire folder, then use the Export option (in the message menu or toolbar). Tuta saves them as EML files you can open in most mail clients later. For a big mailbox, export folder by folder so nothing is missed.

  3. Save contacts too

    Export your contacts from the Tuta contacts area separately — they're removed with the account.

Move logins off the address

People often pick Tuta as a private, primary address, which means it may be the login or recovery contact for many services. Search your mailbox for verify, welcome, receipt, and reset to find them, and switch each account to a replacement address. This is especially critical with Tuta: because the address can never be re-registered, a login you forget to move is gone permanently. Consider email aliases on your next address so you can retire individual addresses without this scramble.

Deactivation, deletion, and paid plans

Deactivation is not the same as deletion Deactivating an address (an option mainly for extra addresses on paid plans) just stops it receiving mail while the account still exists. To remove the account entirely, use Delete account, not deactivate.

If you're on a paid plan, cancel or downgrade the subscription before deleting so you aren't billed again. Review the current billing period in Settings first, and make sure the plan is no longer set to renew. Note that Tuta also deactivates free accounts after a long period of inactivity and eventually deletes them, but deliberate deletion is faster and lets you time your backup.

Delete the Tuta account

This is permanent and the address is blocked forever Deletion erases your mailbox and all account data, and the address can never be registered again by anyone. There is no forwarding and no recovery once it's done. Finish exporting and moving your logins first.
  1. Open Settings in the Tuta app

    Sign in on the web or desktop app and open Settings.

  2. Find your account/login section

    Look under the global or login area of settings for account management options. The exact label shifts between app versions, so scan for wording about your account or login.

  3. Choose Delete account

    Select Delete account. Tuta asks you to confirm your password and may ask you to type the account address or a reason to prevent accidental deletion.

  4. Confirm the deletion

    Submit the confirmation. The account and its encrypted data are removed and the address is permanently retired.

Why the address can't be reused

Unlike free webmail providers that eventually recycle old addresses, Tuta permanently blocks a deleted address from re-registration. This is deliberate: recycling an encrypted address could let a new owner receive mail meant for you or impersonate you at that address. The upside is real security; the trade-off is that you must be certain, because there's no undoing it and no reclaiming the name.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I export Tuta mail with IMAP?

Tuta encrypts your mailbox end to end, so a standard IMAP or POP client cannot read it. To keep a copy, use the export feature built into the Tuta apps, which decrypts your messages locally and saves them as EML files. The desktop app is the most practical way to export a large mailbox in bulk.

What is the difference between deactivating and deleting a Tuta account?

Deactivation makes a mailbox stop receiving mail while the account still exists, which is mainly used for extra addresses on paid plans. Deletion removes the account and all its data permanently. If you want the account gone, you want deletion, not deactivation.

Can I reuse my Tuta address after deleting it?

No. Tuta permanently blocks a deleted address from being registered again by anyone. This is a security measure that prevents a new user from receiving old encrypted mail or impersonating you, so the address is retired for good.

Do I have to cancel a paid Tuta plan before deleting?

Cancel or downgrade any paid subscription before you close the account so no further charges are made. If your account is billed on a term, review the current billing period in the settings first, then proceed with deletion once the plan is no longer set to renew.

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