Deactivating Your Robinhood Account: The Basic Steps

To close your Robinhood account, you log in, go to your Account settings, select "Deactivate Account," and follow the prompts to confirm. Robinhood will walk you through what happens to your cash and holdings before the account actually closes. The process takes a few minutes to start, but the account itself may take several business days to fully shut down after you confirm.

Before you start, know that Robinhood will not let you deactivate if you have an open order, an unsettled trade, or a negative balance. You also cannot deactivate if you have a margin loan or any pending transfers. These are hard stops — you have to resolve them first.

Key Takeaways

  • You must withdraw all cash and close or sell all open positions before Robinhood will let you deactivate your account.
  • If you have a margin balance or unsettled trades, you cannot start the deactivation process until those are resolved.
  • The deactivation request takes a few minutes to submit, but the account closure itself can take up to five business days to complete.
  • Once your account is closed, you lose access to your trade history and tax documents, so download what you need before you finish.

What You Must Do Before Deactivating

Robinhood requires your account to be in a specific state before it will let you close it. First, sell all stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto you own. You cannot have any open positions — even a single share blocks deactivation. If you have fractional shares, sell those too.

Second, withdraw all your cash to your linked bank account. Your account balance must be zero or positive, with no pending transfers. If you have a margin balance (money you borrowed), you must pay it back in full. If you have unsettled trades — buys or sells that have not yet cleared — wait for them to settle before you try to deactivate.

Third, cancel any open orders. If you have a buy or sell order sitting in the queue, Robinhood will reject your deactivation request. Delete the order through the app or web interface, then proceed.

How to Start the Deactivation Process

Open the Robinhood app or go to robinhood.com and log in. Tap or click the account icon (usually in the bottom right on the app, top right on the web). Select "Account Settings" or "Settings."

Scroll down to find "Deactivate Account" or "Close Account." The exact wording varies slightly between the app and the website. Tap or click it. Robinhood will show you a summary of your account status — your cash balance, any holdings, and any pending activity. Review this carefully to make sure everything is at zero.

If anything is still there, Robinhood will tell you what needs to be resolved. Go back, sell your holdings, withdraw your cash, or cancel your orders. Then return to the deactivation screen and try again.

What Happens After You Confirm Deactivation

Once you confirm the deactivation request, Robinhood sends you a confirmation email. Your account does not close immediately. Instead, Robinhood processes the closure over the next one to five business days. During this time, you can still log in and view your account, but you cannot trade or transfer money.

After the closure is complete, you will no longer be able to log in. Your account data — including your trade history, statements, and tax documents — will no longer be visible through the app or website. Robinhood keeps records for tax purposes, but you cannot retrieve them through your account once it is closed.

Downloading Your Records Before You Close

Before you deactivate, download anything you might need later. This includes your tax documents (Form 1099 or 1099-B), your trade history, and any statements. You can find these in the Account or Documents section of the app or website.

If you do not download your tax documents before closing, you can still request them from Robinhood after the account is closed, but it requires contacting their support team. It is faster to download them while you still have access. Take screenshots or export PDFs of anything you think you might need for your records or for tax filing.

What Happens to Your Money and Investments

Any cash in your account goes back to the bank account you linked to Robinhood. This transfer happens automatically as part of the closure process and usually takes one to three business days after your account is fully closed.

You cannot have any stocks, ETFs, options, or crypto in your account when you close it — you must sell everything first. Robinhood does not transfer holdings to another brokerage as part of the closure. If you want to move your investments to another broker, you need to sell them in Robinhood, withdraw the cash, and then buy them again in your new account.

If You Change Your Mind

If you submit a deactivation request but change your mind before the account is fully closed, contact Robinhood support through the app or website. They can sometimes cancel the closure request if it has not yet been processed. Once the account is fully closed, you cannot reopen it — you would have to create a new account from scratch.

If you are thinking about closing because of a specific problem — a technical issue, a question about a trade, or a concern about your account — reach out to Robinhood support first. They may be able to resolve the issue without you having to close the account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deactivate my account if I have unsettled trades?

No. Robinhood will not let you start the deactivation process if you have any trades that have not yet settled. Wait for all trades to settle (usually one to two business days), then try again.

What if I have a negative balance or owe Robinhood money?

You must pay off any negative balance before you can deactivate. If you have a margin loan, pay it back in full. If you owe fees or have a negative cash balance, deposit money to bring it to zero, then proceed with deactivation.

Will I lose my tax documents if I close my account?

You will not be able to view them through your account after it closes, but Robinhood keeps records for tax purposes. Download your 1099 forms and trade history before you deactivate. If you need them later, you can request them from Robinhood support, though it takes longer than downloading them yourself.

How long does it actually take to close my account?

The deactivation request takes a few minutes to submit. The actual closure — when your account becomes inaccessible — takes one to five business days. Any cash withdrawal to your bank account happens after that and usually takes another one to three business days.

Can I reopen my account after I close it?

No. Once your account is closed, you cannot reopen it. You would have to create a new account, which means a new sign-up process and new account number. Any history from your old account would not transfer.