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How to Delete Your Ashley Madison Account on Web and iPhone

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If you’re here, you probably want to permanently delete your Ashley Madison account. Maybe you signed up years ago and forgot about it. Maybe you’re worried about privacy. Or maybe you just want a clean slate. Whatever your reason, the process isn’t as simple as clicking a button. Ashley Madison offers two options: deactivate or full delete. Deactivation just hides your profile – your data stays on their servers. Full delete is what you actually want. Let me walk you through exactly how to do it.

Step-by-Step: How to Delete Your Ashley Madison Account

On a Desktop Computer (Best Method)

This is the most reliable way to delete your account completely:

  1. Go to AshleyMadison.com and log in
  2. Click the menu icon (☰) in the top-left corner
  3. Click the gear icon (⚙️) next to the menu to access Settings
  4. Select Account from the dropdown menu
  5. Scroll to the bottom and click Delete Account or Full Deletion
  6. Follow the prompts until you receive confirmation that the account has been deleted

On iPhone (iOS)

You can delete your account directly through the iOS app:

  1. Open the Ashley Madison app
  2. Tap the menu icon (☰)
  3. Go to Settings → Account
  4. Tap Full Deletion at the bottom
  5. Confirm your choice

On Android

Important: The Android app only lets you deactivate, not delete. To fully delete your account, you must use the website on a browser, even if you’re on your phone.

Don't Forget to Cancel Active Subscriptions

Before deleting your account, cancel any subscriptions you have. Otherwise, you’ll keep getting charged. If you subscribed through Apple or Google, you must cancel directly in the App Store or Google Play Store. Third-party subscriptions don’t auto-cancel when you delete your account. Ashley Madison says that after deletion, they retain some payment data for up to six months for accounting or legal purposes.

Deactivate vs. Full Delete: What's the Difference?

Deactivate – Profile hidden, but data stays. You can log back in anytime. Full Delete – Profile, messages, photos, and history permanently removed. Always choose Full Delete.

The Problem: Deleting Doesn't Remove Everything

Here’s the part nobody tells you. Even after you full delete your account, your information can still show up online. In 2015, Ashley Madison suffered a massive data breach. Hackers leaked millions of user records, including names, emails, physical addresses, and payment details. But the hackers weren’t the only problem. The “Full Delete” scandal: Ashley Madison offered a $19 “Full Delete” service that promised to erase all user data. But according to a class-action lawsuit and reporting from 2015, the service didn’t actually remove everything. When the data leaked, people who paid for the delete service still had their information exposed. Even today, deleting your account doesn’t remove your information from the internet. Data brokers scrape public records and social media. If you ever posted your Ashley Madison link on social media or used the same email across platforms, that data is still out there.

How to Check If Your Ashley Madison Activity Is Public

This is what you need to do: Run a self background check. Use a service like Spokeo, TruthFinder, or BeenVerified to see what public records are linked to your name.

The Cheapest Option: Spokeo

Spokeo is my top recommendation for a self background check. I’ve used it for years, and the accuracy is solid. Spokeo has been around since 2006, making it one of the oldest and most trusted people search engines. It searches through billions of public records, social media profiles, and other data sources to create a comprehensive report.

The best part is the trial – you can get 7 days of access for just 95 cents. For the most accurate results, search with your email or phone number instead of just your name. This helps narrow down results and avoid information from people with similar names.

How to opt out of Spokeo:

  1. Go to Spokeo.com and search for yourself
  2. Click on your matching profile and copy the full URL from the browser address bar
  3. Go to the Spokeo opt-out page and paste the URL
  4. Enter your email (use a disposable one if possible)
  5. Complete the CAPTCHA and submit
  6. Check your email for a verification link and click it

Spokeo typically removes data within 24-48 hours after verification. If you have multiple profiles, you’ll need to submit a separate request for each one.

What Else You Can Do

Check multiple sites: One isn’t enough. You need to check Spokeo, TruthFinder, BeenVerified, Instant Checkmate, and Intelius. Each has different data. Set up Google Alerts: Create alerts for your name and email address to monitor new mentions. Review your bank statements: Your bank statement might reflect past Ashley Madison charges, but deletion will stop future renewals.
delete ashley madiosn account

The Honest Truth

Deleting your Ashley Madison account is a necessary first step. It removes your data from their servers. But it doesn’t remove your data from the internet. People-search sites like Spokeo may still have your information. If you want to ensure your Ashley Madison history doesn’t affect your job or relationships, check these sites and opt out.

Quick Summary

  • Delete, don’t deactivate – full deletion removes your data from Ashley Madison
  • Desktop is best – Android app only deactivates
  • Cancel subscriptions first – App Store/Google Play subscriptions must be canceled separately
  • Check yourself on people-search sites – use Spokeo’s 95-cent trial
  • Opt out – remove your data from each site individually
  • This is ongoing – check every few months

If you’re job hunting or just want to clean up your digital footprint, start with deleting your account and then check what’s publicly available.

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