The short answer
- 1After deletion, the same number usually works and creates a new, empty account.
- 2Deleting and re-creating repeatedly triggers a wait of a few days.
- 3Nothing from the old account comes back.
In this article
Usually the same number works
After you delete a Telegram account, the phone number is free again. Signing up with it creates a new, empty account: nothing from the old one returns, not chats, contacts, groups, Saved Messages or purchases. To your contacts it looks like a new account, and they may see that you joined Telegram again.
When it does not work right away
Telegram limits accounts that are deleted and re-created again and again, because spammers do exactly that. If you hit the limit, sign-up shows: "Sorry, you have deleted and re-created your account too many times recently. Please wait for a few days before signing up again."
- Wait a few days, as the message says, then sign up once.
- Do not keep trying in the meantime; repeated attempts can add a separate "Too many attempts" pause. See 'Too many attempts'.
- A different message, such as "This phone number is banned.", is not this limit. See a banned phone number.
Other things that can block a new sign-up
| Situation | See |
|---|---|
| Sign-up asks for a fee before sending the SMS | the one-time SMS fee |
| The code does not arrive | a code that is not arriving |
| The account was not actually deleted, only the app | You are logging in to the old account; see app versus account |
Starting again well
- Set up Two-Step Verification with a recovery email.
- Add a login email so codes do not depend on SMS. See adding a login email.
- Choose who can see your number and who can find you by it in Privacy and Security.
- Decide on an inactivity period under Delete my account.
FAQ
Can I sign up for Telegram again with the same number after deleting?
Usually yes. It creates a new, empty account; the old chats do not return.
Why does Telegram say I deleted and re-created my account too many times?
The number was used for repeated sign-ups and deletions. Wait a few days, then sign up once.
Do my old chats come back if I create a new account?
No. A deleted account cannot be restored.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Works
Same number, new empty account.
- 2Limit
'Deleted and re-created too many times': wait a few days.
- 3Fresh start
Two-Step Verification, login email, privacy settings.
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