The steps to close your Robinhood account
To close your Robinhood account, you log in, go to your Account settings, select the option to close or deactivate your account, and confirm the request. Robinhood will then walk you through what happens to any remaining cash or securities in your account. The process takes a few minutes to start, but the actual closure can take several business days because the company needs to settle any open positions and transfer or liquidate holdings.
Before you start, you need to have zero balance in your account — no cash sitting there and no open stock or options positions. If you have money or holdings, you must either withdraw the cash or sell the positions first. Robinhood will not close your account while either exists.
The closure is permanent. Once it is complete, you cannot reopen the same account. You would have to create a new one if you wanted to trade again, and it would be treated as a fresh account with a new account number.
Key Takeaways
- Your account must have a zero cash balance and no open positions before Robinhood will close it.
- You initiate closure through Account settings in the app or website, and the company confirms the request by email.
- Closing takes several business days because Robinhood must settle any pending trades and process the closure through its systems.
- A closed account cannot be reopened — you would need to create a new account if you want to trade again.
- If you have a margin account with borrowed funds, you must repay the margin balance before closure is possible.
Preparing your account for closure
Start by selling any stocks, ETFs, options, or other securities you hold. Log into your account, find each position, and sell it at market price or set a limit order. Wait for the trades to settle — stocks typically settle in two business days, options in one. Once settled, the proceeds appear as cash in your account.
If you have cash remaining after selling everything, withdraw it to your linked bank account. Go to Account settings, find the transfer or withdrawal option, select the bank account you want to send money to, and enter the amount. Robinhood processes withdrawals within one to three business days depending on your bank.
If you have a margin account and borrowed money from Robinhood, you must repay that balance in full. The margin balance appears in your Account settings under Buying Power or Margin. Transfer cash into your account or sell positions to cover it, then request closure.
Check that your account shows zero cash and zero positions before you proceed. Some users miss small cash balances or fractional shares, which will block the closure request.
How to initiate the closure through the app or website
On the Robinhood app, tap the Account icon at the bottom right, then scroll down and select Account Settings. Look for an option labeled "Close Account," "Deactivate Account," or "Account Closure" — the exact wording varies by app version. Tap it and read through the confirmation screen, which will remind you that closure is permanent and that any pending transfers will be cancelled.
On the Robinhood website, log in, click your profile icon in the top right, select Account Settings, and scroll to find the account closure option. The process is the same: you confirm that your account has zero balance and zero positions, then submit the request.
Robinhood will send you a confirmation email within a few minutes. This email confirms that your closure request was received and tells you what to expect next. Do not delete this email — keep it for your records in case you need to reference the closure date or request number.
What happens after you submit the closure request
Robinhood processes the closure over the next several business days. During this time, your account remains visible in your login, but you cannot place new trades. Any pending transfers or withdrawals continue to process normally. If you initiated a bank transfer before requesting closure, that transfer will complete even though your account is closing.
The company sends a second confirmation email once the closure is final. This email typically arrives three to five business days after you submitted the request, though it can take longer if there are any pending transactions or if the company is processing a high volume of closures.
After closure is complete, you lose access to your account. You cannot log in, view your history, or read statements through the app or website. If you need tax documents or statements after closure, contact Robinhood support before the account closes and request that they be sent to your email.
Retrieving documents and tax information before closure
Robinhood provides year-end tax documents like 1099 forms and account statements. Before you close your account, read or request copies of any documents you might need. This includes monthly statements, trade confirmations, and tax forms from previous years.
To read statements, go to Account Settings, find the Documents or Statements section, and select the date range you need. Robinhood typically makes statements available for the current year and several years back. read them as PDFs and save them to your computer.
If you need a 1099 form for tax purposes, Robinhood usually makes these available in January for the previous calendar year. You can read them from the same Documents section. If you close your account before the 1099 is issued, contact Robinhood support and ask them to send it to your email address once it is ready.
Some users also request a written account history or final statement from support before closure. Email Robinhood's support team and ask for a summary of all transactions and the final account balance. This creates a paper record in case you need it later.
What to do if your closure request is denied or delayed
Robinhood may refuse to close your account if you have any open positions, pending transfers, or a margin balance. The closure request will fail with an error message explaining why. Go back to your account, address the issue — sell remaining positions, complete pending transfers, or repay margin — and try again.
If you have a pending transfer that is taking longer than expected, contact your bank first to confirm it is in progress. Some transfers get delayed on the bank's side, not Robinhood's. Once the transfer completes, try the closure request again.
If you submitted a closure request and have not received a confirmation email within 24 hours, or if you received an error message you do not understand, contact Robinhood support through the app or website. Explain that you submitted a closure request and ask for the status. Support can tell you whether the request went through and what, if anything, is blocking it.
Alternatives if you want to keep your account but stop trading
If you want to pause trading without closing your account, you can straightforward leave your account open with zero balance and zero positions. This does not cost anything — Robinhood does not charge monthly fees for inactive accounts. You can log in anytime and resume trading without creating a new account.
Another option is to restrict your account. Some brokers offer account restrictions that prevent new trades but keep the account open. Robinhood does not have a built-in restriction feature, but you can contact support and ask whether they can temporarily lock your account from trading while keeping it open. This is not may provide, but it is worth asking if you think you might trade again.
If you are closing because you want to move your holdings to another broker, consider a transfer instead. You can transfer stocks and ETFs from Robinhood to another brokerage without selling them. This avoids the tax event of selling and keeps your cost basis intact. Ask your new broker about their transfer process — they usually handle the request on their end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen my Robinhood account after I close it?
No. Once you close your account, that account number is permanently closed. If you want to trade again, you must create a new account. The new account will have a different account number and will be treated as a fresh account with no history from your previous one.
What happens to my tax documents after I close my account?
read or request all tax documents before closure. Once your account is closed, you cannot access the Documents section through the app or website. If you need a 1099 form after closure, contact Robinhood support with your former account number and ask them to send it to your email.
How long does it take to close my account after I submit the request?
Closure typically takes three to five business days after you submit the request. If you have pending transfers or trades that are still settling, it may take longer. Robinhood sends a final confirmation email once the closure is complete.
Do I lose my trade history after I close my account?
Yes. Once your account is closed, you cannot view your trade history, statements, or account details through Robinhood. read all statements and documents before you close. If you need records later for tax or legal purposes, contact Robinhood support before closure and ask them to send copies to your email.
What if I have a fractional share I cannot sell?
Robinhood allows you to sell fractional shares. If you own 0.5 shares of a stock, you can sell all 0.5 shares in a single order. If you are having trouble selling a fractional share, contact Robinhood support and explain the issue. They can help you liquidate it or, in some cases, remove it from your account so you can proceed with closure.