How to Delete a Google Analytics Account (Without Nuking the Wrong Thing)

Let’s be honest: Google Analytics has a habit of… piling up.

Old domains. Test properties. That one site you launched in 2018 and forgot about. Suddenly your GA account looks like a digital junk drawer.

If you’re ready to clean house—or start fresh in GA4—here’s how to delete a Google Analytics account the right way.

Why You Might Want to Delete a Google Analytics Account

A few very real, very common scenarios:

• You’re migrating to a new domain and don’t want the old one muddying your reports

• You’re starting fresh in GA4 after a messy Universal Analytics → GA4 transition

• You inherited a client account that has years of irrelevant data

• You accidentally created duplicate accounts (it happens to the best of us)

Bottom line: fewer accounts = cleaner data = fewer headaches.

Before You Delete Anything (Seriously, Read This)

Deleting a Google Analytics account is permanent. When it’s gone, everything under it goes with it:

• All properties

• All data

• All historical reports

💡 Pro tip: If you only want to remove one property, don’t delete the entire account. Delete the property instead.

Also—remove the tracking code from your website first. Otherwise GA will keep trying to send data to something that no longer exists (awkward).

How to Delete a Google Analytics Account (Step-by-Step)

Here’s the clean, official process:

1. Log into Google Analytics

2. Click Admin (bottom-left corner)

3. In the Account column, select the account you want to delete

4. Click Account Settings / Account Details

5. Select Move to Trash Can

That’s it.

A Few Important Notes:

• You must have Editor permissions (or higher)

• The account goes into a 35-day holding period

• During those 35 days, you can restore it

• After 35 days… it’s gone forever ☠️

No undo button. No customer support magic. Just vibes.

When Deleting Makes Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

Good reasons to delete:

• Old domain, no longer in use

• Clean GA4 reset

• Client account you’re fully sunsetting

Maybe don’t delete if:

• You still need historical data

• You only want to exclude traffic or change domains

• You’re unsure which properties are still active

When in doubt, archive first. Delete later.

Want a Quick Visual Walkthrough?

Here’s a helpful short video that shows the process step-by-step:

(Short, sweet, and gets straight to the point.)

Final Take

Google Analytics is powerful—but only when it’s organized.

If an account no longer serves a purpose, deleting it can help you:

• Focus on the data that matters

• Reduce reporting confusion

• Start fresh with cleaner insights

And if you’d rather not risk deleting the wrong thing?

That’s what we’re here for.

— Ritner Digital

Helping brands make sense of their data without the stress.

FAQs

Does deleting a Google Analytics account delete all my data?

Yes. Deleting a Google Analytics account removes all associated properties, Universal Analytics views, and historical data. Once the 35-day recovery window passes, the data is permanently deleted.

Can I recover a deleted Google Analytics account?

Yes—but only within 35 days. When you move an account to the Trash Can, Google provides a temporary recovery window. After 35 days, the account and all data are permanently deleted.

What’s the difference between deleting a Google Analytics account vs. a property?

A Google Analytics account is the top-level container. Deleting it removes everything underneath it.

A property represents a single website or app.

If you only want to remove one site or domain, delete the property—not the entire account.

Do I need special permissions to delete a Google Analytics account?

Yes. You must have Editor-level access or higher on the account. If you don’t see the delete option, it’s a permissions issue—not a Google Analytics glitch.

Should I remove the tracking code before deleting the account?

Absolutely. Always remove the Google Analytics tracking code from your website first to avoid sending data to a deleted account or creating tracking errors later.

If I’m switching domains, should I delete my old Google Analytics account?

Not always. If you still want access to historical data, you can keep the account and simply stop tracking the old domain. Deleting the account makes sense only if the domain is fully retired and no longer needed.

Is deleting a Google Analytics account the same as starting fresh in GA4?

Not exactly. You don’t need to delete an entire account to start fresh in GA4. Many teams create a new GA4 property while keeping older accounts or properties archived for historical comparison.

What happens if I accidentally delete the wrong Google Analytics account?

First, pause.
Then immediately check the Trash Can in the Admin section. If it’s within the 35-day recovery window, you can restore the account with no data loss.

Still unsure what to delete?

If you’re not sure whether to delete, archive, or rebuild your Google Analytics setup, Ritner Digital can help you clean up your data without costly mistakes.