Close, pause, or reactivate your account
The difference between pausing (a temporary, fully reversible break) and closing (a permanent deletion) your account — and exactly how to come back.
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Overview
Sometimes you need a break, and sometimes you’re ready to leave for good. GS Poetry gives you two very different options, and it’s worth knowing which is which before you choose. Pausing is a temporary, fully reversible break — your account and everything in it stays safe, just hidden. Closing is a permanent goodbye that deletes your account and content. This article walks through both, plus how to come back.
Pausing your account (temporary)
Pausing is the gentle option. It hides your profile from other poets while you step away, but nothing you’ve created is touched or lost. From Settings → Pause Account you choose how long to pause — anywhere from 1 week to 3 months — and confirm. You’re signed out right away.
- Your profile is hidden from other members for as long as the pause lasts.
- Your poems, followers, comments, and history all stay exactly where they are.
- You can come back any time — see below — even before the pause period ends.
- If you don’t return sooner, your account reactivates on its own once the timeframe you chose runs out.
Closing your account (permanent)
Closing is for when you’ve genuinely decided to go. From Settings → Close Account you’ll confirm by typing your username and ticking a box that you understand what’s being deleted, then verify it’s really you. Your account is deactivated immediately and you’re signed out.
Closing eventually and permanently deletes:
- All your poems — both published pieces and drafts.
- Your comments, likes, and follower connections.
- Your profile, media gallery, and messages.
Because this is irreversible, the close screen offers a Download My Data option first: request a portable archive of every poem, comment, and message, and we’ll email you when it’s ready. If there’s anything you’d like to keep, grab it before you close — see Downloading a copy of your data.
When you close your account, it’s deactivated straight away and scheduled for permanent deletion after a 14-day grace period. During those 14 days you can still change your mind: sign back in and your account is reinstated with everything intact. Once the grace period ends, the deletion is final and can’t be undone here — so if you only need time away, pause instead of close.
Coming back
How you return depends on how you left:
- If you paused — just sign in again. Logging back in lifts the pause immediately, even if the timeframe you picked hasn’t finished. Your poems, photos, comments, and followers are exactly where you left them.
- If you closed and you’re still within the 14-day grace period — sign back in and you’ll be offered one-click reactivation. Confirm it and everything is restored just as it was.
- Following a link we emailed you — if you have a reactivation email, opening its reactivation link brings your account back and returns you to the sign-in page.
Once a closed account’s grace period has passed, it can’t be reactivated on your own, because the data has been removed. If you’re in that situation, contact support and we’ll help you figure out next steps.
What’s the difference, in a nutshell
- Pause = a temporary curtain over your profile. Nothing is deleted, you set the length, and signing in brings you straight back. Choose this if you might return.
- Close = a permanent deletion of your account and content, with a 14-day window to reverse it before it becomes final. Choose this only if you’re sure.
If something goes wrong
- “I paused but I want back in now.” Just sign in with your usual email and password — logging in ends the pause immediately, no waiting for the timeframe to finish.
- “I closed my account by mistake.” If it’s been fewer than 14 days, sign back in and accept the reactivation offer. If the grace period has already ended, contact support as soon as you can.
- “My reactivation link says it’s invalid or missing its token.” Use the most recent link from the email we sent you, opened in full — links can expire or break if copied incompletely. If it still won’t work, reach out to support.
- “I want to leave but keep my email for later.” Closing removes the account tied to that email. If you only want to stop notifications or change the address on file, see Change your email or pause instead.
Where to go next
Ready to take a break? Head to Pause Account. Set on leaving? Close Account walks you through it safely. Still weighing it up or stuck getting back in? Contact support — we’re happy to help.