To delete your ABHA health ID, log in to the official ABHA portal at abha.abdm.gov.in, open your profile, choose Deactivate/Delete and pick Delete my ABHA number permanently. Deletion removes the number and your demographic details for good. Hospitals keep their own records, so download anything you need first.
Only want a break? Choose Deactivate my ABHA number temporarily instead. You can reactivate it later.
Stuck? ABDM's 24x7 helpline is 1800-11-4477 / 14477, and grievances go to grievance.abdm.gov.in.
An ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) number is a 14-digit health ID. Many people got one at a hospital counter or through an app without much thought, and later want out. There are dozens of near-identical guides on this. Most tell you to "look for an option". This one uses the exact labels from the official ABHA portal, ABDM's own FAQs and its privacy policies, and says clearly where we couldn't confirm something.
First, is ABHA compulsory?
No. ABDM's FAQ says it is not mandatory for all citizens to get an ABHA Number, and asked whether you'll be denied treatment without one, it answers simply: No. Its Health Data Management Policy says participation is voluntary, and that you can opt out and delete your health ID, subject to data retention rules and the law. That is unlike Aadhaar, which can't be deleted, only locked.
Deactivate or delete: what each one does
The ABHA portal offers two Opt-Out Options. This is what its own screens say about each.
- Deactivate my ABHA number temporarily. For the period of deactivation, you lose access to ABDM applications, and you can't share your health records over ABDM or with any health facility. You can come back later through Reactivate ABHA. ABDM's data policy adds that consent to share data linked to a deactivated ID is treated as revoked while it stays deactivated.
- Delete my ABHA number permanently. Your ABHA number will be permanently deleted, along with all your demographic details. You won't be able to retrieve any information tagged to it, and you'll never be able to access ABDM applications or health records over the ABDM network with that number.
If you might need ABHA again soon, say for a hospital stay or an insurance claim, deactivate. If you're sure you're done, delete.
Before you delete: four things to do
Save the records you want to keep
Open the ABHA app, or whichever PHR app you use, and download any prescriptions, discharge summaries, lab reports or vaccination records you'll want later. After deletion you can't reach anything tagged to the number over ABDM.
Revoke the consents you've given
In the ABHA app, open the Consent tab, select a consent you granted and delete it. ABDM says health data under a revoked consent is not visible to that hospital or doctor any more. ABDM's app privacy policy describes the same step as the "My consent" tab and Revoke. Do this for every facility you no longer want to have access.
Unlink your ABHA number from your ABHA address
Your ABHA address (the name@abdm handle) is separate from the 14-digit number. In the ABHA app, go to your profile, tap Unlink ABHA number, confirm and verify with the OTP. The profile then changes from "KYC Verified" to "Self-Declared". ABDM says there's no limit on how many ABHA addresses can be linked to one number, so check for any you created in other apps.
Deal with other health apps separately
ABDM names Aarogya Setu, Driefcase, EkaCare and Paytm among the apps that work with ABHA. Aarogya Setu 2.0 is now an ABDM health-records app that asks you to set up DigiLocker as your health locker. Records you uploaded to a locker or app are held there. ABDM's policy says you can delete uploaded data from your health locker, so remove what you don't want kept, and use each app's own account deletion as well.
How to delete or deactivate your ABHA number
Log in to the official ABHA portal
Go to abha.abdm.gov.in and log in to the account you want to remove. ABDM's app privacy policy says users can request deletion by using the account deletion feature available on the official ABHA portal, so start there rather than in a third-party app.
Open your profile and choose Deactivate/Delete
In your profile, look for Deactivate/Delete. The screen, titled Deactivate/Delete Account, says You can Deactivate or Delete your ABHA by choosing below options.
Pick your option and read the warning
Choose Deactivate my ABHA number temporarily or Delete my ABHA number permanently. The delete path shows what will happen and asks Are you sure you want to proceed? It also offers a way back: No, I want to temporarily deactivate.
Verify and keep the confirmation
Complete the OTP verification the portal asks for. You should see Account Deleted or Account Deactivated. Screenshot it with the date.
How we checked: we read these labels from the official portal's own interface text and ABDM's published pages on 17 September 2026. We didn't delete a real ABHA to walk the flow, so the exact order of screens may differ slightly on your account.
What deleting ABHA does not delete. ABDM says it does not store any health records. Hospitals and labs create and keep them as per their retention policies, and ABDM only passes them along with your consent. So your records at the hospital stay at the hospital. If you want a particular clinic, lab or health app to erase what it holds, write to it directly. Section 12 of the DPDP Act 2023 gives you a right to erasure, enforceable from May 2027, and medical records may still be kept where another law requires it. Our free DPDP notice generator drafts the letter. You send it from your own email.
Reactivating, and what we couldn't confirm
- Deactivated: the portal has a Reactivate ABHA flow using your ABHA number or mobile number. If you try to create a new ABHA with the same KYC details, the portal tells you the existing number is deactivated and asks you to reactivate it.
- Deleted: a deleted ABHA number can't be reactivated. We couldn't find an official statement on whether you can later create a new ABHA number with the same Aadhaar, so we won't guess. Ask the ABDM helpline if it matters to you.
- In the ABHA mobile app: we couldn't confirm a delete option inside the app itself. ABDM's policy points to the portal.
If something goes wrong: ABDM's grievance route
ABDM publishes these contacts:
- Online: grievance.abdm.gov.in. No login needed.
- Phone: 1800-11-4477 / 14477, a 24x7 call centre in Hindi, English, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.
- Email: the ABDM Grievance Redressal Officer at gro.ndhm@nha.gov.in.
- Post: Grievance Redressal Officer, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, National Health Authority, 9th Floor, Tower-1, Jeevan Bharati Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001.
ABDM says the maximum time to resolve a grievance is 30 days, and that you can reopen a case if you're not satisfied. Its Data Protection Officer is the final escalation for serious issues the grievance officer hasn't handled.
Health ID gone. What about your phone number and email?
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Run a free check →FAQ
How do I delete my ABHA health ID?
Log in to the official ABHA portal at abha.abdm.gov.in, open your profile and choose Deactivate/Delete, then select Delete my ABHA number permanently and confirm. ABDM's own privacy policy says deletion is done through the account deletion feature on the official ABHA portal. Revoke consents and save any health records you need before you delete.
ABHA card delete kaise kare?
abha.abdm.gov.in par login kijiye, profile mein Deactivate/Delete option chuniye aur Delete my ABHA number permanently select karke confirm kijiye. Delete karne ke baad ABHA number aur aapki demographic details hamesha ke liye hat jaati hain. Sirf kuch samay ke liye band karna ho to deactivate chuniye, use baad mein reactivate kar sakte hain.
What is the difference between deactivating and deleting ABHA?
Deactivation is temporary. While deactivated you lose access to ABDM applications and cannot share health records over ABDM or with any health facility, but you can reactivate the ABHA number later. Deletion is permanent. The ABHA portal says your ABHA number is deleted along with all your demographic details, and you will not be able to retrieve any information tagged to it.
What happens to my health records if I delete ABHA?
ABDM says it does not store health records. Hospitals, labs and clinics create and keep them under their own retention policies, so deleting ABHA does not erase those records. What you lose is access to them over the ABDM network with the deleted number. Download or save copies you need from your ABHA or PHR app before you delete.
Can I reactivate a deactivated ABHA number?
Yes. The ABHA portal has a Reactivate ABHA option, and signs you in using your ABHA number or mobile number. A deleted ABHA number cannot be reactivated. We could not confirm from an official source whether you can create a new ABHA number with the same Aadhaar after deleting one.
How do I revoke consent given to a hospital in the ABHA app?
Open the Consent tab in the ABHA app, select the consent you granted and delete it. ABDM says health data under a revoked consent is no longer visible to that health facility or professional. Consents can also be granted for a fixed period, after which access ends on its own.
Where do I complain about ABHA?
Register a grievance at grievance.abdm.gov.in, call the 24x7 toll-free number 1800-11-4477 or 14477, or write to the Grievance Redressal Officer, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, National Health Authority, 9th Floor, Tower-1, Jeevan Bharati Building, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001. ABDM says the maximum time to resolve a grievance is 30 days.
General information, last reviewed 17 September 2026. It is not legal or medical advice. ABDM's portal, apps and policies change, so check abha.abdm.gov.in and abdm.gov.in before you rely on the steps above. Saaph.in is not affiliated with the National Health Authority, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, Aarogya Setu or any health app, and cannot access, deactivate or delete ABHA numbers. Saaph is a communication facilitator, not your legal representative or agent. Saaph.in is operated by Ronin Works Private Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana. Grievance contact: data@saaph.in.