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Steps and fees checked against Robinhood's Help Center articles and fee schedule: October 2026. The articles show no update date.
Robinhood calls closing an account "deactivating" it. The account must be empty first, and the steps in Robinhood's Help Center are written for the app.
This guide follows the current Robinhood Help Center and fee schedule. It replaces our older version, which used outdated menu names, a 3 to 5 day timeline and an email method that the Help Center no longer lists. It also covers why Robinhood may hold your money, how to move assets to Fidelity, and how SIPC protection works, and a short video walkthrough from August 2026 is included below.
- Before you deactivate: no open positions, no pending transfers, dividends or interest, a $0 balance, Stock Lending off and High Yield Cash Program off if enrolled.
- App path: Account (person icon) > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account, then select the account and submit.
- Robinhood says most requests take 1 to 2 weeks; joint account requests get an email within 5 to 7 days.
- The Help Center lists no account-closure fee, but moving assets out through ACATS costs $100.
- After deactivating, you can still sign in to see statements, tax documents and trade confirmations.
Quick Guide: What to Know Before You Close
| Topic | What to do |
|---|---|
| Where to close it | In the Robinhood app: Account > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account. |
| Holdings and cash | Sell or transfer stocks and crypto, then withdraw all cash so the balance is $0. |
| Moving to another broker | Ask the new broker to start an ACATS transfer. Robinhood charges $100 for it. Crypto cannot be transferred to other brokerages. |
| How long it takes | Most requests are processed within 1 to 2 weeks. |
| After closing | You can still sign in for records. Only a primary individual account can be reactivated. |
Video Guide: How to Close a Robinhood Account (August 2026)
This short video walks through the pre-closure checklist and the Deactivate an account steps for individual, joint and IRA accounts.
Third-party video by Prostobank TV (August 4, 2026, about 4 minutes), not made by TechMoneyGuide. It uses slides rather than a screen recording. Menu names can change, so follow the written steps above if they differ.
How Do I Close My Robinhood Account? (Step by Step)
To close your Robinhood account, empty it first, then open the Robinhood app and go to Account > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account.
These steps follow Robinhood's "Deactivate an account" article. It describes the steps for the app only. Complete steps 1 to 4 first, because the request cannot go through while any of them is outstanding. Extra requirements may apply depending on your account type.
| # | Step | What to do | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sell or transfer holdings | Sell your stocks and crypto, or move them out. No open positions can remain. | Crypto cannot be transferred to other brokerages, so sell it first. |
| 2 | Withdraw your cash | Withdraw all cash so the balance is $0, and resolve any negative balance. | Withdraw to a linked bank account. |
| 3 | Clear pending items | No pending transfers, dividends or interest payments, and no pending Stock Lending payments. | Wait for pending items to settle. |
| 4 | Turn off programs | Unenroll from Stock Lending and disable the High Yield Cash Program if you are enrolled. | Check your account settings. |
| 5 | Open the deactivation option | Tap Account (person icon), then Menu (three bars), then Settings, then Deactivate an account. | The Help Center describes the app only. |
| 6 | Select the account and submit | Choose the account, follow the on-screen instructions and submit your request. | For an IRA, choose Traditional or Roth. Joint accounts offer optional feedback. |
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Deactivate an account. Menu names and requirements can change with app updates, so check the official page before you start.
Should You Close Your Robinhood Account or Transfer It?
Deactivate if you are happy to sell everything. Transfer through ACATS if you want to keep your stocks, at a cost of $100.
Robinhood's Help Center describes two ways out. You can sell your holdings, withdraw the cash and deactivate, or ask a new broker to pull your assets out through an ACATS transfer. The table compares them.
| # | Topic | Deactivate (sell and withdraw) | Transfer out (ACATS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cost | The Help Center lists no closure fee. | $100 for a full or partial outgoing transfer, taken from your cash. |
| 2 | Stocks and ETFs | Sell them before you deactivate. | Whole, settled shares generally transfer. Fractional shares are sold in a full transfer and the cash is swept out. |
| 3 | Options | Close open positions first. | Contracts expiring more than 7 business days out should transfer. Those expiring sooner do not. |
| 4 | Crypto | Sell or transfer it before deactivating. | Crypto cannot be transferred to other brokerages and may be liquidated. |
| 5 | Who starts it | You, in the Robinhood app. | The new broker, which sends the request to Robinhood. |
| 6 | Account afterwards | Deactivated. A primary individual account can be reactivated. | Closes automatically if all assets move out. Self-serve reactivation is not available afterwards. |
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Transfer your assets out.
How Do I Transfer Money From Robinhood to Fidelity?
Start the transfer from Fidelity, not Robinhood: log in to Fidelity, open its transfer tool and request a transfer of assets from Robinhood.
Fidelity calls this a transfer of assets, and Robinhood calls the outgoing version an ACATS transfer. Fidelity contacts Robinhood, Robinhood sends the assets, and Fidelity deposits them into the account you choose.
| # | Step | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Download a statement | Download a digital statement from Robinhood. You may need to upload a copy to finish the transfer. |
| 2 | Start the request at Fidelity | Log in to Fidelity and open the transfer tool. Fidelity says the request takes about 5 to 7 minutes. |
| 3 | Check the details | Names must match across accounts, or Fidelity may ask for extra documents. Margin or options positions need agreements on file at Fidelity first. |
| 4 | Wait for the transfer | Fidelity says most transfers take 3 to 5 business days, and some take longer. Assets can arrive in batches. |
| 5 | Then deactivate or leave it | A full transfer closes the Robinhood account automatically. A partial transfer leaves it open. |
- Cost: Fidelity says it charges no fee to move assets in. Robinhood charges $100 for an outgoing ACATS transfer.
- Most stocks and ETFs can move without being sold. Some mutual funds and stocks trading under $1.00 may need to be sold first, per Fidelity.
- Crypto cannot be transferred from Robinhood to other brokerages.
- Retirement accounts must be compatible types, for example Roth to Roth.
Official reference: Fidelity: Transfer your assets to Fidelity.
How Do I Close a Joint, IRA, Managed or Custodial Account?
Joint and IRA accounts use the same Settings > Deactivate an account route, while managed and custodial accounts have extra rules.
| # | Account type | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Individual | Account > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account, select the account, follow the prompts and submit. |
| 2 | Joint | Use the same route and choose the joint account. Feedback is optional. Robinhood emails you within 5 to 7 days. Joint accounts cannot be reactivated. |
| 3 | IRA | Use the same route, select Deactivate your account, then choose Traditional or Roth. Withdrawing IRA assets may result in taxes or penalties. |
| 4 | Managed (Robinhood Strategies) | Closing one prevents reopening it or opening another of the same type. You can open a different type, such as Roth or Traditional. |
| 5 | Custodial | An unfunded account may be deactivated. A funded one generally stays open until the Age of Termination or moves to a new custodian, because the assets belong to the minor. |
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Deactivate an account.
Why Is Robinhood Holding My Money or Not Letting Me Withdraw?
The most common reason is that cash from a sale takes one trading day to settle, but pending deposits, open orders and other holds can also block a withdrawal.
Robinhood's withdrawal article explains that only "withdrawable cash" can be moved out. It excludes certain amounts depending on your account type and activity. You need your balance to be withdrawable before you can deactivate, so check these reasons first.
| # | Reason | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Settlement period | Sale proceeds from equities or options settle on T+1 and become withdrawable on the second day. | Wait for settlement. |
| 2 | Pending deposit | A deposit must become available before you can withdraw it. | Wait until it clears. |
| 3 | Pending orders | Cash held for open orders is not withdrawable. | Cancel the orders first. |
| 4 | Referral stock | Cash from referral stock stays locked for 30 calendar days. | Wait out the 30 days. |
| 5 | Margin investing | You need at least $2,000 in account value to borrow. To withdraw below that, disable margin investing. | Turn off margin. |
| 6 | Options collateral | Some options strategies hold stock or cash as collateral. | Close or adjust the positions. |
| 7 | Spending card or round-ups | Card authorizations hold funds until they settle or expire, and held round-up cents may need you to unenroll. | Wait or unenroll. |
| 8 | Withdrawal errors | Transfers can fail because of transfer limits, a withdrawal to a different source account, or an account restriction. | Check limits, then contact Support. |
| 9 | Managed account | If your request exceeds cash on hand, assets must be sold, which can add 2 to 3 extra days. | Allow extra time. |
- How to withdraw: tap Account, then Menu, then Transfers, then Withdraw. Enter the amount, choose the account and destination, review the fees and tap Transfer.
- Fees: standard ACH bank transfers have no fee. Instant withdrawals cost 1.75%, with a $1 minimum and a $150 maximum per transaction.
- To cancel a pending withdrawal, go to History, then Pending, select it and choose Cancel transfer, before the cutoff time.
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Withdraw money from Robinhood.
How Do I Unlink My Bank Account From Robinhood?
In the Robinhood app, open Account > Menu > Transfers (iOS), tap your bank under Linked accounts and tap Unlink.
Robinhood's unlink article lists different paths for iOS, Android and the classic website. You cannot unlink a bank account that is under review.
| # | Device | Steps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | iOS app | Tap Account, then Menu (three bars), then Transfers. Under Linked accounts, tap the account, tap Unlink, then tap Unlink again to confirm. |
| 2 | Android app | Tap Account, then Settings (gear icon), then Transfers. Under Linked accounts, tap the account and tap Unlink. |
| 3 | Website (classic) | Select Account. Under Linked accounts, select Unlink next to the account. |
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Unlink your account.
How Much Does It Cost and How Long Does It Take?
Robinhood's deactivation article lists no account-closure fee, and most requests are processed within 1 to 2 weeks.
If you move your assets to another broker, Robinhood charges $100 for a full or partial outgoing ACATS transfer. The fee comes from your available cash, and an account closes automatically if a transfer moves all of its assets out.
Joint account requests get an email within 5 to 7 days. Withdrawing IRA assets may result in taxes or penalties, so check your IRA details before you withdraw.
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Transfer your assets out.
What Happens After You Deactivate a Robinhood Account?
You can still sign in to see statements, tax documents and trade confirmations, but you can no longer trade.
- Robinhood emails you once the account is deactivated or if more action is needed.
- An individual investing account can be reactivated, but only the primary account. Joint and managed accounts cannot be reactivated.
- Deactivation does not delete your personal information. A data deletion request is separate and does not deactivate your account.
- Deactivating one account can affect features on a joint account, such as Gold, Stock Lending, Cash Sweep and linking new banks or debit cards.
How Do I Reactivate a Robinhood Account?
If your individual investing account is eligible, open the app, tap Account > Menu > Reactivate account and submit the request. Robinhood says it can take up to 5 days.
You sign in with your original credentials, and Robinhood says your account history and settings are restored. Only individual investing accounts can be reactivated in the app or on the web. Other account types need help from Support.
Do not submit a new application for an existing account, because Robinhood says this can cause delays and duplicate applications are rejected.
Self-serve reactivation may be unavailable in these cases:
- An IRS B-notice or incomplete W-9 is on file.
- There is an unresolved identity issue, such as a name mismatch.
- The account was flagged in a sanctions review.
- A negative balance was written off. Contact Support to confirm the amount owed.
- All assets were transferred out through ACATS and the account was closed. You may need to wait 21 days after the transfer's settlement date.
- The account is dormant, which requires Support and may involve extra identity verification.
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Coming back to Robinhood.
What If Robinhood Restricted or Deactivated My Account With Money in It?
Contact Robinhood Support and resolve the restriction. The Help Center articles we checked do not say whether you can withdraw money from a restricted account.
Deactivating an account yourself requires a $0 balance, so a deactivation by you should not leave money in it. If you cannot withdraw or the account is restricted, Robinhood's Account restrictions article lists these causes:
- You declared yourself a company control person, which typically blocks trading in that stock.
- Bank transfers were reversed.
- Your account information is incorrect or outdated.
- A fraud inquiry or an account levy applies.
- Steps vary by restriction. Common requirements are covering negative balances and possibly uploading requested documents.
- A restriction that blocks stock purchases also blocks crypto purchases on Robinhood Crypto until it is lifted.
- Even after a deactivation, you can still sign in to access statements, tax documents and trade confirmations.
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: Account restrictions.
Is Robinhood SIPC Insured, and What Happens If It Goes Bankrupt?
Yes. Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities are SIPC members, which protects securities and cash up to $500,000 per account type, including $250,000 for cash.
Robinhood's article does not describe a step-by-step process for what happens to customer assets if the broker fails. It only describes the SIPC protection and the supplemental policy shown above.
| # | Protection | Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIPC | $500,000 per account type, including $250,000 for cash only | Accounts of the same type are combined, for example individual, joint, Traditional IRA and Roth IRA. |
| 2 | Supplemental Lloyd's of London policy | Up to $1 billion in aggregate; $50 million per customer in securities, including $1.9 million in uninvested cash | Applies if SIPC limits are exhausted. |
| 3 | What is not covered | Market losses | Neither SIPC nor the supplemental policy protects against a fall in the value of securities. |
| 4 | Crypto and futures | Not covered by SIPC | Robinhood Crypto is not a FINRA or SIPC member, and futures sit with Robinhood Derivatives. |
Official reference: Robinhood Help Center: How you're protected.
How We Checked This Guide
We rebuilt this guide from Robinhood's Help Center articles on deactivating an account, transferring assets out, unlinking a bank account, withdrawing money, account restrictions and how customer assets are protected, plus Robinhood's fee schedule and Fidelity's transfer page, all checked in October 2026.
We did not close a Robinhood account to test the flow, and the Help Center describes the steps for the app only. Menu names and requirements can change, and extra requirements may apply to your account type.
Before You Deactivate: What to Think About
- Transfer or close: If you want to keep your investments, ask your new broker for an ACATS transfer. It costs $100, and the account closes automatically if everything moves out.
- Crypto: Crypto cannot be transferred to other brokerages. Sell it or follow Robinhood's instructions before you deactivate.
- Taxes: Selling can create taxable gains or losses. You can still sign in later to download tax documents and statements.
- IRA accounts: Withdrawing IRA assets may result in taxes or penalties. Check this before you deactivate an IRA.
- Coming back later: Only a primary individual account can be reactivated. Joint and managed accounts cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sell or transfer all holdings, withdraw your cash to a $0 balance, clear pending items and turn off Stock Lending. Then open the Robinhood app and go to Account > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account, select the account and submit.
If you want to keep your stocks, ask your new broker for an ACATS transfer. Robinhood charges $100, whole settled shares generally transfer, and crypto cannot be transferred to other brokerages. If you are happy to sell everything, deactivating has no listed closure fee.
Robinhood's deactivation article lists no closure fee. If you transfer your assets to another broker through ACATS, Robinhood charges $100.
Robinhood says most requests are processed within 1 to 2 weeks. Joint account requests get an email within 5 to 7 days.
The Help Center article describes the deactivation steps for the app only. If you cannot deactivate after clearing the requirements, contact Robinhood Support.
Use the same route in the app: Account > Menu > Settings > Deactivate an account, then choose the joint account, or select Traditional or Roth for an IRA. Joint account requests get an email within 5 to 7 days, and withdrawing IRA assets may result in taxes or penalties.
Our earlier version of this guide described emailing support. The current Help Center article lists the in-app route and says to contact Robinhood Support if you cannot deactivate after meeting the requirements.
A primary individual investing account may be eligible. In the app, tap Account > Menu > Reactivate account and submit the request; Robinhood says it can take up to 5 days. Joint and managed accounts cannot be reactivated, and an account closed after a full ACATS transfer is not self-serve.
Yes. Robinhood says you can still sign in to access statements, tax documents, trade confirmations and other records.
No. Deactivation does not delete your personal information, and a data deletion request does not deactivate your account.
Check that you have no open positions, no pending transfers, dividends, interest or Stock Lending payments, a $0 balance, Stock Lending off and High Yield Cash off. If you still cannot deactivate, contact Robinhood Support.
Sale proceeds settle on T+1 and become withdrawable on the second day. Pending deposits, open orders, referral stock locks, margin, options collateral and card authorizations can also hold cash. Check the withdrawal reasons table above.
Check for unsettled sale proceeds, pending deposits or orders, transfer limits, a withdrawal to a different source account, or an account restriction. If none apply, contact Robinhood Support.
Start the transfer from Fidelity: log in, open the transfer tool and request a transfer of assets from Robinhood. Fidelity says most transfers take 3 to 5 business days and charges no fee to move assets in; Robinhood charges $100 for an outgoing ACATS transfer.
Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities are SIPC members. SIPC protects securities and cash up to $500,000 per account type, including $250,000 for cash, but it does not protect against market losses or cover Robinhood Crypto.
Robinhood's Help Center describes SIPC protection and a supplemental Lloyd's of London policy, but it does not describe a step-by-step process for a broker failure. SIPC does not cover market losses or crypto held through Robinhood Crypto.
Contact Robinhood Support. Restrictions can come from reversed bank transfers, outdated account information, fraud inquiries or levies, and resolving one often means covering a negative balance or uploading documents. The articles we checked do not say whether you can withdraw while restricted.
Sources
- Robinhood Help Center: Deactivate an account
- Robinhood Help Center: Transfer your assets out
- Robinhood Help Center: Unlink your account
- Robinhood Help Center: Coming back to Robinhood
- Robinhood Financial fee schedule (PDF)
- Prostobank TV on YouTube: How to Delete a Robinhood Account
- Robinhood Help Center: Withdraw money from Robinhood
- Robinhood Help Center: How you're protected
- Robinhood Help Center: Account restrictions
- Fidelity: Transfer your assets to Fidelity
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not financial, investment or tax advice. TechMoneyGuide.com is not affiliated with Robinhood. Account requirements, menus and fees can change, so confirm the latest steps on the official Robinhood Help Center before you act.