> This page is part of the [Customer.io documentation](https://docs-customerio.netlify.app). For the complete index, see [llms.txt](https://docs-customerio.netlify.app/llms.txt). > Last updated: July 15, 2026 # Delete profiles and suppress profile IDs You can delete profiles from Customer.io from our UI or API. No matter which method you choose, when you delete a profile, you’re deleting their data with them too. There is no way to recover a deleted profile’s data! If you are honoring a profile’s request to be forgotten, or simply want to prevent an identifier from being added to your Customer.io workspace in the future, you can suppress that identifier when deleting profiles. ## Types of suppressions Suppressions can mean a few different things: * In Customer.io, you can suppress a deleted profile’s identifiers so they can’t ever be re-added to your workspace (good for GDPR compliance). * Email service providers (ESP) suppress an email address to help you maintain good deliverability. Email service providers (ESP) maintain lists of suppressed email addresses when profiles log a spam complaint or the address experiences a hard-bounce. ESPs won’t send to suppressed email addresses. [If you use Customer.io as your ESP, you can view and manage your list in *Workspace Settings > Email > Suppression List*.](/messaging/channels/email/deliverability/esp-suppression/) [![The email suppression list page](https://docs.customer.io/images/esp-suppression-list.png)](#a5e5b25ef464e496ddf13297492abb17-lightbox) Otherwise, if you use a **Custom SMTP** server, you must manage your email suppression list through them. ## Delete profiles You can delete profiles in bulk or individually in your workspace. Go to the *Profiles* page to get started. ### Delete profiles in bulk You can filter for, select and delete individuals from the **Profiles** page. [![delete_people_page_1.png](https://docs.customer.io/images/delete_people_page_1.png)](#2a40bd4193c9ae7186f39015cb0eb3d3-lightbox) Alternatively, if you need to delete all of the profiles included in your search results (such as those matching a specific segment), click **Select all ### profiles**: [![delete_people_page_2.png](https://docs.customer.io/images/delete_people_page_2.png)](#60c703b4526196334033b1c01a3cd62a-lightbox) When you’re ready, click **Delete forever** to confirm your action. ### Delete a single profile You can delete a single profile with the method above or by clicking **Delete forever** on their individual page: [![image.png](https://docs.customer.io/images/image%28109%29.png)](#876999f2a5439ac732c9d73d91c4a060-lightbox) Once again, confirm that you want to delete them, and you’re good to go! ### Delete profiles via API You can delete profiles directly via API or through a [webhook action in an automation](/messaging/delete-people/). See our [Track API documentation](/integrations/api/track/#operation/delete) for help deleting profiles programmatically. Remember, if you’re sending data to Customer.io via other means (such as [the JavaScript snippet](/integrations/api/#tag/Track-v1-Overview)), you can re-create profiles you’ve deleted! To avoid this, you should [delete AND suppress their identifiers](#how-suppressing-ids-works).  Use the correct URL for your region If your account is based in the European Union (EU), make sure you use endpoints beginning with track-eu. We redirect traffic from US endpoints to EU-based accounts, however the traffic still passes through US servers and data may be logged in the US. ## How suppressing IDs works You can “suppress” profiles you delete. Suppressing a profile redacts activity attributed to the profile and prevents you from adding a profile with the same identifiersThe attributes you use to add, modify, and target people. Each unique identifier value represents an individual person in your workspace. to your workspace in the future. This is typically used for GDPR compliance. Suppressing a profile suppresses *all* of their identifiers, but consider how you identify profiles according to your [workspace’s settings](/accounts/workspaces/overview/#migrate-workspace): * If your workspace is **ID-only**, suppressing a profile suppresses their ID. * If your workspace identifies profiles by **email, phone, or ID** and you suppress a profile, you cannot add another profile with the same `id`, `email`, or `phone`; all of their identifiers are suppressed. If you need to export a [list of suppressed identifiers, contact Customer.io](/messaging/profiles/manage/exporting-users/#export-suppressed-emails-and-identifiers).  Changing workspace identifiers affects suppression If you have an *ID-only* workspace and you [change your workspace settings](/accounts/workspaces/overview/#migrate-workspace) to *email or ID*, the `email` attribute belonging to suppressed profiles will also be suppressed. If you **delete and suppress** a profile’s identifiers: * You cannot reuse the deleted profile’s identifiersThe attributes you use to add, modify, and target people. Each unique identifier value represents an individual person in your workspace. until you unsuppress them. * Any attempt to re-add a profile with a suppressed `id`, `email`, or `phone` is ignored or results in an error (CSV imports, API). * Activity attributed to the deleted and suppressed identifier (the profile) is redacted. Profile activity shows `forgotten (anonymous)` entries for suppressed identifiers. If you **delete and don’t suppress** a profile’s identifiers: * You can reuse a deleted profile’s email or ID to create a new profile. * A profile you add with the previously deleted identifier will have no prior data, including their unsubscribe status: the re-added profile can trigger previously received automations. * Activity remains attributed to the deleted profile’s `[cio_idAn identifier for a person that is automatically generated by Customer.io and cannot be changed. This identifier provides a complete, unbroken record of a person across changes to their other identifiers (id, email, phone, etc).](/journeys/people/manage/identifying-people/#cio_id)`. If you re-create a profile with the same identifier as the profile you deleted, the new profile **does not** regain the activity history of the previously deleted profile. ### Suppress IDs After you click **Delete forever**, you’ll need to confirm your action and decide whether to suppress the profile’s identifiers. [![The dialog to delete and suppress a profile](https://docs.customer.io/images/delete-and-suppress-modal.png)](#8f2e7a6354c80eb8638c2b9e60324556-lightbox) ### Suppress IDs via API You can suppress an identifier to redact activity attributed to it and prevent a profile from being added to your workspace with the same identifier again. You can delete and suppress profiles directly via API or through a [webhook action in an automation](/messaging/delete-people/). If you suppress an identifier, we’ll ignore API calls referencing the identifier in the future. If you attempt to re-add a profile using an identifier that you previously suppressed, you’ll receive an error. Suppressing a profile through our API also deletes a profile. You don’t need to call both the delete and suppress endpoints. Use the following call, where the `identifier` is any of your workspace’s unique identifiers (normally `id` and `email`). `POST https://track.customer.io/api/v1/customers/:identifier/suppress` For more information, see our [Track API documentation](/integrations/api/track/#operation/suppress).  You can only suppress profiles by phone through the Track v2 API The v1 suppress and unsuppress endpoints resolve the path `identifier` as an `id` or `email` only—a phone number in the path is treated as an `id`. To suppress or unsuppress a profile *by their phone number*, use the [Track v2 API](/integrations/api/track/). Regardless of which identifier you reference, suppressing a profile still suppresses all of their identifiers, including phone.  Use the correct URL for your region If your account is based in the European Union (EU), make sure you use endpoints beginning with track-eu. We redirect traffic from US endpoints to EU-based accounts, however the traffic still passes through US servers and data may be logged in the US. ### Unsuppress IDs If you previously suppressed a profile’s identifiers, you can unsuppress them so they’re available to use again in your workspace. If you add a profile with the unsuppressed ids, we make a new profile without any history (messages, journeys, etc.) formerly associated with the ids. You can unsuppress ids from the UI in > [*Workspace Settings > Workspace Suppressions*](/messaging/channels/email/deliverability/workspace-suppressions/#remove-a-profile-from-the-gdpr-suppression-list). You can also unsuppress deleted ids [programmatically through the Track API](/integrations/api/track/#tag/track-customers/POST/api/v1/customers/%7Bidentifier%7D/unsuppress).  Use the correct URL for your region If your account is based in the European Union (EU), make sure you use endpoints beginning with track-eu. We redirect traffic from US endpoints to EU-based accounts, however the traffic still passes through US servers and data may be logged in the US. * * [Types of suppressions](#esp-suppression) * [Delete profiles](#delete-profiles) * [Delete profiles in bulk](#delete-people-from-the-people-page) * [Delete a single profile](#delete-a-single-profile) * [Delete profiles via API](#delete-profiles-via-api) * [How suppressing IDs works](#how-suppressing-ids-works) * [Suppress IDs](#suppress-ids) * [Suppress IDs via API](#suppressing-profiles-via-the-api) * [Unsuppress IDs](#unsuppress-ids) Copy page Copy page [Download .md](/messaging/profiles/manage/deleting-users.md) Is this page helpful? ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-success.png) ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-failure.png) # How can we make it better? Close Do you need help from Customer.io support? No Yes What part of Customer.io do you need help with? How can we improve this page? 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