How to Delete Accounts in Quicken
Deleting Accounts - Ashley's Guide
Quick Review
What: Permanently removing accounts from Quicken Simplifi
Why: Clean up duplicates, remove test accounts, or eliminate unused accounts
How: Settings → Accounts → Three dots → Delete account
Critical Warning: This action cannot be undone. All data is permanently lost
Overview
Quicken Simplifi allows you to delete accounts when needed, such as removing duplicates or cleaning up test accounts. This action is permanent and cannot be undone—once an account is deleted, all associated data is gone forever.
Understanding when and how to delete accounts helps you maintain a clean, organized financial picture without accidentally losing important history.
How to Delete an Account
Steps
Hover over the panel on the left-hand side and select Settings
Select Accounts
Locate the account you want to delete
Click the three dots at the end of the account row
Select Delete account
Click Delete to confirm
Critical Warning: Deleting an account in Quicken Simplifi is a permanent action. There is no way to recover deleted accounts or their data.
Handling Duplicate Accounts
The most common reason for account deletion is resolving duplicates. If you've accidentally added the same account twice:
Identifying Which to Delete
Check which account has your transaction history
Verify which has proper categorization
Keep the account with the most complete data
Delete the newly created duplicate
Important Considerations
When resolving duplicates, be absolutely certain you're deleting the newly created account, not your original account with historical data. Once deleted, you cannot recover the transactions, categorizations, or history.
Ashley once deleted the wrong duplicate account and lost two years of carefully categorized transactions—now they always double-check the account details before clicking delete.
Before You Delete
Verify It's the Right Account
Check the account name and type
Confirm the balance matches what you expect
Review recent transactions to ensure it's the correct account
Consider if you need any data from this account for taxes or records
Consider Alternatives
Instead of deleting, you might:
Fix connection issues if that's the problem
Update the account name if it's confusing
Investigate why duplicates were created
Common Deletion Scenarios
Test Accounts If you created accounts while learning Quicken Simplifi:
Delete any test or practice accounts
Keep only your real financial accounts
Incorrectly Added Accounts When accounts were set up wrong:
Consider if you can fix the existing account first
Delete only if starting fresh is the best option
Closed Accounts Think carefully before deleting closed accounts:
You may need the history for taxes
Transaction records could be useful later
Consider keeping closed accounts for complete records
What You Cannot Recover
Once an account is deleted:
All transactions disappear permanently
Transaction categorizations are lost
Account history cannot be restored
Any notes or attachments are gone
If you need this information later, there's no way to get it back from Quicken Simplifi.
Best Practices
Think Before You Delete
Ask yourself if you might need this data later
Consider tax implications of losing transaction history
Remember that deletion is permanent
Double-Check Everything
Verify you're deleting the correct account
Ensure you don't need the transaction history
Confirm it's not your primary account by mistake
Document If Necessary
If you might need account details later, write them down first
Consider taking screenshots of important information
Note the account number if relevant for your records
The Bottom Line
Account deletion in Quicken Simplifi is straightforward but irreversible. Take a moment to ensure you're deleting the right account and that you won't need its data in the future.
As Ashley learned, it's better to spend an extra minute verifying than to lose years of financial history. When in doubt, don't delete—you can always remove it later if truly necessary.
Hint: If you're unsure whether to delete an account, wait a week. Ashley found that the "I'll never need this" feeling often changes when tax time arrives or when you need to reference an old transaction. Time provides clarity about whether deletion is the right choice, and there's rarely urgency to delete immediately.