How Long Does It Take to Delete 10,000 Tweets?
Short answer: 2-3 hours.
Long answer: It depends on Twitter's rate limits, your connection, and your tool. Let's break it down.
Why Can't It Be Instant?
Twitter limits how fast you can perform actions to prevent abuse. If deletion were instant, bots could wreak havoc.
These "rate limits" apply to:
Current Rate Limits (2026)
Twitter's exact limits vary and change. Generally:
- Tweets per 15 minutes: 300 deletions
- Daily limits: Vary by account status
- Burst protection: Slow down if too fast
Time Estimates by Volume
| Tweet Count | Estimated Time |
|-------------|---------------|
| 100 | 5-10 minutes |
| 500 | 15-25 minutes |
| 1,000 | 30-45 minutes |
| 5,000 | 1.5-2.5 hours |
| 10,000 | 2.5-4 hours |
| 25,000 | 6-10 hours |
| 50,000+ | 12-20 hours |
What Affects Speed?
1. Rate Limit Handling
Good tools automatically pause when hitting limits, then resume. Bad tools crash or skip tweets.
2. Include Retweets and Likes?
If you're also deleting retweets and likes, that's 3x the actions, 3x the time.
3. Network Stability
Slow connections mean slower deletion. Each delete requires a round-trip to Twitter.
4. Account Status
Twitter verified accounts may have different limits. Free accounts are more restricted.
How to Handle Long Deletions
Option 1: Overnight
Start before bed, let it run. Check progress in the morning.
Option 2: Background Task
Most tools run in the background. Work on other things while it processes.
Option 3: Breaks
Start, let it run for an hour, pause, resume later. Already-deleted tweets won't reappear.
Can You Speed It Up?
Not really. The rate limits are Twitter's, not your tool's. Any tool claiming "instant" deletion for thousands of tweets is either:
What If It Seems Stuck?
If deletion seems slow:
1. Check if it's still running - The counter should increment
2. Check your connection - Ensure you're online
3. Rate limit pause - It might be waiting to resume
4. Restart the app - Sometimes helps, progress is saved
Pro Tip: Delete Strategically
If time is limited, use filters:
You can always do more cleanup later.
Conclusion
Deleting 10,000 tweets takes 2-3 hours. It's not instant, but it's fully automatic once started. Start the process, let it run, and come back to a clean slate.
*Ready to start? Delete My Tweets handles rate limits automatically. Start before bed, wake up to a clean profile.*