How to request deletion
- 1.Optional but recommended: Export your library first from shellf.app/export-my-libraryor via Settings in the app. Once deletion completes, Shellf can’t recover the data — so if you want a record of your library, grab the CSV before the request.
- 2.Email hello@shellf.app from the address linked to your Shellf account. Subject line “Account Deletion Request” is fine; you don’t need to write more than a sentence.
- 3.I’ll confirm receipt and permanently delete your account within 30 days, usually much sooner.
What gets deleted
- •Your account record (email, sign-in credentials, profile)
- •Your full library and all reading history
- •Star ratings and per-trait rating tags
- •Custom shelves and notes
- •Reading stats and your derived taste profile (clusters, centroids)
- •AI recommendation history
- •Any active Plus subscription (cancelled at deletion). If you sign up again you will need to purchase Plus again.
Why 30 days, and not instant
The 30-day window is a buffer to comply with UK GDPR processing rules and to give me a way to verify the deletion request is legitimate (i.e. coming from you, not from someone who’s gained access to your inbox briefly). In practice, deletion usually completes within a day or two of receipt.
A self-serve in-app deletion flow is on the roadmap to replace the email-based process. Today, email is the only way — a small operation, a small surface to verify against, and worth the friction of a manual confirmation.
What if I change my mind?
If you email me to delete and then change your mind, just reply to the same thread before deletion completes and I’ll cancel the request. Once deletion has actually run, the data is gone and there’s no recovery — that’s the point of the deletion. If you later want to use Shellf again, you’ll need to start a fresh account.
Related questions
- →How do I import my library from Goodreads?
- →Is Shellf free?
- →How much does Shellf cost?
- →Does Shellf work on iPhone?
- →Does Shellf work on Android?