You can delete a course in three steps on any device

To remove a course from Duolingo, open the app or website, tap or click the profile icon, select "Courses," find the course you want to remove, and tap or click the trash icon next to it. The app will ask you to confirm the deletion. Once you confirm, the course and all your progress in it disappear permanently — Duolingo does not keep a backup.

The process is the same whether you use the mobile app (iOS or Android) or the web version. The trash icon appears when you hover over or long-press the course name. After deletion, you can re-add the course later if you change your mind, but you will start from the beginning with no saved lessons or streaks.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting a course removes all your progress in that course permanently, including your streak and completed lessons.
  • You can re-add a deleted course at any time, but you will restart from lesson one with no saved work.
  • The delete option appears in the Courses section of your profile on both the app and the website.
  • Duolingo does not archive or back up deleted courses, so make sure you want to remove it before you confirm.

How to delete a course on the Duolingo app

Open the Duolingo app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner (on iOS) or top left corner (on Android). Tap "Courses" to see all the courses you are currently learning. Find the course you want to remove and long-press it (hold your finger on it for a moment). A trash icon will appear — tap it to delete the course.

A confirmation message will pop up asking if you are sure you want to remove the course. Tap "Remove" or "Delete" to finish. The course will vanish from your course list when ready. If you change your mind later, you can add the course back by tapping the plus icon and selecting it from the available languages.

How to delete a course on the Duolingo website

Log into your Duolingo account on the web. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select "Courses" from the menu. Hover your mouse over the course you want to delete — a trash icon will appear on the right side of the course name. Click the trash icon.

Duolingo will ask you to confirm the deletion. Click "Remove" or "Delete" to proceed. The course will be removed from your dashboard right away. You can add it back later by clicking the plus button and choosing the language from the list.

What happens to your progress when you delete a course

All your progress in that course is erased when you delete it. This includes your current streak, completed lessons, earned gems, and any achievements specific to that course. Duolingo does not save this information or let you recover it after deletion.

Your overall account statistics — like your total XP or your profile level — are not affected by deleting a single course. If you delete and re-add the same course, you will see a fresh course with no memory of what you learned before. Some users take a screenshot of their progress before deleting if they want to remember where they left off.

When you might want to remove a course

You may want to delete a course if you are learning too many languages at once and want to focus on fewer. Removing a course from your dashboard makes it easier to concentrate on the languages you are actively studying. You can always add it back when you are ready to return to it.

Some people delete a course because they want to restart it from the beginning without the pressure of maintaining a streak. Others remove courses they added by mistake or no longer have time for. Duolingo does not limit how many courses you can have active at once, so deletion is purely a matter of personal preference and focus.

How to re-add a course you deleted

To add a course back after deleting it, open the Duolingo app or website and go to your Courses section. Look for a plus icon or "Add a course" button. Tap or click it and select the language you want to learn from the list. The course will appear in your dashboard, and you can start learning from lesson one.

There is no waiting period or penalty for re-adding a deleted course. You can delete and re-add the same course as many times as you want. Each time you add it back, you start fresh with no previous progress carried over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a course I deleted by mistake?

No, Duolingo does not restore deleted courses or the progress within them. However, you can re-add the course when ready by going to your Courses section and clicking the plus icon. You will start from the beginning, but the course itself is not gone permanently from Duolingo's system — only from your account.

Does deleting a course affect my XP or account level?

No. Deleting a course removes only the progress within that specific course. Your total XP, account level, and overall statistics remain unchanged. Only achievements and streaks tied to that particular course disappear.

Can I delete a course on the desktop version?

Yes, the process is the same on desktop. Log in to your Duolingo account, click your profile icon, select Courses, hover over the course you want to remove, click the trash icon, and confirm the deletion.

What if I want to pause a course instead of deleting it?

Duolingo does not have a pause feature. Your options are to keep the course active or delete it. If you want to take a break from a course without losing progress, you can straightforward stop doing lessons in it and leave it on your dashboard. Your progress will stay saved.

Do I lose my gems or lingots when I delete a course?

No. Gems and lingots are account-wide currency, not tied to individual courses. Deleting a course does not affect your gem or lingot balance. Any gems you earned in that course stay in your account.