If you see a message saying the email address you entered cannot be used to create an account, it usually means our system has flagged that email as unavailable. This can happen for a few reasons:
The email is already in use
An account may already exist with that email address. This could be an account you created previously, even if it was never confirmed. In this case, try logging in or resetting your password instead.
The email was previously linked to a closed account
If an account associated with that email was involuntarily closed, the email may not be eligible for reuse. This includes closures for Fair Play or Community Policy violations.
Learn more about account deletion here: GDPR and The Right to be Forgotten. How can I view or delete my account data?
The email was previously deleted under our privacy policy
If an account was deleted using the “Right to be Forgotten,” we process the deletion with a 10-day grace period. After deletion is complete, you can then create a new account using the same email address.
However, if the account was closed for violating our terms of service such as a Fair Play or Community Policy violation, and then account deletion was requested, we permanently anonymize the email address, so the original email is converted into a one-way hash that cannot be read or reversed, and it cannot be used to create a new account.
What can I do?
Try logging in or resetting your password if you think you may already have an account.
If you don’t remember which email you used, contact our Support team and we can help you identify the correct account.
Sign up with a different email address, or create an account using Sign in with Google, Apple, or Facebook.
If you recently requested deletion, wait until the 10-day grace period has passed, then try signing up again.
If your previous account was closed due to a Fair Play or Community Policy violation, please review the appeal process before contacting Support.
If you believe this is a mistake (for example, you have never had a Chess.com account with this email), please contact our Support team for assistance.