How DROP works

Learn how to use DROP.

Step 1
Verify your eligibility

If you are a California resident, you qualify to use DROP.

You’re a resident if any of these apply:

  • You live in California
  • You lived in California for at least six months in the past year
  • Domiciled in California, but outside California for a temporary or transitory purpose (examples include for the military or education)

A few factors that help determine residency include:

  • Location of your primary residence
  • Which state issued your driver’s license or ID
  • Where you’re registered to vote

Learn more about what qualifies you as a resident

You validate your residency through our California Identity Gateway or Login.gov. These are trusted
and secure.

Enter DROP application

Step 2
Create your profile

You will create a request by entering some of your data. Data brokers will compare your data with their records.

If there’s a match, all of the data that the data brokers have about you will be deleted, with a few exceptions.

You will create a request by entering some of your data. Data brokers will compare your data with their records.

The types of data you can submit include:

  • Names (including maiden names)
  • Date of birth
  • ZIP/postal code
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Mobile Advertising IDs (MAIDs)
  • Connected TV IDs
  • Vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

It’s your choice what information you provide. The more information you enter, the more likely your data will be deleted.

Step 3
Submit your DROP request

Review the data you entered and submit your deletion request.

Check to make sure all the information you want to provide is included in your request.

Only one request is processed at a time.

If you want to update your request with more information:

  • You can submit updates every 45 days
  • Data brokers have up to 3 months to process your updated request

Your DROP confirmation page will include your DROP ID.

It’s important to save your DROP ID. You use it if you want to check the status of your request.

After you submit your request
Check your status

You can check your DROP request status starting in August 2026.

Check DROP status

DROP statuses include: 

  • Deleted — Data brokers have deleted your data and will no longer sell your information. However, some information may be exempt.
  • Exempted — Data brokers are allowed by law to keep certain information, such as public records or sensitive health information. This data may be protected under other privacy laws.
  • Opted-out — Data brokers couldn’t make an exact match based upon the information you provided. For now, these data brokers still have your data, but can no longer sell it.
  • Record not found — Data brokers may not have information about you or could not locate you based on the information you provided.
  • Pending — Data brokers haven’t processed your deletion request yet.  Under the law, data brokers may take up to 90 days to report back how they processed your request.

If you notice data brokers have not deleted your information, you may need to submit more data so they can find you.

Data deletion by data brokers  

Data brokers process deletion requests at least every 45 days.

DROP statuses include:

When you provide a few pieces of information (such as your email or phone number), data brokers look for a match in their records.

If data brokers find a match, they will delete all of the information they can about you — not just the information you provided.

All current and future data brokers who register with our agency are included in your deletion request. If you would like specific data brokers to keep your data, you can remove them from your request in your DROP profile.

For more information, visit Data and data brokers.

Submitting more data

You can come back to submit more data through your DROP profile. You may want to do so if you:

  • Change your name
  • Get a new phone number or email address
  • Want to increase the chances data brokers can find and delete your info

Note: Updated requests can be submitted every 45 days. Data brokers have up to 3 months to process them.

You can submit more data through your DROP profile.

Technical requirements

We recommend that you:

  • Use the latest version of your DROP profile
  • Make sure your devices are up-to-date
  • Enable cookies and JavaScript

Learn more

  • How DROP works
  • Data and data brokers
  • Unique identifiers
  • About DROP and the Deletion Act
  • Glossary
  • Help with DROP