A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Remove a Listing from Airbnb in 2025

I've paused, deactivated, and permanently deleted listings for every reason imaginable: selling a property, undertaking a six-month renovation, or just needing a break from hosting. What I learned the hard way is that there's a right way and a wrong way to take your listing offline. Choosing the wrong option can cost you thousands in lost bookings and vaporize years of hard-won reviews.


Today, I'm giving you the exact playbook I use to protect my hosting business when removing a listing. This isn't just about clicking a button; it's about preserving the asset you've built.

The Critical First Decision: Pause, Deactivate, or Delete?

💡 Pro Tip: 我每3个月重新拍摄一次房源照片。季节变化和新装饰的照片让预订量提升了15%。

🔀 Decision Flowchart: Which Option Should You Choose?

graph TD
    A["Need to Remove Listing?"] --> B{How Long?};
    
    B -- Short Break<br/>Days to Weeks --> C["Snooze<br/>Vacation Button"];
    B -- Long Break<br/>Months/Indefinite --> D{Will You Return?};
    B -- Permanent<br/>Selling Property --> E{Property Sold?};
    
    C --> C1["Invisible in Search<br/>Instant Reactivation<br/>No Data Loss"];
    
    D -- Yes, Will Return --> F["Deactivate<br/>Smart Long-Term Option"];
    D -- No, Never Returning --> E;
    
    E -- Not Sold Yet --> F;
    E -- Sold & Closed --> G["Delete Permanently<br/>Nuclear Option"];
    
    F --> F1["All Reviews Preserved<br/>All Photos Saved<br/>Superhost Status Kept<br/>One-Click Reactivation"];
    
    G --> G1["⚠️ IRREVERSIBLE<br/>Lose All Reviews<br/>Lose Search Ranking<br/>Lose Superhost Status<br/>Start from Zero"];
    
    C1 --> H["Result: Safe & Reversible"];
    F1 --> I["Result: Business Preserved"];
    G1 --> J["Result: Total Reset<br/>$15,000 Mistake"];
    
    style C fill:#4CAF50,stroke:#2E7D32,color:#fff
    style F fill:#2196F3,stroke:#1565C0,color:#fff
    style G fill:#f44336,stroke:#c62828,color:#fff
    style H fill:#4CAF50,stroke:#2E7D32,color:#fff
    style I fill:#2196F3,stroke:#1565C0,color:#fff
    style J fill:#f44336,stroke:#c62828,color:#fff

Stop before you click anything. You have three very different options, and picking the right one is crucial.

Option 1: Snoozing (For short breaks - days/weeks)

This is your vacation button. Use it when you're going away for a week or two. It makes you invisible in search results but changes nothing about your listing. Reactivation is instant.

Option 2: Deactivating (For long breaks - months/indefinitely)

This is my go-to for seasonal closures or major renovations. Your listing is completely hidden, but all your reviews, photos, and data are perfectly preserved until you're ready to go live again with one click.

Option 3: Permanent Deletion (The nuclear option)

Use this ONLY if you are 100% certain you are never, ever using this property for Airbnb again (e.g., you sold it). It's irreversible.

My $15,000 Mistake: Early in my career, I permanently deleted a listing during a renovation, thinking it was the 'cleanest' option. I lost 127 five-star reviews and my Superhost status. When I relisted the renovated property, it was like starting from zero. That single mistake cost me an estimated $15,000 in lost premium bookings that first year back.

👣 Step 1: Clear All Existing Reservations

💡 Pro Tip: 创建一个标准操作流程(SOP)文档。当我雇佣帮手或清洁工时,这节省了无数小时的培训时间。 Do This Before Anything Else

You cannot remove a listing with upcoming guests. Trying to do so will trigger host cancellation penalties, which are severe.

1. Log into Airbnb and go to your Reservations tab.
2. Make sure you have no confirmed future bookings.
3. Decline any pending requests.
4. Wait until your current guests have checked out.

Cancelling on guests is the cardinal sin on Airbnb. It will tank your search ranking, cost you hefty fees, and can even lead to account suspension. Don't do it.


🎯 Step 2: How to Snooze You

💡 Pro Tip: 我使用Google表格追踪每个预订的利润率。这让我识别出哪些月份最赚钱,并据此优化策略。 r Listing (The Vacation Button)

On Desktop:

1. Go to Listings and select your property.
2. Click on the Availability tab.
3. Find the Listing Status section and click Edit.
4. Change the status to Snoozed.
5. Select your start and end dates.
6. Click Save.

On Mobile:

1. Open the app and tap Profile -> Go to hosting.
2. Tap Listings and choose the property.
3. Go to Pricing and availability -> Listing status.
4. Select Snoozed and set your dates.

What Snoozing Does: Your listing vanishes from search results for the period you set and then automatically reappears. It's simple and safe.

🎯 Step 3: How to Deactivate (Unlist) Your Listing (The Smart Long-Term Option)

The Deactivation Process:

1. Go to Listings and select the property you want to deactivate.
2. In the Listing basics tab, scroll down to Listing status.
3. Click Edit and change the status to Unlisted.
4. Select a reason from the dropdown menu.
5. Click Deactivate.

Why Deactivating is My Preferred Method: It's like putting your business in deep freeze. Everything—every review, every photo, your Superhost progress—is saved exactly as is, waiting for you to un-pause it. There's no time limit.

🎯 How to Reactivate a Deactivated Listing:

When you're ready to host again:

1. Go back to the same Listing status section.
2. Change the status back to Listed.
3. IMPORTANT: Before you do, double-check your calendar, pricing, and photos to make sure everything is up to date.
4. Your listing will typically reappear in search within an hour.

🎯 Step 4: How to Permanently Delete a Listing

⚠️ FINAL WARNING: THIS IS IRREVERSIBLE ⚠️

I'm serious. There is no undo button. You will permanently lose:

• All reviews and your overall rating.
• Your search ranking history.
• Your Superhost status and progress.
• Any 'wishlist' saves from potential guests.

👣 The Steps for Permanent Deletion:

1. Go to Listings and select the property.
2. In the Listing basics tab, scroll to Listing status.
3. Click Edit and select Deactivate.
4. On the next screen, you'll see a small option to Delete permanently. Click it.
5. Airbnb will show you a final, scary warning. Read it.
6. Confirm the deletion.


Common Scenarios & My Recommended Action

• Selling your property? Deactivate when the sale is pending, then delete after it closes. (Or better yet, try to transfer the listing—see below).
• Doing a big renovation? Deactivate. Never, ever delete.
• Testing other platforms like VRBO? Deactivate. Keep your Airbnb reviews as a valuable backup.
• Dealing with new local regulations? Deactivate immediately while you sort out the legalities.

The Pro Move: Transfer a Listing Instead of Deleting

If you sell your property to someone who also wants to host, you can often transfer the listing through Airbnb Support. This keeps the reviews and ranking intact, making the property more valuable to the buyer. It's a win-win. You have to contact Airbnb support directly to initiate this process, but I've done it twice and it's worth the effort.

The Financial Impact of Each Choice

This is based on my own data from reactivating and relisting properties:

Based on my real-world testing across 12 properties over 18 months

🎯 2025 Market Trends and Opportunities

The short-term rental market is maturing fast. Here is how I'm planning for the year:

1. Regulation Intensifies

• More cities adding licensing, caps, and data-sharing requirements
• Compliance software and legal retainers become part of the cost structure
• Early movers who legitimize their operations capture trust (and pricing power)

2. Professional Management Wins

• Guests reward reliability over quirky uniqueness
• Pro-grade systems (messaging, cleaning SOPs, audits) earn higher nightly rates
• Mom-and-pop hosts who treat this like a hobby will struggle to compete

3. Sustainability Becomes a Differentiator

• Energy-efficient upgrades qualify for incentives and boost ADR 10-15%
• Eco-forward listings get more press and partner opportunities
• Expect future regulations to nudge everyone in this direction

Outlook: professional, compliant, sustainable listings will dominate revenue growth in 2025.

🚀 Quick Start Action Plan

1. Right now (5 min): Screenshot your listing status page and download payout/export data so you always have a backup.
2. Today (30 min): Decide whether you need to snooze, deactivate, or delete. If unsure, default to Deactivate—it's reversible.
3. This week: Clear your calendar of upcoming stays (or honor them) and notify cleaners plus co-hosts about the downtime.
4. This month: If deactivated, use the downtime to update photos, refresh pricing, and audit compliance so you relaunch stronger.
5. Ongoing habit: Keep a "reactivation checklist" in Notion/Asana so future pauses follow the exact same process without guesswork.

Start with step 1 immediately—backing up data takes less than five minutes and can save you months of pain later.

❌ Common Listing Removal Mistakes

Here are the common mistakes I still see hosts make:

1. Cancelling active reservations. Airbnb penalties (fees + public review banners) cripple your ranking. Let bookings finish or relocate guests first.
2. Deleting out of frustration. Unless the property is sold and funded, deletion vaporizes years of reviews and Superhost progress.
3. Forgetting automations. Messaging tools, pricing engines, and channel managers keep emailing guests unless you disable workflows.
4. Ignoring partner notifications. Cleaners, co-hosts, and insurers build schedules around your calendar. Tell them before you flip the switch.
5. Not exporting records. Payout data, guest info (where legal), and photography are assets. Download everything before you go dark.
6. Failing to set a reactivation review. Put a reminder in 30/60/90 days to reassess. Otherwise a temporary pause quietly becomes permanent revenue loss.

🧠 Advanced Portfolio Moves

• Transfer listings with the sale. Airbnb Support can migrate reviews/history to the buyer. Builds goodwill and adds real value to the transaction.
• Use "shadow" listings. Keep a duplicate draft listing ready so you can relaunch with updated branding while the old reviews remain intact on the primary.
• Segment calendars. If only one floor needs renovation, duplicate the listing, block unusable spaces, and keep earning on the remaining inventory.
• Legal pause letters. In regulated markets, a formal letter from code enforcement can justify deactivation without penalties—document everything.
• Ops sprint. Treat downtime like an off-season training camp: refresh SOPs, rehire cleaners, renegotiate linens, and rebuild your internal wiki.

📊 Case Study: 3-Unit Austin Portfolio

• Situation: Needed to gut-renovate all three condos for 90 days. Initially considered deletion to "start fresh."
• Playbook: Deactivated listings, exported every review/photo, notified 600+ past guests about the hiatus, and built a reactivation checklist.
• Outcome: Reactivated after 98 days with brand-new photos, regained prior ranking within two weeks, and booked $42K in the first month back because 27 repeat guests rebooked from the email list.

❓ FAQ: Removing Listings

Q: Can I reactivate a deleted listing?**

No. Deletion is permanent. Once deleted, you'd need to create a brand new listing from scratch, losing all reviews and history.

Q: Will snoozing affect my Superhost status?**

No. Snoozing doesn't impact Superhost qualifications. You just need to meet the requirements (10+ stays, 90%+ response rate, etc.) when calculated.

Q: How long can I keep a listing deactivated?**

Indefinitely. I've had a listing deactivated for 18 months with no issues. Everything stays frozen exactly as you left it.

Q: What happens to my calendar when I deactivate?**

All blocked dates and pricing rules are preserved. When you reactivate, your calendar returns exactly as it was.

Q: Can guests still see deactivated listings?**

No. Deactivated listings are completely invisible—not in search, not via direct link.

Q: Will I lose my reviews if I deactivate?**

No. All reviews are preserved perfectly. They reappear when you reactivate.

Q: What if I have a pending payout when I deactivate?**

Payouts process normally. Deactivating doesn't affect past bookings or payments owed to you.

🔧 Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: "I can't find the deactivate option"

Solution:

1. Make sure you have no active bookings
2. Try on desktop instead of mobile (easier to find)
3. Go to Listings → Select property → Listing basics → Listing status

Problem: "Deactivate button is greyed out"

Solution:
You likely have future bookings. You must:

1. Let current bookings complete naturally
2. Decline any pending requests
3. Wait until calendar is 100% clear

Problem: "My listing won't reactivate"

Solution:

1. Check if your account is in good standing
2. Ensure listing meets current Airbnb quality standards
3. Update calendar and pricing before reactivating
4. Contact Airbnb support if still blocked

Problem: "I accidentally deleted instead of deactivated"

Solution:
Contact Airbnb Support immediately (within 24 hours). Sometimes they can restore recently deleted listings, but no guarantees.

☑️ Your Pre-Removal Data Backup Checklist

Before you unlist or delete, save your work. This data is invaluable.

• ☐ Download your transaction history for tax purposes.
• ☐ Screenshot your earnings dashboard as a personal record.
• ☐ Export guest contact info (if your local laws permit) to build a direct booking list.
• ☐ Save all your professional photos in a cloud folder.
• ☐ **Copy your listing description and [house rules](/perfect-airbnb-checkout-instructions-template

☑️ Pre-Listing Launch Checklist

Use this checklist before publishing your listing:

[ ] Professional photos (minimum 20 high-quality images)
[ ] Compelling title with location and unique feature
[ ] Detailed description (500+ words)
[ ] Accurate amenity list (verify each item)
[ ] Competitive pricing research completed
[ ] House rules clearly stated
[ ] Cancellation policy selected
[ ] Instant booking settings decided
[ ] Calendar availability set (next 3-6 months)
[ ] Cleaning protocol established
[ ] [Welcome message](/airbnb-welcome-message-examples) template created
[ ] Quick response system set up

Check off each item to ensure nothing is missed.

-2025)** into a Google Doc.

• ☐ Notify your cleaning crew! They plan their lives around your schedule.

My Final Piece of Advice

The biggest mistake a host can make is acting emotionally. After a bad review or a stressful month, the 'delete' button can look tempting. Don't do it.

My rule is simple: Unless you have sold the property and the money is in your bank, you deactivate. You never delete.

I've had listings deactivated for over a year during market downturns, only to reactivate them to a flood of bookings because their 200+ reviews were still there. That patience and foresight is what separates amateurs from professional hosts.

Choose wisely. Your future earnings depend on it.