Hubspot GDPR Delete Guide

Managing privacy requests correctly in Hubspot is essential for GDPR compliance. This guide walks you through how to perform a GDPR delete, what data is removed or retained, and how this affects your analytics, lists, and tools.

What a GDPR delete means in Hubspot

A GDPR delete in Hubspot is designed to honor a contact’s right to be forgotten. When you trigger this process, Hubspot removes personal data associated with the contact while retaining only limited, aggregated, or anonymized data needed for reporting accuracy and system integrity.

Before you proceed, confirm that the request is valid and that you truly need to erase the contact rather than just unsubscribe them or update their preferences.

When to use GDPR delete in Hubspot

You should use a GDPR delete in Hubspot in specific situations, including when:

• A contact requests full erasure of their personal data.
• You must comply with internal data retention policies.
• You want to remove identifying data while keeping anonymous analytics.

Do not use GDPR delete casually. It is a permanent and irreversible process that impacts many Hubspot tools and historical records.

How to perform a GDPR delete in Hubspot

Follow these steps carefully to perform a GDPR delete in your Hubspot account. You will need appropriate permissions to manage contacts.

Step 1: Open the contact record in Hubspot

1. Sign in to your Hubspot account.
2. Navigate to Contacts > Contacts from the main navigation.
3. Search for the specific contact using name, email address, or another identifier.
4. Click the contact’s name to open the contact record.

Verify that you have selected the correct contact. The GDPR delete action in Hubspot cannot be undone.

Step 2: Start the GDPR delete process in Hubspot

1. Within the contact record, look for the Actions menu or relevant settings menu.
2. Select the option related to deletion, specifically the GDPR delete function.
3. Read the on-screen information explaining what will happen to the contact’s data.

Hubspot will typically present a warning screen detailing the scope of deletion and any exceptions where data may be retained in anonymized form.

Step 3: Confirm the GDPR delete in Hubspot

1. Review the confirmation text to understand the impact on your Hubspot data.
2. Type any required confirmation phrase or the contact’s email if prompted.
3. Confirm the GDPR delete to start the erasure process.

Once confirmed, Hubspot begins removing personal data from the contact record and related tools. This process may take some time to complete, especially in large accounts.

What data is removed by GDPR delete in Hubspot

GDPR delete in Hubspot focuses on erasing personally identifiable information (PII) while maintaining system function and high-level reporting. Typically, the following data is removed:

• Contact properties that identify the person (such as name, email address, phone number).
• Timeline events tied to the identifiable contact, where possible.
• Association with deals, tickets, and related CRM records as an identifiable person.
• Subscription status and communication preferences related to that identity.

After the delete, attempts to search for the contact by email or other identifiers in Hubspot should no longer return results.

What data Hubspot may retain after GDPR delete

To preserve reporting accuracy, Hubspot may retain certain non-identifiable or aggregated data. The goal is to ensure your dashboards and analytics remain useful without exposing personal details.

• Aggregated email metrics, such as total opens and clicks, without identifying which individual performed them.
• Anonymous web analytics used in traffic and performance reports.
• System logs and security records where required for audit or legal reasons, but without direct identification of the person where feasible.

This balance allows Hubspot users to maintain a clear understanding of campaign performance while honoring data subject rights.

How GDPR delete affects Hubspot tools

Running a GDPR delete on a contact affects a wide range of features inside Hubspot. Understanding this impact helps you avoid surprises in your workflows and reports.

Impact on lists and segmentation in Hubspot

• The deleted contact is removed from all active and static lists.
• Segmentation criteria that relied on the contact will update automatically.
• Any future uploads of the same email address will create a new record, independent from the deleted one.

You should review key lists and segments in Hubspot after deleting high-value or high-volume contacts, especially if they were used for testing or specific campaigns.

Impact on email tools in Hubspot

• The contact will no longer appear in email recipient lists or subscription dashboards.
• Historical email performance data is preserved at an aggregated level.
• Bounce, spam, and unsubscribe information tied to the specific identity is removed.

Email reports in Hubspot remain accurate at the campaign and aggregate level, but you can no longer drill down to the deleted contact.

Impact on CRM records and integrations in Hubspot

• Direct links between the identifiable contact and deals, tickets, or companies are removed or anonymized where appropriate.
• Third-party integrations connected via Hubspot may lose access to the deleted contact record.
• Workflows and automation that previously enrolled the contact will no longer show that person as a contact-based enrollment.

Review your integration settings to confirm how external systems respond to a GDPR delete triggered in Hubspot.

Best practices before running a GDPR delete in Hubspot

Before you finalize a GDPR delete, use the following checklist to ensure you stay compliant and protect your reporting quality.

• Verify identity and authority: Confirm that the requester has the right to ask for erasure.
• Assess legal basis: Check whether you must retain any data for legal or contractual reasons before using the GDPR delete function in Hubspot.
• Review alternatives: Consider using unsubscribe or limitation options where appropriate instead of full erasure.
• Document the request: Log the request in your internal records or ticketing system before initiating the delete in Hubspot.

Following these practices helps your organization demonstrate accountability under GDPR while using Hubspot tools properly.

Where to find the official Hubspot GDPR delete documentation

For the most detailed and up-to-date reference, always review the official Hubspot knowledge base article. You can find it here:

Official Hubspot GDPR delete documentation

This resource explains the current behavior of GDPR delete, including any recent changes or edge cases for specific tools.

Get help with GDPR setup in Hubspot

Configuring GDPR workflows, consent tracking, and deletion processes in Hubspot can be complex, especially for large teams and regulated industries. If you need strategic guidance on how to structure your data model, permissions, or automation, consider working with a Hubspot-focused consultancy.

For specialized help with CRM architecture, data governance, and privacy-compliant automation, you can visit Consultevo for expert services and resources.

By understanding how GDPR delete works in Hubspot and applying a clear internal policy, you can confidently respond to erasure requests while preserving the reliability of your analytics and marketing operations.

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