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The Daily Insight Hub

Will removing myself as an authorized user lower my credit score?

Author

Emma Miller

Updated on January 29, 2026

You’re generally able to remove yourself as an authorized user by calling the credit card issuer and requesting the change. The account will no longer appear on your credit report, and its activity will not be factored into your credit scores.

Does being an authorized user hurt credit?

Authorized user accounts must show up on your credit report to affect your credit score. Once the authorized user account is part of your credit history, it can benefit your credit score as long as both you and the credit account holder use the account responsibly.

Does removing a credit card hurt your credit?

A credit card can be canceled without harming your credit score⁠—paying down credit card balances first (not just the one you’re canceling) is key. Closing a credit card will not impact your credit history, which factors into your score.

Can you remove an authorized user from a closed account?

Before getting started you should first make sure that the authorized user account has been closed (no need to close the primary account, just the authorized user account), as it’s usually not possible to get it removed when it’s still open. …

Do authorized users get a credit check?

Authorized users usually won’t run into this problem, as there’s generally no credit check involved. The authorized user strategy is common for parents who want to help their children build credit.

What happens when you remove yourself as an authorized user on a credit card?

Removing Yourself As An Authorized User. If, after removing yourself as an authorized user, the account still appears on your credit report, you can dispute the account to have it removed. The entire history of the account will drop off your credit report and will no longer be used to calculate your credit score.

What happens when you remove someone from your credit report?

Removing someone as an authorized user will remove your card from their report, which may improve their chances of approval in these situations. When it comes to getting credit cards, or any loan, your credit score is one of the most important things determining your chances of approval. What is a credit score?

How can I remove myself as an authorized user?

But since other agencies may still incorporate the account’s late payments into your credit history, consider removing yourself as an authorized user and looking into other ways to build credit. You’re generally able to remove yourself as an authorized user by calling the credit card issuer and requesting the change.

How does an authorized user get a credit score?

Here’s the reason why this way of establishing a credit score can work so easily: Most credit card issuers not only report account information monthly to the credit bureaus in the names of their primary account holders, but also in the names of the authorized users of those cards.