diff --git a/backend/api/chatHash/index.ts b/backend/api/chatHash/index.ts
index 5b63feba..4f541d9a 100644
--- a/backend/api/chatHash/index.ts
+++ b/backend/api/chatHash/index.ts
@@ -50,13 +50,16 @@ router.get(
   "/status/:channel",
   asyncHandler(async (req, res) => {
     const { channel } = req.params;
-    const { valid } = await channelValid(channel);
+    const { valid, state } = await channelValid(channel);
 
     if (!valid) {
-      return res.sendStatus(404).send("Invalid channel");
+      if (state === CHANNEL_STATE.DELETED) {
+        return res.status(410).send({ error: "Channel deleted", state });
+      }
+      return res.status(404).send({ error: "Invalid channel", state });
     }
 
-    return res.send({ status: "ok" });
+    return res.send({ status: "ok", state });
   })
 );
 router.delete(
diff --git a/client/src/components/ChatContainer/ChatHeader.tsx b/client/src/components/ChatContainer/ChatHeader.tsx
index 43a8b3bd..e58ea5ba 100644
--- a/client/src/components/ChatContainer/ChatHeader.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/ChatContainer/ChatHeader.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import React, { useState } from 'react';
 import { useChat } from '../../context/ChatContext';
 import { Button } from '../common/Button';
-import { CopyIcon, ShareIcon, PhoneIcon } from '../common/icons';
+import { CopyIcon, ShareIcon, PhoneIcon, TrashIcon } from '../common/icons';
 import './ChatHeader.css';
 
 interface ChatHeaderProps {
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ interface ChatHeaderProps {
 }
 
 export const ChatHeader: React.FC<ChatHeaderProps> = ({ onStartCall }) => {
-  const { isConnected, channelHash } = useChat();
+  const { isConnected, channelHash, deleteChannel } = useChat();
   const [hashCopied, setHashCopied] = useState(false);
 
   const handleCopyHash = () => {
@@ -36,6 +36,18 @@ export const ChatHeader: React.FC<ChatHeaderProps> = ({ onStartCall }) => {
     }
   };
 
+const handleDelete = async () => {
+  if (!window.confirm('Are you sure you want to delete this secure channel? This cannot be undone.')) return;
+
+  try {
+    await deleteChannel();
+    window.location.hash = ''; // Clear URL hash
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('Failed to delete channel:', err);
+    alert((err as any).message || 'Failed to delete channel');
+  }
+};
+
   return (
     <header className={`chat-header glass ${isConnected ? 'active' : ''}`}>
       <div className="header-info">
@@ -81,6 +93,15 @@ export const ChatHeader: React.FC<ChatHeaderProps> = ({ onStartCall }) => {
         >
           <PhoneIcon size={20} />
         </Button>
+        <Button
+          className="btn--icon"
+          variant="danger"
+          onClick={handleDelete}
+          title="Delete Chat"
+          disabled={!channelHash}
+        >
+          <TrashIcon size={20} />
+        </Button>
       </div>
     </header>
   );
diff --git a/client/src/components/SetupOverlay/SetupOverlay.tsx b/client/src/components/SetupOverlay/SetupOverlay.tsx
index cff469fe..89dc2a0a 100644
--- a/client/src/components/SetupOverlay/SetupOverlay.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/SetupOverlay/SetupOverlay.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ interface SetupOverlayProps {
   isHidden: boolean;
 }
 
-type ViewType = 'initial' | 'create' | 'join';
+type ViewType = 'initial' | 'create' | 'join' | 'deleted';
 
 export const SetupOverlay: React.FC<SetupOverlayProps> = ({ onSetupComplete, isHidden }) => {
   const { createNewChannel } = useChat();
@@ -88,8 +88,13 @@ export const SetupOverlay: React.FC<SetupOverlayProps> = ({ onSetupComplete, isH
       setIsLoading(true);
       setStatus('Connecting...');
       await onSetupComplete(joinHash);
-    } catch (err) {
-      setStatus('Failed to join channel. Please check the hash and try again.');
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      if (err.message === 'CHANNEL_DELETED') {
+        setView('deleted');
+        setStatus('');
+      } else {
+        setStatus('Failed to join channel. Please check the hash and try again.');
+      }
       console.error('Join error:', err);
     } finally {
       setIsLoading(false);
@@ -127,6 +132,16 @@ export const SetupOverlay: React.FC<SetupOverlayProps> = ({ onSetupComplete, isH
           />
         )}
 
+        {view === 'deleted' && (
+          <div style={{ textAlign: 'center', margin: '2rem 0' }}>
+            <h2 style={{ color: '#ef4444', marginBottom: '1rem' }}>Channel Deleted</h2>
+            <p style={{ opacity: 0.8, marginBottom: '2rem' }}>This secure channel has been permanently deleted and can no longer be accessed.</p>
+            <button className="btn btn--primary" onClick={handleBack}>
+              Return Home
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         {status && <div className="setup-status">{status}</div>}
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/client/src/components/common/icons.tsx b/client/src/components/common/icons.tsx
index c4a6cbaa..35289fa5 100644
--- a/client/src/components/common/icons.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/common/icons.tsx
@@ -94,3 +94,20 @@ export const EndCallIcon: React.FC<IconProps> = ({ size = 24, className = '' })
     <path d="M10.68 13.31a16 16 0 0 0 3.41 2.6l1.27-1.27a2 2 0 0 1 2.11-.45 12.84 12.84 0 0 0 2.81.7 2 2 0 0 1 1.72 2v3a2 2 0 0 1-2.18 2 19.79 19.79 0 0 1-8.63-3.07 19.5 19.5 0 0 1-6-6 19.79 19.79 0 0 1-3.07-8.67A2 2 0 0 1 4.11 2h3a2 2 0 0 1 2 1.72 12.84 12.84 0 0 0 .7 2.81 2 2 0 0 1-.45 2.11L8.09 9.91a16 16 0 0 0 3.41 2.6l1.27-1.27a2 2 0 0 1 2.11-.45 12.84 12.84 0 0 0 2.81.7A2 2 0 0 1 22 16.92z"></path>
   </svg>
 );
+
+export const TrashIcon: React.FC<IconProps> = ({ size = 24, className = '' }) => (
+  <svg
+    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+    fill="none"
+    stroke="currentColor"
+    strokeWidth="2"
+    strokeLinecap="round"
+    strokeLinejoin="round"
+    width={size}
+    height={size}
+    className={className}
+  >
+    <polyline points="3 6 5 6 21 6"></polyline>
+    <path d="M19 6v14a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H7a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V6m3 0V4a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h4a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2"></path>
+  </svg>
+);
diff --git a/client/src/context/ChatContext.tsx b/client/src/context/ChatContext.tsx
index 09e4043c..bb06da4c 100644
--- a/client/src/context/ChatContext.tsx
+++ b/client/src/context/ChatContext.tsx
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ export const ChatProvider: React.FC<{ children: ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
     async (hash: string) => {
       if (!chat) throw new Error('Chat not initialized');
       try {
+        // Check for channel status before joining
+        const baseUrl = process.env.CHATE2EE_API_URL || 'http://localhost:3001';
+        const statusRes = await fetch(`${baseUrl}/api/chat-link/status/${encodeURIComponent(hash)}`);
+        if (statusRes.status === 410) {
+          throw new Error('CHANNEL_DELETED');
+        }
+        if (!statusRes.ok) {
+          throw new Error('Failed to verify channel status');
+        }
+
         // Auto-generate User ID
         const newUserId = (utils as any).generateUUID();
         setUserId(newUserId);
@@ -181,6 +191,20 @@ export const ChatProvider: React.FC<{ children: ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
     }
   };
 
+  // Delete channel
+  const deleteChannel = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!chat) return;
+    try {
+      await chat.delete();
+      setIsConnected(false);
+      setChannelHash('');
+      setMessages([]);
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error('Failed to delete channel:', err);
+      throw err;
+    }
+  }, [chat]);
+
   const value: ChatContextType = {
     chat,
     userId,
@@ -199,6 +223,7 @@ export const ChatProvider: React.FC<{ children: ReactNode }> = ({ children }) =>
     endCall,
     addMessage,
     setCallDuration,
+    deleteChannel,
   };
 
   return <ChatContext.Provider value={value}>{children}</ChatContext.Provider>;
diff --git a/client/src/types/index.ts b/client/src/types/index.ts
index 8380d016..b908d065 100644
--- a/client/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/client/src/types/index.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export interface ChatContextType {
   endCall: () => Promise<void>;
   addMessage: (message: Message) => void;
   setCallDuration: (duration: number) => void;
+  deleteChannel: () => Promise<void>;
 }
 
 // Common component props