diff --git a/server/src/pdsClient.ts b/server/src/pdsClient.ts
index e7a4bdd..230310d 100644
--- a/server/src/pdsClient.ts
+++ b/server/src/pdsClient.ts
@@ -322,6 +322,22 @@ export class PdsClient {
     return accessJwt;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Reactivate the account as itself so its repo accepts reads/writes. Needed before
+   * purging a deactivated account, whose repo otherwise rejects everything with
+   * RepoDeactivated. No-op if already active. The purge re-applies the takedown after.
+   */
+  async activateAccountAsUser(accessJwt: string): Promise<void> {
+    const res = await fetch(`https://${this.hostname}/xrpc/com.atproto.server.activateAccount`, {
+      method: "POST",
+      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${accessJwt}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+    });
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      const body = await res.text().catch(() => "");
+      throw new Error(`activateAccount failed: ${res.status} ${body}`);
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Delete up to `limit` records from the account's repo as the signed-in account,
    * paced and 429-aware. Returns how many were deleted and whether the repo is now
diff --git a/server/src/purge.ts b/server/src/purge.ts
index 544a01c..0e99d31 100644
--- a/server/src/purge.ts
+++ b/server/src/purge.ts
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@ export class PurgeRunner {
       try {
         await this.pds.setAccountTakedown(did, false);
         const jwt = await this.pds.signInAsAccount(did);
+        // a deactivated repo rejects writes, so reactivate before deleting
+        await this.pds.activateAccountAsUser(jwt);
         round = await this.pds.deleteRecordsChunk(jwt, did, CHUNK);
       } catch (err) {
         roundErr = err;
diff --git a/server/src/routes/accounts.ts b/server/src/routes/accounts.ts
index e8187a4..eefbb01 100644
--- a/server/src/routes/accounts.ts
+++ b/server/src/routes/accounts.ts
@@ -154,16 +154,19 @@ export function registerAccountRoutes(
 
   app.post("/api/accounts/:did/purge-records", { preHandler: requireAuth }, async (req, reply) => {
     const { did } = req.params as { did: string };
-    // purging is permanent, so only allowed on accounts already taken down: the
-    // takedown step is the reversible part of the flow, this one is not. The account
-    // itself survives so the handle stays taken. The work runs as a paced background
-    // job, so this only enqueues it and returns
+    // purging is permanent, so only allowed on accounts that are already hidden
+    // (taken down or deactivated): being hidden is the reversible part of the flow,
+    // this one is not. The account itself survives so the handle stays taken, and
+    // the purge always restores a takedown when done. Runs as a paced background job,
+    // so this only enqueues it and returns
     const row = db.prepare("SELECT status FROM accounts WHERE did = ?").get(did) as
       | { status: string }
       | undefined;
     if (!row) return reply.code(404).send({ error: "account not found" });
-    if (row.status !== "takendown") {
-      return reply.code(409).send({ error: "account must be taken down before purging records" });
+    if (row.status === "active") {
+      return reply
+        .code(409)
+        .send({ error: "account must be taken down or deactivated before purging records" });
     }
     const job = purger.enqueue(did, req.session.operator!);
     return { ok: true, status: job.status, deleted: job.deleted };
diff --git a/server/test/purge.test.ts b/server/test/purge.test.ts
index 6f912f3..c05e38c 100644
--- a/server/test/purge.test.ts
+++ b/server/test/purge.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ function fakePds(total: number, chunk: number) {
     async signInAsAccount() {
       return "jwt";
     },
+    async activateAccountAsUser() {},
     async deleteRecordsChunk() {
       const n = Math.min(chunk, remaining);
       remaining -= n;
diff --git a/web/src/AccountsPanel.tsx b/web/src/AccountsPanel.tsx
index 0f0c4bb..2148cdd 100644
--- a/web/src/AccountsPanel.tsx
+++ b/web/src/AccountsPanel.tsx
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ export function AccountsPanel({
                   >
                     reset password
                   </button>
-                  {a.status === "takendown" && !a.purge && (
+                  {a.status !== "active" && !a.purge && (
                     <button
                       className="danger"
                       role="menuitem"