Elliot maneuvered offshore with the fleet until 25 March 1920 when she departed for the Far East. In June, she took Admiral Albert Cleaves, Commander-in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet, aboard and sailed up the Yangtze to investigate the murder of an American missionary, William A. Reimert. She stood by in China during civil disturbances which threatened American lives and property. In September, she visited Port Arthur and Dalian on intelligence duty, and then returned to her base at Cavite for overhaul. Elliot went home to San Francisco in late 1921. In October, she arrived at San Diego to lie in reserve until being decommissioned on 22 May 1922.
Recommissioned on 8 February 1930, Elliot ranged the west coast with Destroyer Division 11 as plane guard in battle practice and major fleet problems. In early 1934, she sailed for the east coast and a two-ocean fleet problem.
Elliot was assigned new duty in 1935 when she became high-speed towing vessel for fleet targets. From 1937, she was also continuously available for training and experimental services. In 1940, she accompanied the Eclipse Expedition to Muleje, Baja California, and then was assigned to Pearl Harbor. She was converted to a high-speed minesweeper, and reclassified DMS-4 on 19 November 1940.
Elliot continued to patrol in Hawaii until 11 July 1942, when she sailed for the Aleutians. She joined TG 8.6 for bombardment of Kiska on 7 August, and then took up patrol and escort work. In May 1943, she swept mines before and during invasion of Attu.
Reporting to Operational Training Command at San Francisco in June, Elliot served at San Diego, towing targets and serving as a training ship until 13 August 1944. Sailing to Pearl Harbor, she had similar duty until 22 July 1945, and then she returned to San Pedro for inactivation. She had been reclassified AG-104 on 5 June 1945. Elliot was decommissioned on 12 October 1945, and sold for scrap on 29 January 1946.
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