Facebook gives you two ways out: deactivation and deletion

Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages stop showing, and your friends can't see your posts. But Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind — you can reactivate anytime by logging back in, usually within 30 days.

Deletion is permanent. After 30 days, Facebook removes your account, photos, messages, and most of your data from their servers. You cannot reactivate a deleted account. If you think you might return to Facebook later, deactivation is the safer choice. If you want out completely, deletion is what you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data; deletion removes your account permanently after a 30-day waiting period.
  • To delete your account, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Deactivation and Deletion and choose Delete Account.
  • Facebook holds your data for 30 days after deletion in case you change your mind; after that, most information is removed.
  • Messages you sent to others may stay in their inboxes even after your account is deleted.
  • Some information tied to your account, like posts you made in groups, may remain visible under a generic name.

How to delete your Facebook account on a computer

Open Facebook and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — this opens a menu. Scroll down and select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings.

On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of options. Scroll down until you find Deactivation and Deletion. Click it. You will see two buttons: one for deactivation and one for deletion. Click Delete Account. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA (a puzzle that proves you are human). Enter your password, complete the CAPTCHA if it appears, and click Delete.

After you click delete, your account enters a 30-day waiting period. During this time, your profile is hidden from everyone, but you can still log back in to cancel the deletion. After 30 days pass, Facebook begins removing your data from their servers. The deletion is then permanent.

How to delete your Facebook account on a phone

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner on iPhone or the bottom left on Android. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down the page until you see Deactivation and Deletion. Tap it. You will see the option to delete your account. Tap Delete Account. Facebook will ask for your password and may show a CAPTCHA. Enter your password, complete the puzzle if it appears, and tap Delete.

Your account will be hidden immediately, and the 30-day waiting period begins. If you log back in during those 30 days, the deletion will stop and your account will reactivate. After 30 days, the deletion becomes permanent.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

For the first 30 days after you request deletion, your account is deactivated. No one can see your profile, posts, or photos. Your name does not appear in search results. Messages you sent to friends remain in their inboxes, but they cannot see that you sent them — the sender name appears blank or generic.

During this window, you can change your mind by logging back into Facebook with your email and password. When you log in, Facebook will ask if you want to cancel the deletion. Click yes, and your account will return to normal. After the 30 days end, this option disappears.

If you do nothing during the 30 days, Facebook begins permanently removing your account data after day 30. This process can take several weeks. Some information, like posts you made in groups or comments on other people's pages, may remain visible but will show as posted by a removed account or a generic user rather than your name.

Information that stays after deletion

Facebook removes most of your personal data, but not everything. Messages you sent to other people stay in their message threads — deleting your account does not erase conversations from your friends' inboxes. If you posted in a group or commented on a public page, those posts and comments may remain visible, though your name will not be attached.

If you uploaded photos to Facebook and other people tagged themselves in those photos, copies of those images may stay on Facebook tied to the other people's accounts. Backup copies of your data that Facebook created before deletion may persist on their servers for a longer period as part of their standard data retention practices.

Information you shared with third-party apps connected to your Facebook account (like games or quizzes) may not be deleted from those apps' servers. If you want to remove your data from those services too, you will need to contact them separately.

Deactivation as an alternative to deletion

If you are not ready to delete permanently, deactivation is a middle ground. Your profile disappears from Facebook, your friends cannot message you or see your posts, and you stop receiving notifications. But your account and all your data remain on Facebook's servers, untouched.

You can reactivate a deactivated account anytime by logging back in with your email and password. When you do, everything returns exactly as it was — your photos, posts, friends list, and messages all come back. There is no time limit on deactivation; you can leave your account deactivated for months or years and still reactivate it.

To deactivate instead of delete, follow the same steps above but click Deactivate Account instead of Delete Account. Facebook may ask why you are leaving and offer options to stay; you can skip these and proceed with deactivation.

What to do before you delete

Before you request deletion, download your photos and any messages you want to keep. To do this, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Your Information and Permissions and click Download Your Information. Facebook will create a file of your photos, posts, and messages that you can save to your computer. This can take a few hours or days depending on how much data you have.

Tell your close friends or family members that you are leaving Facebook so they know how to reach you. If you use Facebook to log into other apps or websites, change those login methods now. Go to each app or website, remove Facebook as a login option, and set up a new password instead. After your account is deleted, you will not be able to use Facebook to sign in anywhere.

If you run a Facebook Page or Group, decide what to do with it before you delete your account. You can transfer ownership to another person, delete the Page or Group, or leave it as is (though you will no longer be able to manage it). Make these changes before you request account deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel the deletion after I request it?

Yes, but only during the 30-day waiting period. Log back into Facebook with your email and password, and you will see an option to cancel the deletion. Click it, and your account will reactivate with all your data intact. After 30 days pass, you cannot cancel — the deletion becomes permanent.

Will my friends know I deleted my account?

No. Facebook does not notify your friends when you delete your account. They will simply notice that your profile is gone and you are no longer in their friends list. If they search for your name, they will not find you.

What happens to photos I posted if I delete my account?

Photos you uploaded to your own profile are deleted. However, if other people tagged themselves in your photos, those photos may remain on Facebook tied to their accounts. Photos you posted in groups or on other people's pages may also stay visible but without your name attached.

Can I use the same email to create a new Facebook account after deletion?

Yes, but only after the 30-day waiting period ends. During those 30 days, Facebook reserves your email address. After day 30, you can use that email to create a brand new account. The new account will be separate from your deleted account and will not have any of your old data.

Does deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram or WhatsApp accounts?

No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate services. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. If you want to delete those accounts too, you must do so separately through each app's settings.