How to Close FB: A Complete Guide to Deactivating or Deleting Your Facebook Account
Facebook gives you two distinct options when you want to step away: deactivation and permanent deletion. These are not the same thing, and choosing the wrong one can lead to unexpected outcomes — like discovering your account was never actually closed.
Understanding the difference, and knowing where to find the controls, is the foundation of doing this correctly.
Deactivation vs. Deletion: What's the Actual Difference?
This is where most people get confused, so it's worth being clear.
Deactivation is a temporary pause. Your profile disappears from search, your timeline becomes invisible to others, and you stop appearing in most places on the platform. However, Facebook retains all your data — photos, posts, messages, friends list — so that if you log back in, everything is restored instantly. Some things remain active even during deactivation, like your Messenger functionality if you choose to keep it.
Permanent deletion is exactly what it sounds like. Facebook schedules your account and data for removal. There is a 30-day cancellation window during which you can log back in and stop the deletion process. After that window closes, the process is irreversible and your data is removed from Facebook's systems — though the company notes that some information may persist in backups for up to 90 days.
| Feature | Deactivation | Permanent Deletion |
|---|---|---|
| Profile visible to others | No | No |
| Data retained by Facebook | Yes | No (after 30 days) |
| Can be reversed | Yes, anytime | Only within 30 days |
| Messenger access | Optional | Removed |
| Linked app logins | Still work | Break permanently |
How to Deactivate Facebook 🔒
On Desktop (Web Browser)
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
- Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings
- Go to Your Facebook Information
- Click Deactivation and Deletion
- Choose Deactivate Account and follow the prompts
On Mobile (iOS or Android App)
- Tap the three horizontal lines (Menu)
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings
- Tap Personal and Account Information
- Select Account Ownership and Control
- Tap Deactivation and Deletion, then choose Deactivate Account
Facebook will ask why you're leaving and may offer alternatives — like taking a break from notifications — before completing the process.
How to Permanently Delete Facebook
The path to permanent deletion follows the same route:
- Navigate to Settings → Your Facebook Information → Deactivation and Deletion
- Select Delete Account
- Click Continue to Account Deletion
- Review what will be deleted, optionally download your data, then confirm
Once confirmed, the 30-day countdown begins. During this period, logging into your account will cancel the deletion. After 30 days, the account enters a final removal phase that can take up to 90 days to fully complete across Facebook's systems.
Download Your Data First
Before closing your account permanently, it's worth downloading a copy of your Facebook data. This archive can include:
- Photos and videos you've uploaded
- Posts and timeline content
- Messages and chat history
- A list of your contacts and connections
- Apps and websites you've connected to Facebook
To do this, go to Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information. You can select specific date ranges, data types, and file format (HTML for readability, JSON for technical use). Facebook prepares the file and notifies you when it's ready to download — this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.
Variables That Affect Your Experience 🔧
Not every Facebook "close" situation is identical. Several factors change what happens next:
Linked third-party apps — If you've used "Log in with Facebook" to sign into other services (Spotify, Pinterest, gaming apps, etc.), deleting your account will break those logins permanently. You'll need to set up alternative login methods for each of those services before deleting.
Facebook Pages and Groups you manage — If you're the sole admin of a Page or Group, deleting your personal account will impact those properties. Pages may become unpublishable; Groups may lose their admin. Facebook prompts you to assign a new admin before proceeding, but this step is easy to overlook.
Messenger — Deactivating your main account doesn't automatically deactivate Messenger. You can keep using Messenger while deactivated, or choose to disable it separately. With permanent deletion, Messenger access ends.
Business accounts and ad accounts — If your personal account is connected to a Facebook Business Manager or active ad account, deletion has downstream consequences for those assets. Business accounts require their own separate management.
Device and OS version — The exact location of menu options can shift slightly depending on whether you're using the Facebook app on iOS, Android, or a desktop browser, and which version of the app or interface Facebook has rolled out to your account. The general path remains consistent, but label names occasionally vary.
What Happens After You Close Your Account
After deactivation, former connections simply won't be able to find your profile. Your comments on other people's posts may still appear in some contexts, though your name won't be clickable.
After permanent deletion, your profile, photos, and posts are removed. However, copies of messages you sent to other people will remain visible in their inboxes — Facebook does not delete your side of private conversations from the recipient's account.
Whether that matters depends entirely on what you've shared, with whom, and why you're closing the account in the first place — which is a calculation only you can make.