Deleting a business Facebook account removes it completely within 30 days

When you delete a business Facebook account, Facebook gives you 30 days to change your mind. During those 30 days, the account is hidden from the public but not yet gone — you can log back in and cancel the deletion. After 30 days pass, the account and everything on it (posts, photos, messages, followers) is permanently erased and cannot be recovered.

The deletion process itself takes just a few minutes. You'll need to be logged in as the account owner or as someone with admin access, and you'll confirm the deletion through Facebook's settings. There's no way to delete a business account through the mobile app — you must use a web browser on a computer.

Key Takeaways

  • You must use a web browser on a computer to delete a business account; the Facebook mobile app does not have this option.
  • After you request deletion, you have 30 days to log back in and cancel it before the account is permanently removed.
  • Everything on the account — posts, photos, followers, messages — will be permanently deleted after the 30-day window closes.
  • If you only want to hide the account temporarily, deactivation is a different option that keeps your data intact.
  • Before deleting, download your photos and posts if you want to keep copies, since they cannot be recovered after deletion.

Download your data before you delete

Facebook lets you download a copy of your photos, posts, and other information before the account is gone. This takes a few minutes and gives you a backup in case you need to reference something later. Open Facebook on a computer, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner, scroll down and click Settings and privacy, then click Settings.

In the left sidebar, click Your information and permissions, then click Download your information. Facebook will show you what data is available to download — photos, posts, videos, and more. Select the date range and format you want (HTML is easiest to read), then click Create file. Facebook will prepare the download, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much content you have. You'll get a notification when it's ready, and you can then download it to your computer.

The steps to delete your business account

Log into your business Facebook account on a computer using a web browser. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of the page. Scroll down and click Settings and privacy, then click Settings.

In the left sidebar, look for Deactivation and deletion — you may need to scroll down to find it. Click on it. Facebook will show you two options: Deactivate account and Delete account. Click Delete account. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA (those puzzles with distorted letters or images). Enter your password, complete the CAPTCHA if it appears, then click Continue.

Facebook will show you a final confirmation screen explaining that your account will be permanently deleted after 30 days. Read through this screen — it will remind you that you can cancel the deletion by logging back in during the 30-day window. Click Delete account one more time to confirm. Your account is now scheduled for deletion.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

For the next 30 days, your business account will not appear on Facebook. Your followers cannot see your page, your posts are hidden, and your messages are not visible to others. However, the account still exists on Facebook's servers, and you can still log in if you change your mind.

If you log back in during these 30 days, Facebook will ask if you want to cancel the deletion. Click yes, and your account will be restored exactly as it was — all your posts, followers, and messages will reappear. If you do nothing and let the 30 days pass, the deletion becomes permanent and cannot be undone.

Deactivation as an alternative to deletion

If you're not sure you want to delete the account permanently, deactivation is a middle option. When you deactivate a business account, it becomes hidden from Facebook but your data stays on Facebook's servers. You can reactivate it at any time by logging back in — there's no time limit like there is with deletion.

To deactivate instead, follow the same steps above but click Deactivate account instead of Delete account. Your page will disappear from Facebook immediately, but you can bring it back whenever you want. This is useful if you're taking a break from social media but might want to use the account again later, or if you're not completely certain about permanent deletion.

Common problems and what to do

If you see a message saying you cannot delete the account, it may be because you're not logged in as the account owner. Business accounts sometimes have multiple admins. Only the original account owner can delete the account — admins with lower permissions cannot. If you're an admin but not the owner, you'll need to contact the account owner and ask them to delete it.

If you're locked out of the account and cannot log in, you cannot delete it through the normal process. Try using Facebook's account recovery tool by going to facebook.com/login/identify on a computer. Enter the email or phone number associated with the account, and Facebook will walk you through steps to regain access. Once you're logged in, you can proceed with deletion.

If the deletion button does not appear in your Settings, make sure you're using a web browser on a computer — the mobile app does not have this feature. Also check that you're in the right settings menu. The option is under Deactivation and deletion, not under general account settings.

What to tell your followers before you delete

If your business account has followers or customers who use it to contact you, consider posting a final message before you delete. Let people know the account is closing and provide an alternative way to reach you — your website, email address, phone number, or another social media account. Post this message a few days before you request deletion so people have time to see it.

After you request deletion, the account becomes hidden immediately, so followers will not see any new posts. If you want to give people more notice, you can deactivate first, post your goodbye message, wait a week or two, then come back and delete. This gives your audience time to adjust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a business account if I'm not the original owner?

No. Only the person who originally created the account can delete it. If you're an admin with lower permissions, you'll need to contact the account owner and ask them to delete it. If you don't know who the owner is, you may be stuck unless you can regain access to the original email or phone number used to create the account.

What happens to my business page if I delete the account?

The business page is deleted along with the account. Everything — your page, posts, followers, reviews, and messages — is permanently removed after 30 days. If you want to keep the page but just stop using it, deactivate instead of delete.

Can I recover my account after the 30 days are up?

No. After 30 days, the deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed. Facebook does not restore deleted accounts under any circumstances. This is why downloading your data before deletion is important — it's your only way to keep copies of your photos and posts.

Do I need to delete my business page separately from my account?

No. When you delete a business account, any pages connected to it are deleted automatically. You don't need to take separate steps for the page.

What if I only want to hide my account temporarily?

Use deactivation instead of deletion. When you deactivate, your account disappears from Facebook but all your data is preserved. You can log back in anytime to reactivate it, with no time limit. Deletion is permanent after 30 days, so deactivation is the safer choice if you might want to use the account again.