The fastest way to log out

To log out of Facebook on your phone, open the app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. Scroll down to the very bottom and tap Log Out. The app will close you out immediately, and you'll return to the login screen the next time you open it.

This works the same way on both iPhone and Android. The menu icon location and button names are identical across both platforms, so the steps don't change based on which phone you use.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the three-line menu icon at the bottom right, scroll to the bottom, and tap Log Out to sign out immediately.
  • Logging out clears your session but does not delete your account, photos, or messages — they stay on Facebook's servers.
  • If you can't find the Log Out button, make sure you're scrolled all the way to the bottom of the menu.
  • You can log back in anytime by entering your email or phone number and password on the login screen.

What happens when you log out

Logging out removes your account from that device only. Your Facebook account itself stays active — nothing is deleted. Your photos, messages, friends list, and all your posts remain on Facebook's servers and will be there when you log back in.

If you have Facebook installed on multiple devices (your phone, tablet, computer), logging out on one device does not log you out on the others. Each device keeps its own separate session until you log out on that specific device.

If the Log Out button isn't visible

The Log Out button only appears when you scroll all the way to the bottom of the menu. If you don't see it, swipe up on the menu to make sure you've reached the very end. Some users miss it because they stop scrolling too early.

If you're still not seeing it, close the app completely and open it again. Sometimes the menu doesn't load fully on the first try. Close Facebook by swiping it away from your recent apps, wait a few seconds, then reopen it and try the menu again.

Logging back in after you log out

When you open Facebook after logging out, you'll see the login screen. Enter the email address or phone number connected to your account, then your password. If you have multiple Facebook accounts, you can choose which one to log into from this screen.

Facebook will remember your device after you log back in, so you won't have to enter your password every single time you open the app. If you want to prevent this, you can log out again after each use, though most people don't do this.

The difference between logging out and deactivating

Logging out and deactivating your account are two completely different things. Logging out simply removes you from that device — your account is still active and visible to your friends. Deactivating temporarily hides your account from Facebook, though it can be reactivated later.

If you want to permanently remove your account instead, that's called deleting, and it's a separate process that takes about 30 days to complete. For now, if you just want to sign out of the app on your phone, the Log Out button is what you need.

Logging out on older versions of the app

If your Facebook app hasn't been updated in a while, the menu layout might look slightly different. On very old versions, the menu icon might be at the top of the screen instead of the bottom. The Log Out button will still be at the very bottom of whatever menu opens, but you may need to look in a different place to find the menu itself.

If you're having trouble finding the menu, update your Facebook app from your phone's app store. Updates usually fix layout issues and make the app work more smoothly. Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Facebook, and tap Update if it's available.

What to do if you're locked out after logging out

If you log out and then forget your password, you can still get back in. On the login screen, tap Forgot Password? Facebook will ask you to enter your email or phone number, then send you a link to reset your password. Check your email (or text message if you used a phone number) for the reset link.

If you don't have access to the email or phone number on your account, Facebook has a recovery process, but it takes longer. You'll need to verify your identity using other information associated with your account. Start by tapping Forgot Password and following the prompts — Facebook will guide you through the next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does logging out delete my messages or photos?

No. Logging out only removes you from that device. All your messages, photos, posts, and account information stay on Facebook's servers. When you log back in, everything will be exactly as you left it.

Will my friends know I logged out?

Your friends won't see a notification that you logged out. However, your status will change from active to inactive after a few minutes. Some apps show when you were last active, but logging out itself is not announced to anyone.

Can I log out of Facebook without opening the app?

Not directly from your phone. You can log out from a web browser by going to facebook.com, clicking the menu, and selecting Log Out. But to log out of the mobile app itself, you need to open it and use the steps above.

What if I want to log out of all my devices at once?

You can't do this from the app. Go to facebook.com on a computer, click your profile picture, select Settings, then Security and Login. You'll see all your active sessions. Click Log Out next to each device you want to sign out of.

Is it safe to log out of Facebook on a public phone?

Yes, logging out is the right thing to do on a shared or public device. It removes your account from that phone completely. Make sure you've tapped Log Out and returned to the login screen before you hand the phone to someone else.