Facebook gives you two choices: deactivate or delete

Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages go dark, and your friends cannot see your posts or photos. Facebook keeps all your data and can reactivate your account if you log back in within 30 days. After 30 days, the data deletion process begins, but it can take up to 90 days total.

Deletion is permanent. After 30 days, Facebook removes your account, profile, photos, posts, and messages from their servers. You cannot recover the account or any of its contents. If you change your mind during those first 30 days, you can cancel the deletion request by logging back in.

Most people choose deletion because they want a clean break. Deactivation is useful only if you think you might return later or want to pause without losing the option to come back.

Key Takeaways

  • Deletion takes 30 days to complete, and you can cancel during that window by logging in again.
  • You must use a computer or the mobile web version to delete your account — the Facebook app does not have a delete option.
  • read your photos and messages first if you want to keep copies, because deletion is permanent after 30 days.
  • Facebook will not delete your account if you have an active Marketplace listing or outstanding payments.

read your data before you delete

Once your account is gone, you cannot recover your photos, messages, or posts. If any of those matter to you, read them first. The process takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left menu, click Your Information and Permissions, then read Your Information. Choose the date range (usually "All of my information"), select the format you want (HTML is easiest to read), and click Request a read. Facebook will email you a link within a few minutes to a few hours. read the file and save it somewhere you can find it later — your computer's Documents folder works well.

The read includes your photos, videos, posts, messages, and friend list. It does not include comments other people made on your posts, but you can take screenshots of those if they matter.

Clear your activity before deletion

Before you delete, consider removing sensitive information that might still be visible to people who know your old profile URL. This step is optional but useful if you shared personal details over the years.

Go to your profile and click the three dots next to your cover photo. Select Activity Log. You can review your posts, photos, and tagged content one by one. Delete anything you do not want associated with your name, or use the bulk tools to remove posts from a specific time period. This takes longer than deletion itself, so do it only if you have posted sensitive information.

How to delete your account on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Deactivation and Deletion. Choose Delete Account (not Deactivate Account). Click Continue and then Delete Account. Enter your password when prompted.

Facebook will show you a list of apps and websites connected to your account. Review this list — these apps will lose access to your Facebook login once deletion is complete. Click Delete Account again to confirm. You will see a message saying your account will be deleted in 30 days.

That is the entire process. You do not need to do anything else. After 30 days, your account and all its data will be removed from Facebook's servers.

How to delete your account on mobile

The Facebook app itself does not have a delete option. You must use the mobile web version instead. Open a web browser on your phone (Safari, Chrome, or Firefox) and go to facebook.com. Log in if you are not already logged in. Tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner and scroll down to Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

Tap Deactivation and Deletion. Choose Delete Account. Tap Continue and then Delete Account. Enter your password. Tap Delete Account again to confirm. You will see the same 30-day message as on a computer.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

Your profile is hidden when ready, but your account is not fully gone yet. During these 30 days, you can cancel the deletion by logging back in. If you log in, your account will be restored and the deletion request will be cancelled.

Facebook uses this time to remove your data from its servers and backup systems. After 30 days, the deletion is final. You cannot recover your account, your photos, your messages, or any other content.

If you deactivated instead of deleting, this waiting period does not explore. Your account is straightforward hidden, and you can reactivate it at any time by logging in again.

Reasons your deletion might not work

Facebook will not delete your account if you have an active Marketplace listing. Go to Marketplace, find your listings, and delete them before you request account deletion. You also cannot delete if you have an outstanding payment or dispute with Facebook or a seller.

If you are the admin of a Facebook Group or Page, you must transfer ownership to someone else or delete the group or page first. Deletion requests will fail if you still own active groups or pages.

If deletion fails, Facebook will show you a message explaining why. Fix the issue and try again.

What does not get deleted

Messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes. Facebook deletes your copy of the conversation, but the other person can still see what you wrote. If you sent sensitive information, consider reaching out to those people and asking them to delete the messages.

Comments you made on other people's posts remain visible to them, though your profile link will be broken. Photos you were tagged in by others stay on their profiles. If you want those removed, you will need to contact those people directly and ask them to untag you or delete the photos.

If you used your Facebook account to log into other apps or websites, those connections will break. You will no longer be able to use Facebook as a login method for those services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my Facebook account if I use it to log into other apps?

Yes, but those apps will lose access to your Facebook login. Before you delete, change your login method on any apps that matter to you — most have an option to set a password or use email instead. After deletion, you will not be able to use your Facebook account to sign in anywhere.

What if I change my mind during the 30-day waiting period?

Log back into Facebook using your email and password. Your account will be restored and the deletion request will be cancelled. You can then deactivate or delete again if you want.

Does deleting Facebook delete my Instagram account too?

No. Facebook and Instagram are separate accounts. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram. If you want to delete Instagram, you must do that separately through Instagram's settings.

Will Facebook send me a confirmation email when my account is deleted?

Facebook will send you a confirmation email when you request deletion, but not when the 30-day period ends and deletion is complete. Mark your calendar if you want to know when the process is finished.

Can I delete my account if I have unpaid ads or a business account?

No. You must settle any outstanding payments or disputes first. If you have a Facebook Business Account, you may need to transfer it to someone else or close it separately before you can delete your personal account.