Facebook gives you 30 days to change your mind
When you request to delete your Facebook account, the company does not remove it when ready. Instead, Facebook puts your account into a deletion queue for 30 days. During this time, your profile, photos, and messages remain on Facebook's servers. If you log back in at any point during those 30 days, the deletion request cancels and your account stays active.
After 30 days pass without you logging in, Facebook permanently deletes your account and the data associated with it. This is different from deactivation, which hides your profile but keeps your account and data intact on Facebook's systems.
You cannot speed up the 30-day waiting period or delete your account when ready. The delay is built into Facebook's system, and there is no way around it.
Key Takeaways
- Deleting your Facebook account takes 30 days minimum, and logging in even once during that time cancels the deletion request.
- You must go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then find the Deactivation and Deletion section to start the process.
- Facebook will ask you to enter your password and may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA before confirming the deletion request.
- After 30 days, your account, photos, messages, and posts are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.
- Some information you shared with other people (like messages they received from you) may remain on their accounts even after your account is deleted.
How to request deletion on a computer
Open Facebook in a web browser and log in to your account. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the page, next to your profile picture. From the menu that appears, select Settings and Privacy, then click Settings.
On the left side of the Settings page, scroll down until you see a section called "How you use Facebook." Click on Deactivation and Deletion. You will see two options: one to deactivate your account and one to delete your account. Click the button that says Delete Account, then click Continue.
Facebook will ask you to enter your password to confirm your identity. Type your password and click Continue. If Facebook asks you to solve a CAPTCHA (a puzzle that proves you are human), complete it. Then click Delete Account to confirm. Your deletion request is now in the system.
How to request deletion on a phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (called a menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down to the section called "How you use Facebook" and tap Deactivation and Deletion. Tap Delete Account, then tap Continue. Enter your password when prompted and tap Continue again. If a CAPTCHA appears, solve it, then tap Delete Account to confirm.
The process is the same whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, or tablet. Your deletion request enters the 30-day queue when ready after you confirm.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
Your Facebook profile becomes invisible to other users right away. Friends cannot find your profile, see your posts, or send you messages. However, Facebook keeps your data on its servers during the entire 30 days in case you change your mind.
If you log into Facebook at any point during these 30 days — even by accident, or through a third-party app that uses your Facebook login — your deletion request is cancelled. Your account will reactivate, and you will need to start the deletion process over from the beginning.
Do not use any apps or websites that let you log in with your Facebook account during this period. Even logging in through another service can trigger reactivation. If you are unsure whether an app uses Facebook login, avoid it for 30 days to be safe.
After your account is permanently deleted
Once 30 days have passed and you have not logged in, Facebook permanently removes your account. Your profile, photos, videos, posts, and comments are deleted. Your name no longer appears in other people's friend lists or message histories.
Some information may take longer to disappear from Facebook's backup systems, but it will not be accessible to you or other users. Search engines like Google may still show cached versions of your old profile for a while, but those links will lead nowhere.
Messages you sent to other people may still appear in their inboxes. Facebook deletes your copy of the conversation, but the other person's copy remains. If you want to remove a message from someone else's inbox before deleting your account, you can unsend individual messages through Messenger, though this only works for messages sent within the last 10 minutes.
What to do before you delete
read a copy of your photos, videos, and posts before starting the deletion process. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to "Your information and permissions" and click read your information. Facebook will prepare a file containing your data, which you can read and save to your computer.
Tell the people who matter to you that you are leaving Facebook. If you want to stay in touch, share your phone number, email address, or another way to contact you. Some people may not realize you are gone if you straightforward disappear.
If you use Facebook to log into other apps or websites, change those logins before deleting your account. Go to each app or website, find the account settings, and set up a new password or login method. Once your Facebook account is deleted, you will not be able to use it to log in anywhere.
Deactivation as an alternative
If you are not ready to delete your account permanently, you can deactivate it instead. Deactivation hides your profile from other users and stops notifications, but keeps your account and all your data on Facebook's servers. You can reactivate your account at any time by logging back in.
Deactivation is useful if you want to take a break from Facebook but might want to return later. It takes effect when ready, with no waiting period. Your friends will not see your profile or posts, but Facebook still has your information and can show you ads if you visit other websites.
To deactivate instead of delete, follow the same steps to reach the Deactivation and Deletion section, but click Deactivate Account instead of Delete Account. You can reactivate by logging in with your email and password whenever you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I log in during the 30 days by accident?
Your deletion request cancels when ready, and your account reactivates. You will need to go back to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Deactivation and Deletion, and request deletion again. The new 30-day countdown starts from that moment. To avoid this, log out of Facebook on all devices and do not use apps that log in through Facebook.
Can I recover my account after it is permanently deleted?
No. After 30 days, your account cannot be recovered. Facebook permanently removes all your data. If you think you might want your account back, deactivate instead of delete. Deactivated accounts can be reactivated by logging in again.
Will my messages disappear from my friends' inboxes?
No. When you delete your account, messages you sent to other people remain in their Messenger inboxes. They will see your name in the conversation, but your profile will not be clickable. You can unsend individual messages within 10 minutes of sending them, but after that they are permanent.
Do I need to delete Instagram and WhatsApp too?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate accounts. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. If you want to delete those accounts, you must request deletion for each one separately through their own settings.
What if Facebook asks me security questions before I can delete?
Facebook may ask you to answer security questions or solve additional CAPTCHAs to confirm your identity. Answer the questions truthfully or solve the puzzles as they appear. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from deleting your account without permission.