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 means your profile disappears from search results, your photos are no longer visible to other users, and your messages are removed from other people's inboxes. Some information may remain in Facebook's backups for a limited time, but it will not be accessible through the platform.
The key difference between deletion and deactivation is permanence. Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your account on Facebook's servers so you can reactivate it later. Deletion is meant to be final — after the 30-day window closes, you cannot recover your account.
Key Takeaways
- You must request deletion through Facebook's settings, and the account stays active for 30 days before permanent removal begins.
- Logging into your account during the 30-day window cancels the deletion request and reactivates your profile.
- After 30 days, your profile, photos, and messages are permanently removed from Facebook and cannot be recovered.
- You should read your photos and messages before requesting deletion if you want to keep copies of that content.
- Some data tied to your account, like messages you sent to others, may remain visible to the people who received them.
How to request deletion from your phone or computer
Open Facebook and go to Settings and Privacy, then select Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner, scroll down, and tap Settings and Privacy. Look for the Deactivation and Deletion section — this is where you choose between deactivating and deleting.
Select Delete Account, then click Delete Account again when Facebook asks you to confirm. Facebook will ask you to enter your password to verify that you own the account. Type your password and click Continue. You will see a final confirmation screen explaining that your account will be deleted after 30 days. Click Delete Account one more time to complete the request.
Facebook will send you a confirmation email to the address on file. Do not click any links in that email or log back into your account during the next 30 days, or the deletion will be cancelled.
read your information before deletion
Facebook lets you read a copy of your photos, videos, posts, and messages before your account is deleted. This is useful if you want to keep memories or have posted content you need for other reasons. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Look for Your Information and Connections, then select read Your Information.
Facebook will ask you to choose what types of content to read — you can select photos, videos, posts, messages, or all of them. You can also choose the date range. Facebook will prepare a file and email it to you, usually within a few hours. The file is compressed and may be large, so make sure you have enough storage space on your device before downloading.
This read is separate from the deletion request. You can read your information even if you decide not to delete your account, or you can do it months before you plan to delete.
What happens to your messages and tagged photos
When your account is deleted, your messages disappear from your own inbox, but messages you sent to other people remain in their inboxes. Those people will still be able to see what you wrote to them, but they will not be able to click on your name to visit your profile. Your name may appear as a blank or generic account in their message threads.
Photos that other people tagged you in will remain on their profiles and in their albums. Deleting your account does not remove tags from other people's photos. If you want those photos untagged before you delete, you need to ask the people who posted them to remove the tags, or you can untag yourself from photos while your account is still active.
Comments you left on other people's posts will also remain visible, though your profile will no longer be clickable. If you want to remove those comments before deletion, you can go through your activity log and delete them individually.
What to do if you change your mind during the 30 days
If you decide you want to keep your account, straightforward log in with your username and password during the 30-day window. Your account will when ready reactivate and the deletion request will be cancelled. All your photos, messages, and profile information will return to normal.
You do not need to do anything else — logging in is enough to stop the deletion process. After you log in, you can change your password or review your privacy settings if you are concerned about account security.
After your account is permanently deleted
Once the 30 days have passed and your account is permanently deleted, you cannot recover it. Facebook will not restore your account, your photos, or your messages, even if you contact them and ask. The deletion is final.
You can create a new Facebook account using the same email address or phone number after your old account is deleted. However, your new account will be a fresh start with no connection to your old profile, photos, or friends list. You will need to add friends again and rebuild your profile from scratch.
If you think you might want to use Facebook again in the future but do not want your current profile visible, deactivation is a better choice than deletion. Deactivation hides your profile for as long as you want, and you can reactivate it anytime by logging in — even years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Facebook recover my account after the 30 days are up?
No. Once the 30-day deletion period ends, Facebook permanently removes your account and will not restore it under any circumstances. If you think you might want your account back, do not request deletion — deactivate instead, which you can reverse anytime by logging in.
Will my friends be notified that I deleted my account?
Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you delete your account. Your profile will straightforward disappear from their friend lists and search results. Some friends may notice you are gone, but Facebook does not announce it.
What if I forgot to read my photos before requesting deletion?
If you requested deletion but have not yet passed the 30-day mark, log in to your account and read your information before the deletion completes. If your account has already been permanently deleted, you cannot recover your photos — Facebook does not provide them after deletion is final.
Does deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram or WhatsApp accounts?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate accounts even though Facebook owns Instagram and WhatsApp. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect your Instagram or WhatsApp accounts. You must delete those accounts separately if you want to remove them.
Can I delete my account without a password?
You need your password to confirm the deletion request. If you do not remember your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the Facebook login page to reset it before you request deletion. You cannot delete your account without being able to log in or verify your identity.