Delete Facebook on iPhone or Android in Settings

To delete your Facebook account from a mobile phone, open the Facebook app, tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) at the bottom right, scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Account Ownership and Control, then select Deactivation or Deletion. Choose Delete Account (not Deactivate), then tap Continue to Account Deletion. Facebook will ask you to re-enter your password for security. After you confirm, your account will be permanently deleted within 30 days — during this time you can still cancel the deletion if you change your mind.

The process is the same on both iPhone and Android. If you cannot find these menu options, your app may be outdated. Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Facebook, and tap Update if available. Then try the deletion steps again.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three lines), go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Account Ownership and Control, then Deactivation or Deletion.
  • Choose Delete Account rather than Deactivate — deactivation is temporary and keeps your data, while deletion removes your account permanently.
  • You will need to enter your password to confirm the deletion for security purposes.
  • Your account will not disappear when ready; Facebook gives you 30 days to cancel the deletion if you change your mind.
  • If the menu options do not appear, update your Facebook app from your phone's app store before trying again.

The Difference Between Deactivation and Deletion

Facebook offers two separate options, and they work very differently. Deactivation hides your profile from other users and removes your name from search results, but Facebook keeps all your data — photos, messages, posts — stored on their servers. You can reactivate a deactivated account at any time by logging back in. Deactivation is useful if you want a break from Facebook but might return later.

Deletion is permanent. Facebook removes your profile, photos, posts, and messages from public view within 30 days. After 30 days, the deletion is final and cannot be undone. Some information may remain in Facebook's backup systems for a limited time, but it will not be accessible to you or other users. If you are certain you do not want to use Facebook again, deletion is the right choice.

What Happens to Your Data After Deletion

When you delete your Facebook account, your profile disappears from the platform, but the process takes time. For the first 30 days, you can log back in and cancel the deletion — Facebook will restore your account exactly as it was. After 30 days, deletion becomes permanent and cannot be reversed.

Messages you sent to other people may remain in their inboxes even after your account is deleted, because those messages are part of their conversation history. Photos or posts that other people shared or tagged you in may also remain visible on their profiles. If you want to remove content before deleting your account, go through your profile and delete posts and untag yourself from photos first — this takes extra time but gives you more control over what remains.

If You Cannot Find the Deletion Option

The deletion menu sometimes does not appear if your app is out of date or if you are in a region where Facebook has restricted the feature. First, update your Facebook app: open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android), search for Facebook, and tap Update if the button appears. Close the app completely and reopen it, then try the deletion steps again.

If the option still does not appear, you can delete your account through a web browser instead. Open any web browser on your phone, go to facebook.com, log in, tap the menu icon (three lines), scroll down to Settings & Privacy, tap Settings, then follow the same path to Account Ownership and Control and Deactivation or Deletion. The web version often loads faster and more reliably on mobile than the app.

Preparing Your Account Before Deletion

Before you delete, consider downloading your information if you want to keep copies of your photos or posts. In Settings, look for Your Information or read Your Information — this option lets you request a file of your photos, posts, and messages. Facebook will prepare the file and send you a read link, usually within a few hours. This step is optional but useful if you want to preserve memories before the account is gone.

You should also notify people who contact you regularly through Facebook Messenger that you are leaving. Send them your phone number or email address through a message before you delete, so they can reach you another way. After deletion, they will not be able to message you through Facebook.

What to Do If Deletion Gets Stuck

Occasionally the deletion process stalls or shows an error message. If you see an error like "Something went wrong" or the deletion does not complete after several hours, try logging out of Facebook completely, waiting 10 minutes, then logging back in and attempting deletion again. Sometimes a fresh login clears temporary glitches.

If the error persists, try the deletion through a web browser instead of the app. Open facebook.com in Safari (iPhone) or Chrome (Android), log in, and follow the deletion steps from the web version. If you still cannot delete after trying both the app and the web version, contact Facebook's support team through the app by tapping the menu icon, scrolling to Help & Support, and selecting Report a Problem. Describe what happens when you try to delete, and a support agent will investigate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my Facebook account without entering my password?

No. Facebook requires your password to confirm account deletion for security reasons — this prevents someone else from deleting your account without permission. If you have forgotten your password, tap Forgot Password on the login screen and follow the recovery steps before attempting deletion.

What happens to my Facebook Messenger account when I delete Facebook?

Deleting your Facebook account also deletes your Messenger account. You will no longer be able to send or receive messages through Messenger. People will not be able to contact you there, though they may still see old conversations with you in their message history.

Can I delete my account and then create a new one with the same email address?

You can create a new account with the same email after deletion, but you must wait until the 30-day deletion window closes. During those 30 days, the email is still tied to your deleted account. After 30 days, the email becomes available and you can use it for a new account.

Does deleting my Facebook account remove me from Facebook groups?

Yes. When your account is deleted, you are automatically removed from all groups, and your posts and comments in those groups disappear. Group members will see that your account no longer exists rather than your name on old posts.

Will deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram account?

No. Facebook and Instagram are separate accounts even though Facebook owns Instagram. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect your Instagram account. If you want to delete Instagram as well, you must delete that account separately through the Instagram app.