Facebook gives you two ways out: deactivation and deletion
Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages stop showing, and your friends can't see your posts. But Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind — you can reactivate by logging back in within 30 days.
Deletion is permanent. After 30 days, Facebook removes your account, posts, photos, and messages from their servers. You cannot undo this. Choose deletion if you want a clean break and do not plan to return.
Most people who want to "cancel" Facebook actually want deactivation — they are taking a break or stepping back from the platform. If you think you might return in a few months, deactivate first. If you are certain you are done, go straight to deletion.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account for up to 30 days and lets you reactivate by logging in again; deletion is permanent after 30 days and cannot be reversed.
- To deactivate on a phone, go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Personal Information > Deactivation and Deletion, then choose Deactivate Account.
- To delete on a phone, go to the same menu and choose Delete Account, then confirm your password and wait 30 days for removal to complete.
- Facebook will ask you to read your photos, posts, and other data before deletion — do this if you want to keep copies of anything on your account.
- After you deactivate or delete, you may still see your old messages in other people's inboxes, and some data tied to third-party apps may remain on those services.
How to deactivate your account on a phone
Open Facebook and tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then tap Settings. Scroll to the bottom and tap Personal Information, then tap Deactivation and Deletion.
You will see two options: Deactivate Account and Delete Account. Tap Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask why you are leaving — you can skip this or answer it. Tap Continue, then enter your password to confirm. Tap Deactivate and your account is hidden when ready.
Your profile, posts, and photos disappear from Facebook right away. Your friends cannot message you or see your activity. If you log back in within 30 days, everything reappears exactly as it was.
How to deactivate on a computer
Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Personal Information, then Deactivation and Deletion.
Click Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask why you are leaving — answer or skip. Click Continue, enter your password, and click Deactivate. Your account is hidden when ready.
How to permanently delete your account
Follow the same steps as deactivation, but choose Delete Account instead of Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask you to read your information — this is your only chance to save your photos, posts, and messages as files on your computer. Click read Your Information if you want copies.
Enter your password to confirm deletion. Facebook will tell you that your account will be fully removed in 30 days. During this 30-day window, if you log back in, the deletion stops and your account returns. After 30 days pass, deletion is final and cannot be reversed.
Some data may take longer to remove from Facebook's backup servers — the company says it can take up to 90 days for complete removal. Third-party apps and websites that you connected to Facebook may still have your data; you will need to remove those connections separately on those services.
What happens to your messages and photos
When you deactivate, your messages stay in other people's inboxes — they can still read what you sent them, but they cannot see your name or profile picture. When you delete, the same thing happens: your old messages remain, but your account is gone.
Photos you posted to Facebook are removed from your profile and from the feed. However, if someone else tagged you in a photo or shared a screenshot, that copy stays on their account. Deactivation and deletion only remove content you directly posted.
If you uploaded photos to Facebook using a third-party app or service, those apps may still have copies. Deleting your Facebook account does not delete those copies — you have to remove them separately on those services.
What to do before you delete
read your information before deletion. This file contains all your photos, posts, friend lists, messages, and other data in a format you can save. You cannot get this back after deletion, so do this step if you want to keep any record of your account.
Tell your close friends or family that you are leaving, especially if they rely on Facebook Messenger to reach you. Give them your phone number or email address. If you use Facebook to log into other apps or websites, change those passwords now — you will lose the ability to use "Log in with Facebook" once your account is gone.
Check if you use Facebook to manage a business page or group. If you are the only admin, transfer ownership to someone else before you delete. Once your account is gone, you cannot manage those pages anymore.
If you change your mind during the 30-day window
You have 30 days after requesting deletion to log back into Facebook. When you log in, the deletion stops and your account is restored with everything intact. After 30 days, this option disappears and deletion becomes permanent.
If you deactivated instead of deleting, you can reactivate anytime by logging in — there is no time limit. Your account will return to exactly the state it was in when you deactivated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else see my account while it is deactivated?
No. Your profile, posts, and photos are hidden from everyone. Your name does not appear in search results. Friends cannot message you or see your activity. The only way someone could find you is if they had a direct link to your old profile, which would show an error message.
What if I forgot my password and cannot delete my account?
Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgotten password?" Enter your email or phone number. Facebook will send you a reset link. Once you reset your password, you can log in and follow the deletion steps. If you cannot access your email or phone, you may need to use Facebook's account recovery tool.
Will deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram or WhatsApp account?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate accounts even though the same company owns them. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. You have to delete those accounts separately if you want to remove them.
Can I delete my account if I have a business page?
You can, but you should transfer ownership of your business page to someone else first. Once your personal account is deleted, you cannot manage the business page anymore. If you are the only admin, assign another admin before you delete.
How long does it take for Facebook to completely remove my data?
Facebook removes your account from the visible platform in 30 days. However, the company says backup copies may take up to 90 days to fully delete from their servers. You cannot speed this up, but after 30 days your account is gone from the public platform.