Facebook gives you two ways out: deactivation and deletion
Deactivation is temporary. Your profile, photos, and messages disappear from Facebook, but the company keeps your data. You can reactivate by logging back in anytime within 30 days. After 30 days, Facebook begins deleting your information, though some data tied to other people's messages or photos may stay.
Deletion is permanent. You request it through Facebook's settings, and the company removes your account and most associated data within 90 days. Some information — like messages you sent to others — stays in their inboxes. Once the 90-day window closes, you cannot reactivate the account.
Most people choose deletion if they want a clean break. Choose deactivation if you might return, or if you want to pause without losing the option to come back.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile temporarily and lets you return within 30 days; deletion removes your account permanently after 90 days.
- To delete your account, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion, then choose Delete Account and confirm your password.
- Facebook keeps some data even after deletion, including messages you sent to others and information tied to your activity on other websites.
- Before you delete, read your photos and messages if you want to keep copies — Facebook provides a read tool in Settings.
- Deleting your account does not remove you from group chats, Messenger, or Instagram if you use those apps; you must handle those separately.
How to delete your account on desktop
Open Facebook in a web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner (next to your profile picture). Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings.
On the left side, scroll down and click Deactivation and Deletion. You will see two options: "Deactivate Account" and "Delete Account". Click Delete Account. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask security questions. Answer them and click Continue.
A final screen will warn you that deletion is permanent. Click Delete Account again to confirm. Your account will begin the 90-day deletion process when ready.
How to delete your account on mobile
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings.
Scroll down to Deactivation and Deletion and tap it. Select Delete Account. Enter your password when prompted and answer any security questions. Tap Continue.
Review the final confirmation screen and tap Delete Account to finish. The deletion process starts right away.
What happens to your data during the 90-day window
During the 90 days after you request deletion, your profile is not visible to other users. Your name will not appear in search results, and people cannot message you or see your photos. However, Facebook's servers still hold your information while the deletion processes.
If you change your mind and log back in during this window, your account reactivates completely and the deletion cancels. After 90 days pass, Facebook permanently removes most of your data from its active systems. Some information — like messages you sent to friends, comments you made on other people's posts, or photos you were tagged in — may remain because it is tied to other people's accounts.
Messages you sent through Messenger are handled separately. Deleting your Facebook account does not delete your Messenger history. If you want those gone, you must delete individual conversations or your entire Messenger account through the Messenger app's settings.
read your information before you delete
Facebook lets you read a copy of your photos, videos, posts, and messages before deletion. This is useful if you want to keep memories or need records of conversations.
Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Your Information and Permissions > read Your Information. Choose the date range and content types you want (photos, posts, messages, etc.). Select your file format — Facebook offers HTML or JSON. Click Create File. Facebook will prepare your read, which usually takes a few hours. You will get a notification when it is ready, and you can read it from the same page.
Keep this file somewhere safe, like an external hard drive or cloud storage, because once your account is deleted you cannot retrieve this information from Facebook again.
What stays on Facebook after you delete
Facebook does not remove every trace of you. Messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes. Comments you made on public pages or groups may remain visible. Photos you were tagged in by others will still appear on their profiles and in their albums.
If you used your Facebook account to log into other websites or apps — like Spotify, Pinterest, or games — those connections break when you delete Facebook. You will need to create new passwords for those services or log in a different way.
If you have a Facebook Business Page or manage ads, deleting your personal account does not automatically delete those. You must manage business pages separately through your Page settings.
Deactivation as an alternative
If you are not ready to delete permanently, deactivation lets you step back without losing your account. Your profile disappears from Facebook, and no one can find you or message you. Your name will not show up in search results or on other people's friend lists.
To deactivate, follow the same steps as deletion but choose Deactivate Account instead of Delete Account. You can reactivate anytime within 30 days by logging back in with your password. After 30 days, Facebook begins the deletion process automatically, though you can still reactivate for a while longer.
Deactivation is useful if you want to take a break from social media but might return, or if you are testing whether you actually want to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Facebook account if I use Messenger?
Yes, but deleting your Facebook account does not delete your Messenger account or message history. You can keep using Messenger after Facebook is gone. If you want to delete Messenger too, you must do that separately through the Messenger app settings.
What if I have an Instagram account linked to my Facebook?
Deleting Facebook does not delete Instagram. They are separate accounts now, even though Facebook owns Instagram. Your Instagram will stay active unless you delete it separately through Instagram's settings.
Can someone else use my email to create a new Facebook account after I delete mine?
Yes. Once your account is fully deleted after 90 days, the email address is free to use. Someone else could create a new Facebook account with that email. If you want to prevent this, change your email address before deleting, or use an email you no longer access.
Will deleting Facebook remove me from group chats?
Deleting your account removes you from Facebook groups, but group chats in Messenger work differently. You will stay in Messenger group chats unless you leave them manually before deleting your account. After deletion, you can still access those Messenger conversations.
How long does it actually take to delete my account?
Facebook says 90 days, but your profile disappears from the site within hours. The 90 days is how long Facebook keeps your data on its servers before permanent removal. For practical purposes, your account is gone when ready after you confirm deletion.