Facebook gives you two ways to stop using your account: deactivation, which pauses it temporarily, and deletion, which removes it permanently after 30 days
Deactivation hides your profile, posts, and messages from other people, but Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind and log back in within a few months. Deletion is permanent — after 30 days, your account and everything on it is gone for good, though Facebook may keep some information for legal reasons.
Most people choose deactivation first because it is reversible. You can reactivate by logging in again at any time. If you are certain you will never use Facebook again, deletion is the better choice, but understand that you cannot undo it after the 30-day window closes.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account when ready but keeps your data; you can reactivate anytime by logging in.
- Deletion removes your account permanently after 30 days, and you cannot reverse it after that period ends.
- read your photos, videos, and messages before you close your account if you want to keep copies.
- Facebook may retain some information even after deletion for legal, security, or backup purposes.
- Messenger continues to work for a short time after deactivation, but stops entirely once deletion is complete.
How to deactivate your Facebook account
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the Settings menu. On a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right corner and select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On a phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right, scroll down to Settings and Privacy, and tap Settings.
Once you are in Settings, look for the section called "How do you use Facebook?" or scroll down until you see "Deactivation and Deletion." Click or tap on it. You will see two options: Deactivate Account and Delete Account. Choose Deactivate Account.
Facebook will ask you to choose a reason for leaving — this is optional, but answering helps them understand why people stop using the platform. You will then be asked to re-enter your password to confirm. After that, your account is deactivated when ready. Your profile disappears from search results and your friends' friend lists, but your messages remain in their inboxes.
How to permanently delete your Facebook account
Follow the same steps to reach Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Find "Deactivation and Deletion" and this time choose Delete Account. Facebook will warn you that deletion is permanent and that you have 30 days to change your mind.
Enter your password again to confirm. Your account will be marked for deletion, and Facebook begins removing your information from its servers. During the 30-day waiting period, your profile is not visible to anyone, but if you log in again, the deletion is cancelled and your account returns to normal.
After 30 days pass, your account and all its contents — photos, videos, posts, messages, and friend lists — are deleted. Some information may remain in Facebook's backup systems for a limited time, but it will not be connected to you or visible anywhere.
Save your photos and messages before you close your account
Before you deactivate or delete, read a copy of everything you posted. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down to "Your Information and Permissions" and click "read Your Information."
Facebook will prepare a file containing your photos, videos, posts, and messages. You can choose the date range and file format. The read may take a few hours or days depending on how much data you have. Facebook will send you a link by email when it is ready. read this file to your computer and store it somewhere safe.
This step is especially important if you have years of photos or messages you want to keep. Once your account is deleted, there is no way to recover this information from Facebook.
What happens to your messages and tagged photos
When you deactivate, your messages stay in your friends' inboxes, but they cannot see your name or profile picture — the message appears to come from a deactivated account. Your friends can still see photos they tagged you in, but they cannot see photos you posted to your own timeline.
When you delete, your messages remain in your friends' inboxes for a short time, but your name and profile picture disappear. Photos your friends tagged you in stay visible with your name removed. Photos you posted yourself are deleted entirely.
If you were part of a group or a Facebook page you managed, those remain active. Other admins can take over, or the group stays as is. Your posts in groups are deleted, but comments you made on other people's posts may remain with your name removed.
Reactivating a deactivated account
If you deactivated your account and want to come back, straightforward log in to Facebook with your email and password. Your profile, photos, and friends list will return exactly as they were. You can do this anytime — there is no time limit on reactivation.
If you deleted your account and want to undo it, you have 30 days from the deletion date to log in. After 30 days, the account cannot be recovered. If you are within the 30-day window and you log in, the deletion is cancelled and your account is restored.
What to do about other apps and websites connected to your account
Many apps and websites let you log in using your Facebook account instead of creating a separate username and password. Before you close your Facebook account, check which apps use Facebook login and change them to a different login method.
Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Find "Apps and Websites" and look at the list of apps connected to your account. For each one you want to keep using, click it and change the login method to an email address and password instead. If you do not do this, you will lose access to those apps when your Facebook account is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone else use my email address to create a new Facebook account after I delete mine?
Yes. Once your account is fully deleted after 30 days, anyone can create a new account using your email address. If you want to prevent this, change your email address in your Facebook settings before you delete, or use a different email for your new account later.
Will my Facebook Messenger account close too?
Deactivation does not close Messenger — you can still send and receive messages for a short time. Deletion closes Messenger permanently after 30 days. If you want to keep using Messenger without Facebook, you can deactivate instead of deleting.
What if I have a Facebook business page?
Your personal account and business page are separate. Deleting your personal account does not delete your business page, but you will lose access to manage it unless another admin is assigned. Transfer ownership to another person before you close your personal account.
Does Facebook delete my information when ready when I choose delete?
No. When you choose delete, your account is marked for removal and becomes invisible to everyone. The actual deletion takes 30 days. During this time, if you log in, the deletion stops. After 30 days, the deletion is final and cannot be reversed.
Can I deactivate without deleting my Messenger account?
Yes. Deactivating your Facebook account does not require you to deactivate Messenger. You can keep using Messenger to contact friends even after your Facebook profile is hidden. If you delete your account instead, Messenger closes after 30 days.