Facebook gives you two ways to handle an old account: deactivation, which is temporary and reversible, or deletion, which is permanent
Deactivation hides your profile, posts, and friends list from other people, but Facebook keeps your data in case you want to reactivate within 30 days. Deletion removes your account entirely after 30 days, though Facebook may keep some information for legal or safety reasons. Most people choose deletion if they do not plan to return.
The process takes a few minutes on a computer, though you can also start it on a phone. Facebook will ask you to confirm your choice and may offer to read your photos and posts before the account disappears.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account but keeps it recoverable for 30 days; deletion permanently removes it after 30 days.
- You must log in to your account to delete it — you cannot delete someone else's account or an account you no longer have access to.
- Facebook will send a confirmation email asking you to verify the deletion; if you do not confirm within the 30-day window, the deletion cancels.
- Before deletion, read your photos, videos, and posts if you want to keep copies — Facebook will not send them to you after the account is gone.
- Deleting your Facebook account does not automatically delete your Instagram or WhatsApp accounts, even though Facebook owns them.
How to delete your account on a computer
Go to facebook.com and log in with your email and password. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner, then select Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, click Deactivation and deletion.
Choose Delete account (not Deactivate account). Facebook will show you what happens next: your profile disappears, people cannot find you, and your messages stay in other people's inboxes but show no sender name. Click Continue to account deletion. Enter your password when prompted, then click Delete account. Facebook will send a confirmation email to the address on file.
Open that email and click the confirmation link within 30 days. If you do not confirm, the deletion request cancels and your account stays active. Once you confirm, the account begins its permanent removal process, which takes about 30 days to complete.
How to delete your account on a phone
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then Settings. Tap Account ownership and control, then Deactivation and deletion.
Choose Delete account. Tap Continue to account deletion, enter your password, and tap Delete account. Facebook sends a confirmation email — open it and click the link to verify. The phone app works the same way as the computer version; the confirmation step is the same either way.
What to do before you delete
read your information if you want to keep your photos, videos, or posts. In Settings, go to Your information and permissions, then read your information. Choose the date range and content types you want (photos, videos, posts, messages), then click Request a read. Facebook will prepare a file and email you a link to read it, usually within a few hours.
Tell people you are leaving if you want them to know. You could post a final message with your contact information, email your close friends, or update your phone contacts with alternate ways to reach you. After deletion, people will not be able to find your profile or see your old posts.
Check if you use Facebook to log into other websites or apps. Some services let you sign in with your Facebook account instead of creating a separate password. Before you delete Facebook, change those services to use a different login method — otherwise you may lock yourself out. Look for account settings on those sites and switch to an email login or create a new password.
The difference between deactivation and deletion
Deactivation is temporary. Your profile, photos, and posts disappear from Facebook, and people cannot find you or message you. But you can reactivate anytime within 30 days by logging back in. After 30 days, a deactivated account is deleted automatically. Use deactivation if you are unsure whether you want to leave permanently.
Deletion is permanent after the 30-day confirmation window closes. You cannot reactivate a deleted account. If you want to use Facebook again later, you would have to create a brand new account from scratch. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not return.
What happens to your data after deletion
Your profile, photos, posts, and friend list disappear from Facebook within about 30 days. Messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes but show no sender name or profile picture. Comments you made on other people's posts are removed. Pages you created are deleted.
Facebook may keep some of your information for legal reasons, fraud prevention, or safety — for example, if you reported someone for harassment, Facebook might keep records of that report. The company does not publicly detail exactly what it keeps or for how long. If you want to know what data Facebook retained, you can request it through your country's data privacy laws (like GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California), but this is a separate process from deletion.
If you cannot access your old account
If you forgot your password or no longer have access to the email address on file, you cannot delete the account yourself. Facebook has a form to report a hacked or inaccessible account at facebook.com/login/identify. You will need to prove you own the account by answering security questions or uploading a photo of your ID.
If you cannot recover access, you can report the account to Facebook as compromised. Facebook may deactivate it, but you cannot request permanent deletion without logging in. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from deleting your account without permission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram account?
No. Facebook owns Instagram and WhatsApp, but they are separate accounts. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. If you want to delete those too, you must delete them separately through their own settings.
Can I delete my account if I have a business page?
Yes, but your business page will be deleted too. If other people manage that page with you, they will lose access. If you want to keep the page, transfer ownership to someone else first. Go to the page settings, find Page roles, and add another person as an admin before you delete your personal account.
What if I do not confirm the deletion email within 30 days?
The deletion request expires and your account stays active. You would have to start the deletion process again from the beginning. Facebook sends the confirmation email to the address on file, so check your spam folder if you do not see it.
Will people be able to see my old posts after I delete?
No. Once the 30-day deletion period ends, your posts, photos, and profile are gone. People cannot search for you or find your old content. The only exception is messages — the text of messages you sent stays in other people's inboxes, but it will not show your name or profile picture.
Can I delete just some of my photos instead of the whole account?
Yes. If you only want to remove certain content, you do not need to delete your account. Go to your profile, find the photo or post, click the three dots, and select Delete. You can remove individual items without closing your account. This is a good option if you want to stay on Facebook but clean up old content.