Facebook gives you two ways to stop using your account: deactivation and deletion

Deactivation hides your profile, posts, and friends list from other people. Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind — you can reactivate by logging back in within 30 days. After 30 days, Facebook begins deleting your information, but the process can take up to 90 days total.

Deletion is permanent. Facebook removes your account and all associated data after 30 days. You cannot reactivate a deleted account, and you cannot recover your photos, messages, or posts. If you think you might want to use Facebook again in the future, deactivation is the safer choice.

Most people choose deactivation first because it is reversible. You should only choose deletion if you are certain you will never want the account back.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivation hides your account but keeps your data for 30 days; you can reactivate by logging in again.
  • Deletion is permanent and removes all your data after 30 days, with no way to recover it.
  • You need to read your photos and messages before either action if you want to keep them.
  • Deactivating takes two minutes from your settings; deletion requires you to confirm your choice by email.
  • If you share a device with others, log out completely after deactivating or deleting to prevent accidental reactivation.

How to deactivate your account on a computer

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen, next to your name. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings.

On the left side, click Deactivation and deletion. You will see two options: "Deactivate account" and "Delete account". Click Deactivate account. Facebook will ask you to choose a reason for leaving — this is optional, but Facebook uses your answer to improve the platform. Select a reason or skip this step.

Enter your password to confirm. Facebook will show you a list of friends who will no longer see your profile. Click Deactivate to finish. Your account is now hidden from other users.

How to deactivate your account on a phone or tablet

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.

Scroll down to Deactivation and deletion and tap it. Choose Deactivate account. Facebook will ask for a reason — you can skip this. Enter your password and tap Deactivate.

If you use Facebook Messenger, deactivating your account does not delete Messenger. You will need to delete the Messenger app separately from your phone's app store if you do not want to receive messages.

How to permanently delete your account

Follow the same steps as deactivation, but select Delete account instead of Deactivate account. Facebook will warn you that deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Enter your password to confirm.

Facebook will send a confirmation email to the address connected to your account. Open that email and click the link to confirm deletion. If you do not confirm within a set time, the deletion request will cancel and your account will remain active.

After you confirm by email, Facebook begins the 30-day deletion process. During these 30 days, your account is not visible to other people, but the data still exists on Facebook's servers. After 30 days, your information is removed.

read your photos and messages before you go

If you want to keep your photos, videos, or messages, read them before you deactivate or delete. Facebook lets you request a copy of everything associated with your account.

Go to Settings and privacy > Settings. Click Your information and permissions on the left, then click read your information. Choose the date range and the types of files you want (photos, videos, posts, messages). Facebook will prepare a file and email it to you — this can take from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have.

read the file to your computer before you deactivate or delete your account. Once your account is gone, you cannot request this information again.

What happens to your messages and tagged photos after deactivation

When you deactivate, your messages stay in other people's inboxes, but they cannot see your name or profile picture — the message appears to be from a deactivated account. Your friends can still see photos you were tagged in, but they cannot see your profile or click through to your account.

If you reactivate within 30 days, everything returns to normal. Your messages show your name again, and your profile becomes visible. After 30 days, if you do not reactivate, Facebook begins deleting your data, including messages and tagged photos.

Reactivating your account after deactivation

If you deactivated your account and want to use it again, log in to Facebook with your email address and password. Your account will reactivate when ready, and all your photos, friends, and posts will return. You can do this at any time within 30 days of deactivation.

After 30 days, reactivation is no longer possible. Your account moves into the permanent deletion process, and you cannot bring it back. If you think you might want to use Facebook again, set a reminder on your phone or calendar for day 25 of deactivation so you do not accidentally lose the option to reactivate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends know I deactivated my account?

No. Your profile straightforward disappears from their view. They will not receive a notification that you deactivated. If they try to visit your profile, they will see a message that the account no longer exists, but they will not know whether you deactivated or deleted it.

What happens to my Instagram account if I delete my Facebook account?

If your Instagram account is linked to Facebook, deleting Facebook does not automatically delete Instagram. However, if you use your Facebook login to access Instagram, you will no longer be able to log in that way. You can change your Instagram password and log in directly instead.

Can I deactivate Facebook but keep Messenger?

Your Messenger account stays active even after you deactivate Facebook. People can still send you messages, and you can still use Messenger to contact them. If you want to stop using Messenger too, you must delete the app from your phone or log out in the app's settings.

How long does it take for Facebook to completely delete my account?

Facebook takes up to 90 days to fully delete all your data after you confirm deletion by email. For the first 30 days, your account is hidden but the data still exists. After 30 days, deletion accelerates, but some information may take the full 90 days to remove from all of Facebook's systems.

What if I forgot my password and cannot deactivate?

Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgotten password?" Enter your email address or phone number. Facebook will send you a link to reset your password. Once you reset it, log in and follow the deactivation steps. If you no longer have access to your email or phone, contact Facebook's support team through their help center.