What happens when you deactivate Facebook instead of deleting it
Deactivating your Facebook account hides your profile, messages, and posts from other people, but Facebook keeps all your information on their servers. You can reactivate whenever you want by logging back in — your photos, friends list, and messages will be exactly as you left them. This is different from permanently deleting your account, which takes 30 days to process and cannot be undone.
While your account is deactivated, people cannot search for you, see your profile, or message you. Your name disappears from their friends lists and from comments you made on their posts. However, Facebook still shows your old messages in other people's inboxes — deactivation does not erase conversations you had before.
Deactivation is the right choice if you want a break from Facebook but might want to return later, or if you are not sure whether you want to leave permanently. If you are certain you never want the account back, permanent deletion is the better option, though it takes longer to complete.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivating your account hides your profile and posts but keeps all your data saved, so you can reactivate by logging in again anytime.
- Your name disappears from other people's friends lists and their posts, but old messages you sent them remain visible in their inboxes.
- You can deactivate from your phone or computer in under a minute using the Settings menu.
- If you change your mind, straightforward log in with your email and password to restore your account when ready.
How to deactivate on a computer or laptop
Open Facebook in your web browser and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — this is next to your profile picture. A menu will drop down with several options.
Scroll down in that menu and click Settings and privacy, then click Settings. On the left side of the screen, you will see a column of options. Click Deactivation and deletion. Facebook will show you two choices: deactivate or delete. Click Deactivate.
Facebook will ask you to choose a reason for leaving — this is optional, but they use it to improve their service. Select whatever reason fits best or skip this step. Then click Deactivate again. You may be asked to re-enter your password to confirm. Once you do, your account is deactivated when ready.
How to deactivate on your phone or tablet
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on Android) or the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner (on iPhone). Scroll down and tap Settings and privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down to find Deactivation and deletion and tap it. Choose Deactivate account. Facebook will ask for a reason — you can skip this or select one. Tap Deactivate and enter your password when prompted. Your account will be deactivated right away.
The mobile app process is nearly identical to the computer version, just with tapping instead of clicking. If you cannot find the option, make sure you are using the official Facebook app, not a third-party app.
What you should know before you deactivate
Your messages will remain in other people's inboxes, but you will not be able to see your own message history once you deactivate. If there are conversations you need to save, take screenshots or read them before you deactivate. Facebook does not provide an straightforward way to retrieve old messages after deactivation.
Some apps and websites you use may be connected to your Facebook account — for example, games, photo editors, or news sites that let you log in with Facebook. When you deactivate, you may lose access to these services or have trouble logging in. Check which apps are connected to your account before you deactivate if you use any of these services regularly.
Your Facebook Marketplace listings, if you have any, will not be visible while your account is deactivated. If you are selling items, you may want to wait until the sales are complete. The same applies to any Facebook Groups you manage — they will be hidden, though you can reactivate and manage them again later.
How to reactivate your account
To bring your account back, straightforward log into Facebook using your email address and password. You can do this on the Facebook website, in the app, or through any app that uses Facebook login. Your account will be restored when ready with all your photos, friends, and posts exactly as they were.
There is no time limit on how long you can keep your account deactivated. You can reactivate after a week, a month, a year, or longer — Facebook will hold your information indefinitely. Just remember your email and password, because you will need them to log back in.
Deactivation versus permanent deletion
If you are certain you never want to use Facebook again, permanent deletion is more thorough than deactivation. When you delete your account, Facebook removes your profile, posts, and photos from their servers over the course of 30 days. After that period, the account cannot be recovered.
However, deletion takes a full month to complete, whereas deactivation is when ready. During those 30 days, if you log in again, the deletion will be cancelled and your account will be restored. If you are on the fence about leaving Facebook, deactivation is the safer choice because you can always change your mind when ready.
To delete instead of deactivate, follow the same steps above but choose Delete instead of Deactivate in the Deactivation and deletion menu. Facebook will ask you to confirm and re-enter your password. After that, the 30-day countdown begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people still see my old posts and photos while my account is deactivated?
No. Your profile, posts, and photos are hidden from everyone while your account is deactivated. However, if you were tagged in someone else's photo or post before you deactivated, that tag and photo may still be visible on their profile — your name just will not be linked to it.
Will my friends know I deactivated my account?
Your friends will notice you are gone because your name disappears from their friends list and your profile will not show up in searches. Facebook does not send them a notification that you deactivated, but they will see that you are no longer there if they look for you.
What happens to my Facebook Messenger account when I deactivate?
Messenger continues to work even after you deactivate Facebook. People can still send you messages, though you will not receive notifications about them. You can log into Messenger separately and see your conversations, but you cannot send new messages while your account is deactivated.
Can I deactivate my account without a password?
No. Facebook requires you to enter your password to confirm deactivation, even if you are already logged in. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from deactivating your account without permission. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password?" link on the login screen to reset it first.
How long does deactivation take to show up?
Your account is deactivated when ready after you confirm. However, it may take a few minutes for your profile to disappear from other people's screens and search results as Facebook's servers update across all their systems.