Facebook gives you two choices: deactivate or delete
Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages stop showing, and your wall goes blank. You can reactivate anytime by logging back in — Facebook keeps your data for 30 days, then deletes it if you don't return. Most people choose this if they might want their account back later.
Deletion is permanent. After you request it, Facebook takes up to 90 days to remove everything — your photos, posts, messages, and account itself. You cannot undo this. Once those 90 days pass, you cannot reactivate the account or recover your data. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not want the account again.
The choice matters because you cannot switch from deletion back to deactivation. If you are unsure, deactivate first and see how you feel after a few weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account but keeps your data — you can reactivate by logging in anytime within 30 days.
- Deletion is permanent after 90 days and cannot be undone, so only choose it if you are completely certain.
- To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then find Deactivation and Deletion in the left menu.
- To delete, use the same menu but select Delete Account, then confirm your password and wait 90 days for removal to complete.
- Facebook will ask why you are leaving — you can skip this question and proceed without answering.
How to deactivate your Facebook account
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the down arrow at the top right on desktop). Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left side, scroll down and tap or click Deactivation and Deletion.
You will see two options. Select Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask you to choose a reason — you can pick one or skip this step. Enter your password to confirm, then click Deactivate. Your account is now hidden. You can reactivate it anytime by logging in with your email and password.
While deactivated, your messages stay private and your friends cannot see your profile. However, Facebook keeps your data on its servers. If you log back in within 30 days, everything returns exactly as it was. After 30 days of inactivity, Facebook begins deleting your data, but the account can still be reactivated for a longer period.
How to permanently delete your Facebook account
Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, and find Deactivation and Deletion on the left menu. This time, select Delete Account instead of Deactivate. Facebook will ask you to confirm your password.
You will see a warning that deletion is permanent and takes up to 90 days to complete. During those 90 days, your account is not visible to anyone, but Facebook is still processing the removal. If you log in during this window, the deletion stops and your account reactivates. After 90 days pass, your account and all its data are gone for good.
Click Delete Account to confirm. You are done — now you wait. Facebook will send a confirmation email. Do not log in during the 90-day period unless you want to cancel the deletion.
What happens to your data during deletion
During the 90-day waiting period, your profile is invisible to everyone. Your friends cannot find you, your posts do not appear in feeds, and your messages are hidden. However, Facebook still has copies of everything on its servers while it processes the deletion.
After 90 days, Facebook removes your account from its main systems. Some data may remain in backup copies for a longer time, but it is not connected to your account anymore. You cannot recover posts, photos, or messages once deletion completes.
Messages you sent to others remain in their inboxes — deleting your account does not erase conversations from your friends' accounts. If you want to remove a specific message, you must do that before you delete your account.
What to do before you delete
read your photos and posts if you want to keep them. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, scroll to Your Information and Permissions, and select read Your Information. Choose what you want (photos, posts, videos, messages) and the format. Facebook will prepare a file you can read — this usually takes a few hours.
Tell your friends you are leaving, especially if they rely on Facebook to reach you. Share your phone number, email, or another way to stay in touch. If you run a business page or group, decide what to do with it first — you may want to transfer ownership to someone else or delete it separately.
Log out of Facebook on any devices where you stay signed in. This prevents accidental login during the deletion period. Check any apps or websites that use your Facebook login to sign in — you will need to set up a different password for those services before you delete.
If you change your mind during the 90 days
You can stop the deletion anytime during the 90-day window by logging back into your account. Use your email and password as usual. Your account will reactivate when ready, and the deletion request will cancel. Your profile, photos, and messages will return exactly as they were.
After the 90 days end, you cannot recover the account. If you want a Facebook account again, you will have to create a brand new one from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account on mobile or do I need a computer?
You can delete on either. On mobile, open the Facebook app, tap the three lines menu, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, and find Deactivation and Deletion. The steps are the same as on a computer.
Will deleting my account remove me from group chats?
Yes. Once your account is deleted, you disappear from all group conversations and group chats. Your old messages stay visible to others, but your name will no longer be active in the conversation.
What if I forgot my password and cannot delete my account?
Go to the Facebook login page and click "Forgotten password?" Enter your email or phone number. Facebook will send you a reset link. Once you reset your password, log in and follow the deletion steps. If you cannot access your email, you may need to use Facebook's account recovery tool.
Does deactivating my account delete my Instagram too?
No. Facebook and Instagram are separate accounts. Deactivating or deleting Facebook does not affect Instagram. If you want to remove Instagram as well, you must deactivate or delete that account separately through Instagram's settings.
Can someone else access my account after I delete it?
No. Once deletion completes after 90 days, the account no longer exists. No one can log in or access it. During the 90-day waiting period, your account is hidden but still exists — if someone had your password, they could theoretically log in and reactivate it, which would cancel your deletion request.