What to do when you can't remember your password or access your email

If you no longer have the password or email address for an old Facebook account, you can still delete it — but the process takes longer than a standard deletion. Facebook has a recovery path built for this situation, though it requires you to prove you own the account. The fastest route is through Facebook's account recovery tool, which can restore your access even if you've lost both credentials.

The key difference: a standard deletion takes 30 days. A deletion after account recovery can take the same time, but you'll spend the first few days proving your identity to Facebook. If you straightforward want the account gone and don't need to recover anything from it first, there's also a permanent deletion option that skips recovery entirely — though it has stricter requirements.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Facebook's account recovery tool to regain access by confirming your identity through a phone number, email address you once used, or a government ID.
  • Once you've recovered access, go to Settings and Privacy, select Settings, then scroll to Deactivation and Deletion to choose permanent deletion.
  • If you don't want to recover access first, you can request permanent deletion directly through Facebook's support form, though approval takes longer.
  • Permanent deletion removes your profile, photos, and messages within 30 days, but some information may remain on Facebook's servers for legal reasons.
  • Before deletion, read your photos and messages if you want to keep them — Facebook provides a read tool for account holders.

Using the account recovery tool to regain access

Go to facebook.com and click "Forgot Password?" on the login page. Enter any email address or phone number you think you used to create the account. Facebook will show you a list of accounts associated with that contact information. Select the account you want to delete.

Facebook will then ask you to verify your identity. You have several options: confirm a code sent to a phone number you once used, confirm a code sent to an email address you once used, or upload a photo of your government ID. The phone or email method is fastest — if you still have access to either one, choose that. If you don't, upload a clear photo of your ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). Make sure your face and the ID number are visible.

After you submit your ID, Facebook reviews it within a few hours to a few days. Once approved, you'll regain access to your account. At that point, you can set a new password and proceed to delete the account permanently.

Deleting the account after you've regained access

Log in with your recovered password. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." Scroll down to the "How you use Facebook" section and click "Deactivation and Deletion."

Facebook will show you two options: deactivation or deletion. Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data on Facebook's servers — you can reactivate later. Deletion is permanent: your profile, photos, posts, and messages are removed within 30 days. Choose "Permanently Delete Your Account" and click "Continue."

Facebook will ask you to confirm your password one more time and may ask why you're leaving. You don't have to answer the survey question — just click "Delete Account" at the bottom. Your account is now scheduled for deletion. The process completes 30 days later.

Requesting deletion without recovering access first

If you don't want to go through the recovery process, you can request permanent deletion directly. Go to facebook.com/help/contact and select "Something Else" from the dropdown menu. In the description box, write that you want to permanently delete an account you no longer have access to. Include any details you remember: the email address or phone number on the account, your full name as it appeared on the profile, or the approximate date you created it.

Facebook's support team will review your request. They may ask you to provide additional proof of identity — a photo ID or answers to security questions you set up when you created the account. This route takes longer than recovery (often two to four weeks), and Facebook may deny the request if they can't verify you own the account.

This method is useful only if you're certain you'll never need anything from the account again. If there are photos, messages, or other content you want to keep, recover access first so you can read them before deletion.

Downloading your information before deletion

If you've recovered access and want to keep your photos, messages, or posts, read them before you delete the account. Log in and go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to "Your Information and Permissions" and click "read Your Information."

Facebook will let you choose what to read: photos, videos, posts, messages, friends list, and more. Select what you want and choose the file format (HTML or JSON). Facebook will prepare a file and send you a read link by email within a few hours. The file is encrypted and only you can open it.

Once you've downloaded everything you need, return to Settings and proceed with permanent deletion as described above.

What happens to your data after deletion

Thirty days after you request permanent deletion, Facebook removes your profile from public view. Your photos, posts, and messages are deleted from the platform. However, Facebook may keep some information on its servers for legal reasons — tax records, payment history, or data required by law enforcement. This retained data is not visible to other users and is separate from your account.

Messages you sent to other people may remain in their inboxes even after your account is deleted. Facebook does not delete messages from the recipient's side. If you want to remove a specific message, you can unsend it before deletion, but only within a limited time window (usually one hour).

Backup copies of your data may also exist on Facebook's servers for a period after deletion. These are used for disaster recovery and are eventually purged, but the timeline is not public.

Troubleshooting when recovery fails

If Facebook rejects your ID during recovery, the photo may be unclear, the ID may be expired, or the name on the ID may not match the name on your account. Take a new photo in good lighting, make sure all four corners of the ID are visible, and check that your face is clearly visible. Resubmit and wait for review again.

If you don't receive a recovery code on your phone or email, check your spam folder. If the email address or phone number no longer works, you won't receive the code. In that case, try uploading your ID instead. If you've already tried ID verification and it failed, contact Facebook's support form again with more details about the account — the year you created it, the last email you remember using, or any payment information associated with it.

If Facebook's support team denies your deletion request, they may believe the account belongs to someone else or that you haven't provided enough proof. You can resubmit with additional information, but there's no may provide of approval. In this case, you can request that Facebook deactivate the account instead, which hides it from public view without permanently deleting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to delete a Facebook account?

Permanent deletion takes 30 days from the date you request it. During those 30 days, your profile is hidden from other users, but the deletion is not yet complete. If you change your mind, you can log back in and cancel the deletion before the 30 days are up.

Can I recover my account after it's been permanently deleted?

No. Once the 30-day deletion period ends, your account cannot be recovered. If you think you might want to access your account again in the future, deactivate it instead of deleting it. Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data intact, and you can reactivate anytime by logging back in.

What if I don't remember any email or phone number I used for the account?

Upload a government ID photo instead. Facebook will verify your identity through the ID and restore access. Make sure the name on the ID matches the name on your Facebook account as closely as possible.

Will my messages disappear from my friends' inboxes after I delete my account?

No. Messages you sent to other people remain in their inboxes after your account is deleted. You can unsend individual messages before deletion if you want to remove them, but only within about one hour of sending. After that, the unsend option expires.

Can I delete someone else's account?

No. Facebook only allows account owners to request deletion. If you're concerned about a fake account or an account belonging to a deceased person, report it to Facebook through their support form instead.