Facebook gives you two choices: deactivation or deletion
When you decide to leave Facebook, you have two separate paths. Deactivation hides your profile temporarily — your name disappears from search, your posts vanish from the timeline, but Facebook keeps your data. You can reactivate by logging back in. Deletion is permanent. After 30 days, your account, photos, posts, and messages are gone for good. Facebook cannot recover a deleted account once that month passes.
Most people choose deletion when they want a clean break. Deactivation works better if you might return later or want to pause without losing everything. This guide covers permanent deletion, which is the harder path to find in Facebook's settings.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion takes 30 days to complete — during this time you can cancel and get your account back by logging in.
- You must use a computer or laptop to delete your account; the Facebook app and mobile website do not have a deletion option.
- read your photos and messages before you delete, because after 30 days they are gone forever.
- Facebook will not delete your account if you are the admin of an active group or page — you must transfer or delete those first.
- After deletion completes, some data tied to your name may remain in backups or third-party records for longer than 30 days.
read your data before you delete
Once your account is gone, you cannot get your photos, videos, or messages back. Facebook lets you read everything you posted in one file before deletion starts. Go to Settings & Privacy (the gear icon at the top right), then Settings, then Your Information and Permissions on the left sidebar. Click read Your Information.
Choose the date range (usually "All of my information"), select which categories you want (photos, posts, messages, videos), and pick a file format. Facebook will prepare the read — this can take hours or days depending on how much data you have. You will get an email when it is ready. read the file and save it somewhere safe before you proceed with deletion.
If you have photos or messages you want to keep but do not need everything, you can also manually save individual items. Right-click any photo and save it to your computer, or copy important messages into a document. This takes longer but gives you more control over what you keep.
Remove yourself as admin from groups and pages
Facebook will not let you delete an account if you are the only admin of an active group or page. You must either transfer admin rights to someone else or delete the group or page entirely. Check your groups and pages by clicking the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and scrolling to Groups and Pages.
For each group or page you admin, click on it and go to Settings. Look for the members or roles section. If other admins exist, click on their name and change their role to admin. If you are the only admin, you can either delete the group or page (this is permanent), or leave it inactive. Some people leave their pages up but transfer admin to a trusted friend. Choose what makes sense for your situation.
This step often surprises people — Facebook's deletion tool will tell you if you have admin responsibilities, but only after you start the deletion process. Handling it first saves time and frustration.
Start the deletion process on a computer
Open Facebook on a computer or laptop — not a phone or tablet. The deletion option does not exist in the mobile app or mobile website. Log in to your account if you are not already logged in.
Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top right. Scroll down and click Settings & Privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Your Information and Permissions. Look for Deactivation or Deletion and click it. You will see two options side by side: Deactivate Account and Delete Account. Click Delete Account.
Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA (the image puzzle that proves you are human). After you confirm, you will see a message saying your account will be deleted in 30 days. That is the point of no return — the clock starts now.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
For the next 30 days, your account is in deletion mode. Your profile is invisible to everyone, including yourself — you cannot log in, and your name will not appear in search results or on other people's pages. Messages you sent will still show in other people's inboxes, but they will not be linked to your name anymore.
If you change your mind during these 30 days, log back in with your password. Your account will reactivate when ready, and the deletion will be cancelled. Your photos, posts, and messages will all return. This is the only way to stop the deletion once it has started.
If you do nothing for 30 days, Facebook will permanently erase your account. After that point, there is no recovery. The company keeps some data in backups for legal reasons, but your account itself is gone.
What stays behind after deletion
Permanent deletion does not mean every trace of you vanishes from the internet. Messages you sent to other people remain in their inboxes with your name attached, unless they delete them. Photos you were tagged in by others stay on their pages. Comments you made on public posts may linger in Facebook's systems longer than 30 days.
If you used Facebook to log into other websites or apps (the "Log in with Facebook" button), those connections will break. You may lose access to accounts on other platforms if Facebook was your only login method. Check any apps or websites where you used Facebook to sign in and set up a separate password before you delete.
Third-party data brokers and search engines may have cached copies of your old profile. Deleting your Facebook account does not remove you from Google search results or data broker sites. If you want those removed too, you will need to contact those services separately.
Deactivation as an alternative
If you are not ready for permanent deletion, deactivation is reversible. Your profile hides from search, your posts disappear from timelines, and you stop receiving notifications. But Facebook keeps everything — your photos, messages, and account data stay in their servers. Log back in anytime to reactivate.
Deactivation takes effect when ready, with no waiting period. It is useful if you want to step away for a few months or a year without burning the bridge completely. You can deactivate and reactivate as many times as you want. The downside is that Facebook still has your data, and you are not truly leaving the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Facebook account from my phone?
No. The Facebook app and mobile website do not have a deletion option — only deactivation. You must use a computer or laptop to permanently delete your account. This is intentional on Facebook's part to make deletion harder to do by accident.
What if I forget my password before the 30 days are up?
You can still reactivate your account during the 30-day window by using the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. Facebook will let you reset your password and log back in, which cancels the deletion. After 30 days, password recovery will not work because the account no longer exists.
Will my friends be notified that I deleted my account?
No. Facebook does not send a notification to your friends when you delete your account. Your profile will straightforward disappear from their view. Some people may notice you are gone, but only if they look for you or try to message you.
Can I delete just my photos or messages instead of my whole account?
Yes. You can delete individual posts, photos, or messages one at a time without deleting your account. Go to your profile, find the item you want to remove, click the three dots on it, and select delete. You can also bulk-delete by downloading your data, deleting items from the file, and then re-uploading — though Facebook does not have a built-in bulk-delete tool for existing posts.
What happens to my Messenger account when I delete Facebook?
Your Messenger account is tied to your Facebook account. When you delete Facebook, Messenger will also be deleted after the 30-day period. People will not be able to message you, and your message history will be gone. If you want to keep Messenger, you cannot delete your Facebook account.