Facebook gives you two ways out: deactivation and deletion

Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages stop showing, and your friends can't see your posts or photos. Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind — you can reactivate by logging back in within 30 days. After 30 days, the data stays stored but your account remains deactivated.

Deletion is permanent. Facebook removes your profile, posts, photos, and messages from public view. The company says deletion takes up to 90 days to fully process across all their systems. You cannot reactivate a deleted account, and you cannot recover your data once the process completes. If you log in during those 90 days, the deletion cancels and your account reactivates.

Most people choose deactivation first because it's reversible. Choose deletion only if you're certain you won't want the account back.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivation hides your account but keeps your data — you can reactivate within 30 days by logging in again.
  • Deletion removes your profile permanently after 90 days, and logging in during that window cancels the deletion.
  • You can deactivate from Settings on desktop or mobile, but deletion requires a specific link because Facebook makes it harder to find.
  • Messages you sent to others stay in their inboxes even after you deactivate or delete — disconnecting only removes your side.
  • read your photos and posts before you deactivate if you want to keep copies, since deactivation hides them from you temporarily.

How to deactivate on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and log in. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner (next to your profile picture). Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings.

On the left sidebar, click Deactivation and deletion. You'll see two options: "Deactivate account" and "Delete account". Click Deactivate account. Facebook will ask you to choose a reason (optional) and enter your password to confirm. Click Deactivate to finish. Your account is now hidden.

How to deactivate on mobile

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

Scroll down to Account ownership and control and tap Deactivation and deletion. Tap Deactivate account. Choose a reason if you want to, enter your password, and tap Deactivate. Your account is now deactivated.

How to permanently delete your account

Deletion is harder to find because Facebook discourages it. Go to facebook.com/help/delete_account directly in your browser — this link bypasses the Settings menu. You can also navigate through Settings to Deactivation and deletion, then click Delete account instead of deactivate.

Facebook will ask you to enter your password and solve a security check. Read the warning about what deletion means: your profile, photos, posts, and messages disappear from Facebook's public systems, but the company retains some data for legal and safety reasons. Click Delete account to confirm. Deletion begins when ready, but takes up to 90 days to fully process. Do not log in during this window or the deletion will cancel.

Save your photos and posts before you go

Both deactivation and deletion hide your content from you. If you want to keep copies, read your data first. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Your information and permissions > read your information.

Choose the date range (usually "All of my information"), select which categories to include (photos, posts, videos, messages), and choose a file format. Facebook will prepare a file and email you a read link. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have. Once you have the file, you can deactivate or delete safely.

What happens to your messages and tagged photos

When you deactivate or delete, your messages stay in other people's inboxes. They can still read what you wrote, but they won't be able to click your name to visit your profile. Photos that other people tagged you in remain visible on their profiles and in their albums — disconnecting your account doesn't remove you from their photos.

If you want to untag yourself from photos before you deactivate, go to each photo, click the three dots, and select Remove tag. This is tedious if you're tagged in many photos, so most people skip this step. Your friends will still see the photo; your name just won't appear on it.

Reactivating after deactivation

If you deactivated and change your mind within 30 days, log back into Facebook with your email and password. Your account, friends list, messages, and photos reappear when ready. After 30 days, your deactivated account stays hidden but you can still reactivate it by logging in — Facebook doesn't set a time limit on reactivation, only on how long they hold the data before permanently deleting it.

If you deleted your account and want it back, you cannot recover it once the 90-day deletion window closes. If you're still within those 90 days, log in to cancel the deletion. After 90 days, the account and all its data are gone for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my friends know I deactivated?

No. Your profile straightforward disappears from their view. They won't receive a notification, but they'll notice your name is gone from their friends list and they can't message you or see your posts. If they search for you, they won't find your profile.

Can I deactivate without deleting my Instagram or WhatsApp?

Yes. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate accounts even though Facebook owns them. Deactivating or deleting your Facebook account does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. You can keep those accounts active while disconnecting from Facebook.

What if I forgot my password and can't deactivate?

Use the "Forgot password?" link on the Facebook login page to reset it. If you can't access the email or phone number on file, go to facebook.com/login/identify to recover your account. Once you're back in, you can deactivate or delete normally.

Does deactivating remove me from Facebook groups?

Yes. When you deactivate, you're removed from all groups, events, and pages you joined. If you reactivate, you won't automatically rejoin them — you'll have to join again manually.

Can I deactivate just my profile picture and name without hiding everything?

No. Deactivation is all-or-nothing — it hides your entire profile. If you want to stay on Facebook but limit what people see, adjust your privacy settings instead. Go to Settings and privacy > Settings > Privacy and change who can see your posts, friends list, and profile information.