The difference between deactivating and deleting your Facebook account
Facebook offers two separate paths, and they work very differently. Deactivating your account hides your profile, posts, and photos from other people, but Facebook keeps all your data. You can log back in anytime and your account returns to normal. Deleting your account is permanent — after 30 days, Facebook removes your information from their servers, and you cannot recover it.
Most people choose deactivation first because it is reversible. You might deactivate if you want a break from social media but are not sure you will never return, or if you want to see whether you actually miss it. Deletion makes sense if you have decided you do not want a Facebook account at all and do not plan to change your mind.
While your account is deactivating or deleted, Facebook still stores some information — like messages you sent to others — because those are part of other people's accounts too. Your payment information and any ads you have run may also remain in Facebook's records for legal or tax reasons.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data; you can reactivate by logging in again at any time.
- Deletion is permanent after 30 days and removes your account from Facebook's servers, though some data tied to other accounts or legal records may remain.
- To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion, then choose Deactivate Account.
- To delete, use the same menu but choose Delete Account, then confirm your password and wait 30 days before the deletion is final.
- During the 30-day deletion window, you can cancel the deletion by logging back in, which stops the process when ready.
How to deactivate your Facebook account on a computer
Open Facebook in a web browser and log in if you are not already. Click the downward arrow in the top right corner of the screen — this opens a menu. Scroll down and select 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 Account and Delete Account. Select Deactivate Account, then click Continue to Account Deactivation.
Facebook will ask you to choose a reason for deactivating (this is optional — you do not have to pick one). You will also see a checkbox asking whether to hide your account from search engines. After that, enter your password to confirm, then click Deactivate. Your account is now deactivated.
How to deactivate your Facebook account on a phone
Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings.
Scroll down until you see Deactivation and Deletion and tap it. Choose Deactivate Account, then tap Continue. Select a reason if you want to, then enter your password and tap Deactivate.
How to permanently delete your Facebook account
The process starts the same way as deactivation. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion, but this time select Delete Account instead of Deactivate Account. Click Continue to Account Deletion.
Enter your password to confirm you own the account. Facebook will show you a message explaining that deletion is permanent and that you have 30 days to change your mind. Click Delete Account to start the process.
For the next 30 days, your account is in a deletion state. If you log back in during this window, the deletion stops and your account returns to normal. After 30 days pass with no login, Facebook permanently removes your account and you cannot recover it.
What happens to your data when you deactivate
When you deactivate, your profile disappears from search results and other people cannot see your posts, photos, or friend list. Messages you sent to others remain in their inboxes, but they cannot see that you sent them — the sender name shows as blank. Your friends cannot tag you in new photos or posts.
You can still access your own photos and posts by logging back in. Any groups you created remain, but you are removed as a member. If you reactivate your account, everything returns exactly as it was.
What happens to your data when you delete
After the 30-day window closes, Facebook removes your account from their active servers. Your profile, posts, photos, and friend list are gone. Messages you sent to others may still appear in their inboxes, but with no sender information attached.
Some data may persist longer. If you ran ads on Facebook, records of those ads may remain for tax or legal reasons. If you downloaded your information before deleting, that file stays on your computer — Facebook does not remove it. Backups or archives that other people made of your posts or photos also remain with them.
How to read your information before you go
Before you deactivate or delete, you can save a copy of your photos, posts, and other information. Go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Your Information and Permissions > read Your Information.
Choose the date range and the types of information you want (photos, posts, friends list, messages, and more are all available). Select your file format — HTML is easiest to read in a web browser, while JSON is better if you plan to import the data elsewhere. Click Create File. Facebook will prepare your read, which usually takes a few hours. You will receive a notification when it is ready, and you can read it from the same menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my account after I delete it?
Only during the 30-day deletion window. If you log in within 30 days of requesting deletion, your account stops deleting and returns to normal. After 30 days, deletion is permanent and you cannot recover the account.
What if I forgot my password and cannot deactivate or delete?
Go to the Facebook login page and click Forgot Password? Enter your email or phone number, and Facebook will send you a reset link. Once you reset your password, you can log in and proceed with deactivation or deletion.
Will deactivating my account remove me from Facebook groups?
Yes. When you deactivate, you are removed from all groups you joined. If you reactivate, you will not automatically rejoin — you would need to request to join again.
Can someone else use my email address to create a new Facebook account after I delete mine?
Yes. Once your account is fully deleted after 30 days, the email address is no longer tied to Facebook. Someone else could create a new account with that email, or you could create a new account yourself if you change your mind.
Does deactivating stop Facebook from tracking me across other websites?
No. Even with your account deactivated, Facebook's tracking code on other websites continues to collect data about your browsing. Deleting your account also does not stop this tracking — it only stops Facebook from connecting that data to your profile.