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. But Facebook keeps all your data. If you log back in within 30 days, everything returns exactly as it was. After 30 days, the account stays deleted — but Facebook retains your information for legal and security reasons.
Permanent deletion removes your account and most of your data from Facebook's servers. This takes about 90 days to complete. During those 90 days, if you log in even once, the deletion stops and your account reactivates. After 90 days pass without logging in, your account and associated data are gone. Some information (like messages you sent to others) may remain in their inboxes.
Most people choose permanent deletion because they want a clean break. Deactivation is better if you think you might return later, or if you want to pause without losing the option to come back.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion takes 90 days and requires you to not log in during that period, or the process cancels and your account reactivates.
- You can deactivate your account when ready from Settings, but this only hides your profile — Facebook keeps your data.
- Before deleting, read your photos, videos, and posts through the Settings menu if you want to keep copies.
- After deletion completes, you cannot recover your account, messages, photos, or any other data.
How to permanently delete your account
Go to Settings and Privacy in the top right corner of Facebook (the downward arrow icon). Select Settings. On the left menu, click Deactivation and Deletion. You will see two options: "Deactivate Account" and "Delete Account". Choose Delete Account.
Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask you to enter a security code sent to your email or phone. Complete these steps. Then select Delete Account again to confirm. Facebook will tell you the deletion will take about 90 days.
From this moment forward, do not log into Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, or any app that uses your Facebook login. Logging in even once will cancel the deletion and reactivate your account. If you use Facebook to sign into other apps (like Spotify or a game), change those logins to a different account or email address before you start the deletion process.
Save your photos and messages before you delete
Once your account is gone, you cannot recover anything. If you want to keep copies of your photos, videos, posts, or messages, read them first. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left menu, select Your Information. Click read Your Information.
Facebook will let you choose what to read: photos, videos, posts, messages, contacts, and more. You can select a date range or read everything. Choose your preferred format (HTML or JSON) and click Request read. Facebook will prepare a file and email it to you, usually within a few hours. read that file and save it somewhere safe before you delete your account.
What happens to your messages and tagged photos
When you delete your account, messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes. They can still read what you wrote. Your name will show as a deleted account, but the message text remains. If you want to erase specific conversations, you must delete them individually before you delete your account — and even then, the other person still has their copy.
Photos that other people tagged you in will stay on their profiles. You will no longer appear in the tag, but the photo itself does not disappear. If you want those photos removed, you must contact the person who posted them and ask them to delete or untag you.
Deactivating instead of deleting
If you are not ready for permanent deletion, deactivate your account instead. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Select Deactivation and Deletion and choose Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask why you are leaving and offer options to stay in touch. You can skip these and click Deactivate.
Your profile, photos, and posts when ready disappear from Facebook. Friends cannot find you or message you. But if you log back in within 30 days, everything returns. After 30 days, your account stays deactivated, but you can still reactivate it by logging in at any time in the future. Facebook keeps your data the entire time your account is deactivated.
Apps and services that use your Facebook login
Before you delete, check which apps and websites use your Facebook account to sign in. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Select Apps and Websites on the left menu. You will see a list of every app connected to your Facebook account.
For each app you want to keep using, create a new login using your email address and a password instead of your Facebook account. Most apps have an option to change your login method in their own settings. Do this before you delete your Facebook account, or you will lose access to those apps when your Facebook login disappears.
What you cannot undo
Permanent deletion is final. After 90 days, you cannot recover your account, messages, photos, videos, posts, or any other data. You cannot create a new account with the same email address for at least a few days after deletion completes. Facebook may take longer than 90 days to fully remove all traces of your data from their backup systems, but your account will be gone and inaccessible to you.
If you change your mind during the 90-day waiting period, log into Facebook before the 90 days end and your account will reactivate when ready. After 90 days pass without logging in, that option is no longer available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Facebook account without waiting 90 days?
No. Permanent deletion always takes 90 days. During this time, your account is inaccessible to you and to other users, but Facebook's systems are still processing the removal. If you need your account gone when ready, deactivation hides it right away, though Facebook retains your data.
What if I log in during the 90-day deletion period?
Logging in cancels the deletion process and reactivates your account. Everything returns to normal. You will need to start the deletion process over if you want to try again. Avoid logging in through any app or service that uses your Facebook login.
Will my friends know I deleted my account?
Your friends will see that you are no longer on Facebook, but they will not receive a notification about it. Your profile will straightforward disappear from their friends list. If they search for you, they will not find you.
Can I recover my photos after deletion?
Only if you downloaded them before deleting your account. Once deletion completes, Facebook does not provide copies. read your information through the Settings menu before you start the deletion process.
What happens to my Instagram account if I delete Facebook?
If your Instagram account is linked to your Facebook account, deleting Facebook does not automatically delete Instagram. They are separate accounts. However, if you use your Facebook login to access Instagram, you will lose that login method. Change your Instagram password or create a new login before you delete Facebook.