Facebook gives you two separate options: deactivation and deletion
Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your messages stop showing, and your friends cannot see your posts or photos. Facebook keeps all your data in case you change your mind and log back in — even months or years later. You can reactivate by logging in again.
Deletion is permanent. After you request it, Facebook takes up to 90 days to remove your profile, photos, posts, and messages from its servers. You cannot undo this. If you log in during those 90 days, the deletion stops and your account stays active. After 90 days pass without logging in, the deletion completes and you cannot recover your account.
Most people who want to leave Facebook should start with deactivation. It gives you a month or two to see if you actually want to stay gone. Deletion is the right choice only if you are certain you will not want to return.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your profile but keeps your data; you can reactivate anytime by logging in.
- Deletion is permanent after 90 days and cannot be undone, even if you change your mind.
- To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to find Deactivation and Deletion.
- To delete, use the same menu but choose Delete Account instead, then wait 90 days without logging in.
- Facebook will not delete messages you sent to other people, even after your account is gone.
How to deactivate your Facebook profile
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the menu (three horizontal lines on mobile, the downward arrow in the top right on desktop). Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down until you see Deactivation and Deletion. Click or tap it.
Facebook will show you two buttons: one for deactivation and one for deletion. Select Deactivate Account. You will be asked to enter your password to confirm. Choose a reason from the list (Facebook tracks this data but your choice does not affect what happens). You can also check a box to hide your account from Facebook's ad targeting while it is deactivated. Click Deactivate to finish.
Your profile is now hidden. Your friends will not see you in their friend lists, and your old posts will not appear in their feeds. Messages you sent before deactivation stay in their inboxes, but they cannot message you or see that you are online.
How to permanently delete your Facebook profile
Follow the same steps: menu, Settings and Privacy, Settings, then Deactivation and Deletion. This time, select Delete Account instead of Deactivate Account. Enter your password. Click Delete.
Facebook will tell you that deletion takes up to 90 days. During this time, your profile is hidden from everyone, but your data is still on Facebook's servers. If you log in even once during these 90 days, the deletion request cancels and your account returns to normal.
After 90 days pass without you logging in, Facebook permanently removes your profile, posts, photos, and friend list from its systems. Some data may stay longer in backups, but it will not be accessible to you or visible to other users.
What happens to your messages after deletion
Messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes even after your account is deleted. They will see your name, but clicking it will not open your profile — it will just show that the account no longer exists. You cannot delete messages from other people's inboxes once you have sent them.
If you want to remove a message from someone else's inbox before you delete your account, you must contact them directly and ask them to delete it themselves. Facebook does not provide a way to delete sent messages from the recipient's side.
Backing up your photos and posts before you go
Before you deactivate or delete, you may want to save copies of your photos, videos, and posts. Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll to Your Information and Permissions and select read Your Information. Facebook will create a file with copies of most of your data.
This read includes photos, videos, posts, comments, and some messages. It does not include every piece of data Facebook has about you — things like your ad preferences, browsing history, and location data are not included. The file can take hours or days to prepare depending on how much data you have. Facebook will email you a link when it is ready.
What Facebook knows about you stays on their servers
Deleting your account does not erase everything Facebook knows about you. The company keeps records of your activity for legal and business reasons, even after deletion. This includes data from before you joined, data from websites you visited that have Facebook tracking code, and data from apps you used that shared information with Facebook.
You cannot delete this data by deleting your account. If you want to limit what Facebook collects going forward, you can adjust your privacy settings before you leave, or use browser tools that block Facebook tracking on other websites. But once Facebook has collected data, deletion of your account does not remove it from their systems.
If you want to leave but keep your business page
If you run a Facebook business page or are an admin on a group, deleting your personal account does not automatically delete those. You can transfer ownership of a business page to another person before you delete your account. Go to the page, click Settings, then Page Roles, and add another admin with full permissions before you leave.
Groups work differently. If you are the only admin, the group stays active but becomes unmanaged. Other members can request to become admin. If you want the group deleted entirely, you must delete it yourself before you delete your account — there is no way to delete a group after your account is gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reactivate my account after I delete it?
No, not after 90 days. During the 90-day waiting period, logging in will cancel the deletion and restore your account. After 90 days, deletion is permanent and you cannot recover your account, photos, or posts.
Will my friends be able to see my old posts after I delete?
No. Once deletion completes after 90 days, your posts, photos, and profile disappear from Facebook entirely. Your friends will not be able to find or view anything you posted.
Does deactivation delete my messages?
No. When you deactivate, your messages stay in your inbox and in other people's inboxes. If you reactivate, you can read them again. Deletion also does not remove messages you sent to others — they stay in their inboxes permanently.
What if I deactivate and then change my mind?
Log in with your email and password. Your account will reactivate when ready and everything returns to normal. You can deactivate and reactivate as many times as you want.
Can I delete my account on mobile?
Yes. The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu (three lines), go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then Deactivation and Deletion, and choose Delete Account.