Facebook gives you two ways to remove your account, and they work very differently
Deactivation hides your profile for 30 days. During that time, you can log back in and restore everything. After 30 days, Facebook deletes your data — but only if you do not log in again. If you change your mind at any point, your account comes back exactly as it was.
Deletion is permanent. You submit a request, wait up to 90 days while Facebook removes your information from its servers, and then your account is gone. You cannot restore it. If you log in during the 90-day window, the deletion cancels and your account stays active.
Most people choose deactivation first because it is reversible. You should choose deletion only if you are certain you will not want your account back.
Key Takeaways
- Deactivation hides your account for 30 days and can be reversed by logging in; deletion is permanent after 90 days and cannot be undone.
- To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to find Deactivation and Deletion.
- To delete permanently, you must request deletion through the same menu, then avoid logging in for 90 days while Facebook removes your data.
- Before either action, read your photos, messages, and posts if you want to keep them — Facebook will not send them to you later.
- Logging in even once during the 90-day deletion window will cancel the deletion request and reactivate your account.
How to deactivate your account temporarily
Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the menu in the top right corner. Tap or click the down arrow, then select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down until you see Deactivation and Deletion.
Click or tap Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask you to choose a reason (you do not have to pick the real one) and will offer to send you a reminder email when your account is about to be permanently deleted. You can check that box or leave it unchecked. Then click Deactivate.
Your profile disappears when ready. Friends cannot find you, see your posts, or message you. Your name no longer appears on comments or likes you left before. If you log back in within 30 days, everything restores — your posts, friends list, messages, and photos all come back unchanged.
How to permanently delete your account
Go to the same menu: top right corner, down arrow, Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to Deactivation and Deletion. This time, click or tap Delete Account.
Facebook will ask you to enter your password to confirm. Type it in and click Delete Account. You will see a message saying your account and all its information will be deleted, and that the process takes up to 90 days.
After you confirm, your account is gone from public view when ready. For the next 90 days, Facebook is removing your data from its servers. During this time, do not log in. If you enter your password and log in even once, the deletion request cancels and your account becomes active again. After 90 days pass without you logging in, the deletion is final and cannot be reversed.
read your information before you delete
Facebook will not email you your photos, messages, or posts after your account is gone. If you want to keep any of that, read it first.
Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down to Your Information and Permissions. Click read Your Information. Choose the date range (usually "All of My Information"), select what you want to read (photos, posts, messages, friends list), and click Create File. Facebook will prepare a file and email you a link to read it. This can take a few hours or a few days depending on how much data you have.
Save that file to your computer or phone before you deactivate or delete. Once your account is gone, you cannot retrieve this information from Facebook.
What happens to your messages and photos
When you deactivate, your messages stay in your friends' inboxes, but they cannot reply to you or see that you read their messages. Your photos stay on Facebook but are hidden from your profile. If you reactivate, everything is visible again.
When you delete, Facebook removes your messages from its servers during the 90-day window. Your friends will still see the conversation thread, but your messages will show as deleted. Photos you posted are removed. Photos your friends posted of you may still appear on their profiles and in their albums — deletion only removes content you uploaded yourself.
What to do if you cannot log in
If you forgot your password or cannot access your email, you can still request deletion. Go to the Facebook login page and click Forgotten Password. Follow the steps to reset your password using a phone number, email recovery address, or trusted contacts. Once you can log in again, follow the deletion steps above.
If you cannot recover your account at all, go to facebook.com/help/contact and select I cannot log into my account. Facebook will walk you through options to verify you own the account. This process is slower than self-service deletion, but it works if you are locked out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account on the Facebook app instead of a computer?
Yes. Open the app, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, scroll to Deactivation and Deletion, and follow the same steps. The process is identical on phone and computer.
What if I delete my account but want it back after 90 days?
You cannot restore it. Deletion is permanent after the 90-day window closes. If you think you might want your account back, use deactivation instead — you have 30 days to change your mind by logging in.
Will deleting my Facebook account also delete my Instagram or WhatsApp?
No. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are separate accounts. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect the others. You would need to delete each one separately if you want them all gone.
Do I need to unfriend everyone before I delete?
No. Deactivation and deletion both happen automatically without unfriending. Your friends list is removed along with the rest of your account data.
What happens to groups or pages I created?
Groups and pages you created will remain on Facebook after your account is deleted, but you will no longer be listed as the creator or admin. If you want to transfer ownership to someone else first, you can do that through the group or page settings before you delete.