Facebook gives you two ways to remove your account, and they work very differently

You can either deactivate your account, which hides it temporarily, or delete it permanently. Deactivation is reversible — you can log back in and restore everything within 30 days. Deletion is not reversible after 30 days pass. Facebook keeps your information for a short time in case you change your mind, but after that month, the company says it removes most of what it holds about you, though some data tied to legal obligations may remain longer.

Most people should deactivate first if they are unsure. It takes 30 seconds and costs nothing. If you do not log back in within 30 days, Facebook begins the deletion process automatically. If you are certain you want to leave permanently, you can skip deactivation and go straight to deletion.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivation hides your account for 30 days and is fully reversible if you log back in during that window.
  • Deletion is permanent after 30 days and cannot be undone, though Facebook says it removes most of your data after that period.
  • To deactivate, go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings, then scroll to find Deactivation and Deletion.
  • To delete permanently, use the same path but choose Delete Account instead, then wait 30 days without logging in.
  • Before you leave, read your photos and messages if you want to keep copies, because neither deactivation nor deletion gives you access to them afterward.

How to deactivate your account temporarily

Open Facebook on a computer or phone and go to the menu — on a phone, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner; on a computer, click the downward arrow in the top right. Scroll down and tap or click Settings and Privacy, then Settings.

Scroll down the left side of the Settings page until you see Deactivation and Deletion. Tap or click it. You will see two options: Deactivate Account and Delete Account. Choose Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask you why you are leaving — you can pick a reason or skip this step. It will also ask if you want to receive emails from Facebook. Choose what you prefer, then click Deactivate.

Your account is now hidden. Your name and profile picture disappear from Facebook, and people cannot find your profile or message you. However, your messages and photos remain on Facebook's servers. If you log back in within 30 days using your email and password, everything returns exactly as it was. After 30 days of inactivity, Facebook begins deleting your account automatically.

How to permanently delete your account

The path is the same as deactivation: Menu, Settings and Privacy, Settings, then Deactivation and Deletion. This time, choose Delete Account. Facebook will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm. Type it in and click Continue.

You will see a warning that deletion is permanent and that you have 30 days to change your mind. During those 30 days, if you log back in, the deletion stops and your account is restored. After 30 days pass without you logging in, Facebook says it removes your account and most associated data from its servers. Do not log in during this window if you want the deletion to complete.

Some information may take longer to remove — for example, copies of messages you sent to other people may remain in their inboxes, and data Facebook is required by law to keep (such as records of transactions) may stay in archived form. But your profile, photos, and posts will no longer be visible to anyone.

read your information before you go

Whether you deactivate or delete, you lose access to your photos, messages, and posts once the account is gone. Facebook does not send you copies automatically. If you want to keep any of this, read it first.

Go to Settings and Privacy, then Settings. Scroll down and find Your Information and Permissions, then click read Your Information. Choose what you want to read — photos, videos, messages, posts, and more are all available. Select a date range (usually "All of my information" is the right choice), then click Request a read. Facebook will prepare a file, usually within a few hours, and send you a link to read it. The file is yours to keep.

What happens to your messages and tagged photos

When you delete your account, messages you sent to other people stay in their inboxes — the other person can still see them, but your name may appear as "Facebook User" instead of your real name. Messages people sent to you are deleted from your inbox, but the other person still has their copy.

Photos that other people tagged you in remain on Facebook and in their albums. Your own photos and posts disappear. If you want to remove yourself from photos other people posted, you have to untag yourself before you delete — go to each photo, click the three dots, and choose Untag Yourself. This is tedious if there are many, but it is the only way to remove yourself from someone else's post.

If you change your mind during the 30-day window

Log into Facebook using your email address and password. Your account will reactivate when ready, and everything will be restored. You can do this as many times as you want during the 30 days. After 30 days, logging in no longer works — the account is gone and cannot be recovered.

If you deactivated and want to delete instead, you do not have to wait. Go back to Settings and Privacy, Settings, Deactivation and Deletion, and choose Delete Account. The 30-day countdown starts fresh from that moment.

Frequently Asked Questions

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, your email address is free. Someone could theoretically create a new account with it. To prevent this, change your email address in Settings before you delete, or change your password to something you do not remember so you cannot accidentally log back in.

Will deleting Facebook also delete my Instagram or WhatsApp accounts?

No. Instagram and WhatsApp are separate services owned by the same company, but deleting your Facebook account does not affect them. You would have to delete those accounts separately if you want to remove them.

What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to deactivate or delete?

Go to facebook.com and click Forgot Password on the login screen. Facebook will send a reset link to your email or phone number. Once you reset it, you can log in and proceed with deactivation or deletion. If you no longer have access to your email or phone, contact Facebook's support through their Help Center.

Does Facebook delete my data from backups and archives?

Facebook says it removes your information from active systems within 30 days, but data kept for legal or business reasons may remain in archived form that is not accessible to the public. Your profile and posts will not be visible, but Facebook may retain some records internally.

Can I deactivate without choosing a reason?

Yes. When Facebook asks why you are leaving, you can skip that step and proceed directly to deactivation. Answering is optional.