Facebook gives you two ways to stop using a page: deactivation and deletion

Deactivation hides your page temporarily. Your page name, profile picture, and all posts disappear from public view. People cannot find it or message you through it. You can reactivate it anytime within a set period by logging back in — Facebook keeps your content in storage.

Deletion is permanent. After you request deletion, Facebook waits 30 days, then removes your page entirely. Posts, photos, comments, and messages are gone. You cannot undo this after the 30 days pass. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not need the page again.

Most people deactivate first to test whether they actually want to stop. If you realize after a few weeks that you miss the page, you can turn it back on without losing anything. Deletion is the right choice only if you have already decided you are done with that page permanently.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivation hides your page but keeps all content stored — you can reactivate anytime within the waiting period.
  • Deletion removes your page permanently after 30 days, and you cannot undo it once that period ends.
  • To deactivate, go to Page Settings, click Deactivate Page, and confirm your choice.
  • To delete, go to Page Settings, click Delete Page, and wait 30 days before the page is fully removed.
  • If you manage the page for a business, transfer ownership to another admin before deactivating or deleting.

How to deactivate your Facebook page in five steps

Open Facebook and go to your page. Click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of the page header. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, scroll down and click Deactivate and Delete. You will see two options: choose Deactivate Page.

Facebook will ask you why you are deactivating. You can select a reason from the dropdown menu or leave it blank — your answer does not affect whether the deactivation goes through. Click Deactivate to confirm. Your page is now hidden from the public and from your own profile.

While deactivated, you cannot post, respond to messages, or manage the page. Other people cannot see it, tag you in it, or send you messages through it. The page remains in this state until you log back in and reactivate it. Facebook does not set a time limit on how long you can keep a page deactivated.

How to permanently delete your Facebook page

Go to your page and click the three-dot menu. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left sidebar, click Deactivate and Delete. This time, choose Delete Page.

Facebook will warn you that deletion is permanent and that you have 30 days to change your mind. During those 30 days, your page is hidden but not yet gone. If you log in and go back to the page, you will see an option to Cancel Deletion. Click it to stop the deletion process and restore your page.

After 30 days pass with no action, Facebook permanently removes the page. All posts, photos, comments, reviews, and messages are deleted. The page name becomes available for someone else to use. You cannot recover any of this content.

What happens to your page's content and followers

When you deactivate, your followers cannot see your posts or visit your page, but the content still exists on Facebook's servers. If you reactivate, everything comes back exactly as it was. Your follower count, post history, and messages are all preserved.

When you delete, all of that is removed. Posts you made disappear from your followers' feeds and from search results. If people shared your posts or tagged your page, those shares and tags remain, but they no longer link to your page — they become broken links. Comments you left on other pages or posts may stay, but they will show as coming from a deleted page.

If your page had a large following or was used for business, consider downloading your page data before deletion. Go to Settings, scroll to Your Information, and click read Your Information. This creates a file of your posts and basic page details that you can save to your computer.

Transferring ownership before you close the page

If other people manage the page with you, or if you manage it on behalf of a business or organization, do not deactivate or delete without transferring ownership first. When you deactivate or delete a page, all admins lose access — there is no way to restore it for them.

To transfer ownership, go to Settings and click Page Roles. Find the person you want to make the new owner and change their role from Editor or Moderator to Admin. They must already have a Facebook account. Once they are an admin, you can remove yourself by clicking your own name and selecting Remove.

If no one else manages the page, but the page represents a business or brand, consider whether you want to keep it active under someone else's management. A dormant page is better than a deleted one if you might need it again in the future.

What to do if you cannot find the deactivate or delete option

The deactivate and delete options appear only if you are the page owner or have admin access. If you are an editor or moderator, you cannot deactivate or delete the page — only an admin can. Ask the page owner or another admin to do it.

If you are the owner but cannot find the option, you may be using an older version of Facebook or accessing it through a mobile app that does not show all settings. Open Facebook in a web browser on a computer, go to your page, and try again. The full settings menu is most reliable on desktop.

If the page is very old or was created before Facebook changed its page system, it may have different settings. Try clicking Settings and looking for General or Page Info instead of Deactivate and Delete. The option may be labeled differently, but the process is similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reactivate my page after I delete it?

You have 30 days from the deletion request to cancel it. After 30 days, the page is permanently gone and cannot be recovered. If you think you might want the page back, deactivate instead of delete.

What happens to messages people sent me through the page?

When you deactivate, messages stay in your inbox but you cannot reply. When you delete, all messages are removed after 30 days. If you need to keep those messages, read your page data before requesting deletion.

Will people know I closed my page?

When you deactivate, your page straightforward disappears — people will notice it is gone but Facebook does not send them a notification. When you delete, the same thing happens. Facebook does not announce closures to your followers.

Can I delete a page I do not own?

No. Only the page owner or an admin can deactivate or delete a page. If you are an editor or moderator and want the page closed, you must ask an admin to do it.

What if I delete the page but want to use the same name again?

After 30 days, the page name becomes available. You can create a new page with that name. However, the old page's history and content will be gone — the new page starts fresh with no followers or posts.