You can delete your Facebook account directly from the app in about five minutes
Open Facebook on your phone, go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down to find "Deactivation and Deletion." Choose "Delete Account" and confirm your choice. Facebook will ask you to enter your password one more time, then your account begins the deletion process. The whole account is gone after 30 days — during that month, Facebook keeps your data in case you change your mind and log back in.
The app method works the same way on iPhone and Android. You do not need to use a computer or contact Facebook support to delete your account. If you want to keep your data before deletion, you can read it first, but that is a separate step.
Key Takeaways
- Deletion from the app takes the same steps as deletion from a computer and removes your account permanently after 30 days.
- During the 30-day waiting period, you can log back in to stop the deletion, but after that your account and all its data are gone.
- Deactivation is different from deletion — deactivation hides your profile but keeps your account and data on Facebook's servers.
- If you want to save your photos, messages, or other content before deletion, read your data first through the same Settings menu.
- Facebook will not send you a confirmation email or notification when your account is fully deleted after 30 days.
Step-by-step deletion from the Facebook app
Start by opening the Facebook app and tapping the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right of your screen. On iPhone, this menu appears at the bottom right. On Android, it may appear at the top right depending on your phone's Android version.
Scroll down in that menu until you see "Settings & Privacy," then tap it. A submenu will open. Tap "Settings" from that submenu. Now you are in the main Settings page. Scroll down past notifications, privacy, and other options until you reach a section labeled "Deactivation and Deletion" — this is near the bottom of the Settings page.
Tap "Deactivation and Deletion." Facebook will show you two options: "Deactivate Account" and "Delete Account." Tap "Delete Account." Facebook will explain what deletion means and ask you to confirm. Tap the button that says you want to delete your account. Enter your password when prompted, then tap "Delete Account" one final time. Your account is now scheduled for deletion.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
After you choose to delete your account, Facebook does not remove it when ready. Instead, your account enters a 30-day waiting period. During these 30 days, your profile is hidden from other users — they cannot find you, see your posts, or message you. However, your data still exists on Facebook's servers.
If you change your mind during this month, you can log back into your account using your email and password. Logging in will cancel the deletion, and your account will return to normal. Your posts, photos, and friends list will all be restored. After the 30 days pass without you logging in, Facebook permanently deletes your account and all associated data.
You will not receive an email or notification when the 30 days are up. Facebook does not confirm the final deletion. If you want to be certain your account is gone, you can try logging in after 30 days — if the login fails, your account has been deleted.
Deactivation versus deletion — which one you actually want
Deactivation hides your profile from other Facebook users but keeps your account and all your data stored on Facebook's servers. When you deactivate, your name disappears from search, your posts are hidden, and people cannot message you. However, Facebook retains everything — your photos, messages, friend list, and activity history. You can reactivate your account at any time by logging in again, and everything returns exactly as it was.
Deletion is permanent. After 30 days, your account, posts, photos, messages, and all other data are gone. You cannot get them back. You cannot reactivate a deleted account. If you want to use Facebook again after deletion, you have to create a brand new account from scratch.
Choose deactivation if you want a break from Facebook but might return later. Choose deletion if you want your data off Facebook's servers and do not plan to use the platform again. Many people deactivate first to test whether they actually want to leave, then delete later if they are sure.
Downloading your data before you delete
If you want to keep copies of your photos, messages, or other content, read your data before you delete your account. Once your account is deleted, you cannot recover this information from Facebook. Go to Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then scroll down and tap "read Your Information." Choose what you want to read — photos, posts, messages, and more are available.
Facebook will prepare a file of your data, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how much content you have. You will receive a notification when the read is ready. The file downloads to your phone's storage, and you can save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud if you want a backup.
What Facebook does with your data after deletion
After your 30-day waiting period ends and your account is fully deleted, Facebook removes your profile, posts, and messages from its public systems. However, Facebook may keep some information for legal, security, or business reasons — for example, transaction records if you made purchases, or data needed to comply with law enforcement requests.
Copies of your posts may still exist on other people's devices or in third-party services that saved them before deletion. Facebook cannot remove posts that other users shared or screenshotted. If you are concerned about specific posts, consider deleting them individually before you delete your account.
Facebook also may retain anonymized or aggregated data — information stripped of your name and identity — for research and analytics. This data cannot identify you personally.
If you cannot find the deletion option in your app
The location of the Deactivation and Deletion menu depends on your Facebook app version. If you cannot find it by following the steps above, update your Facebook app through your phone's app store. Older versions of the app sometimes have the option in a different location or may not have it at all.
If updating does not help, you can delete your account from a web browser instead. Go to facebook.com on your phone's browser, log in, and follow the same path: Settings & Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion. The browser version works identically to the app version.
If you still cannot locate the option, Facebook's Help Center has a page titled "How do I delete my account?" that walks through the process with screenshots for your specific device type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Facebook account if I forgot my password?
You need your password to complete the deletion process. If you forgot it, tap "Forgot Password?" on the Facebook login screen and follow the steps to reset it using your email or phone number. Once you have reset your password, you can log in and delete your account normally.
Will deleting my Facebook account also delete my Instagram account?
No. Facebook and Instagram are separate accounts even though Facebook owns Instagram. Deleting your Facebook account does not affect your Instagram account. If you want to delete Instagram as well, you have to delete it separately through the Instagram app using the same process.
What if I log back in by accident during the 30-day waiting period?
Logging in during the 30 days will cancel your deletion request and restore your account to normal. All your posts, photos, and friends will return. If you want to delete again, you have to go through the entire process a second time.
Can I delete my account if I have a Facebook business page?
Deleting your personal account does not automatically delete any business pages you manage. You should delete or transfer ownership of business pages separately before deleting your personal account. Go to the business page settings and choose to delete it or assign a new admin.
Does Facebook notify my friends when I delete my account?
No. Facebook does not send notifications to your friends when you delete your account. Your profile straightforward disappears from their view. They may notice you are gone if they try to visit your profile or search for you, but they will not receive a message about it.