What happens when you delete your Facebook page
Deleting your Facebook page is permanent. Facebook will remove all your posts, photos, messages, and profile information from its servers within about 90 days. During those 90 days, your page is in a grace period — you can cancel the deletion if you change your mind, but after that window closes, the data cannot be recovered.
Before you delete, understand the difference between what you are choosing. Deactivating your page hides it temporarily — your profile disappears from search, friends cannot message you, and your posts vanish from their feeds. You can reactivate it anytime by logging back in. Deleting is the permanent option. Most people who want to step away from Facebook should deactivate first, then delete only if they are certain after 30 days.
If you run a business page or a group, deleting your personal page does not delete those — you will need to delete them separately. If you use your Facebook login to sign into other apps (like Spotify or a game), those connections will break when your page is gone.
Key Takeaways
- Deletion is permanent after 90 days, but you can cancel during the grace period if you log back in.
- Deactivation hides your page temporarily and is reversible anytime — use this first if you are unsure.
- Business pages and groups you created are not deleted when your personal page is deleted.
- Apps and websites that use your Facebook login will stop working once your page is gone.
- read your photos and messages before deleting if you want to keep copies.
How to deactivate your page (the reversible option)
Deactivation is the safer first step. Open Facebook on a computer or phone, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines on mobile, or the downward arrow on desktop), and scroll to Settings and privacy, then Settings. On the left side, select Deactivation and deletion. Choose Deactivate account, then click Continue to account deactivation.
Facebook will ask you why you are leaving and offer options to stay in touch. You can skip these. Enter your password to confirm, then select a reason from the dropdown menu. Facebook will ask if you want to receive email notifications about your account — choose yes or no depending on whether you want reminders. Click Deactivate to finish. Your page is now hidden.
Your deactivated page stays hidden as long as you want. If you log back in at any point — even months or years later — your page reactivates automatically with everything intact. Friends will not see your profile or old posts while it is deactivated, but they can still search for your name and see that your account exists in a deactivated state.
How to permanently delete your Facebook page
Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Select Deactivation and deletion on the left. This time, choose Delete account instead of deactivate, then click Continue to account deletion. Facebook will warn you that deletion is permanent and list what will be removed.
Enter your password and solve a security check (usually a CAPTCHA). Select a reason from the dropdown if you want to — this is optional. Click Delete account to confirm. Your page is now scheduled for deletion. You will receive an email confirming the request.
For the next 90 days, your page is in the grace period. If you log back in during this time, the deletion cancels and your account returns to normal. After 90 days pass with no login, Facebook permanently removes all your data. You cannot undo this after the 90-day window closes.
Saving your photos and messages before you delete
Facebook lets you read a copy of your information before deletion. Go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Select Your information and permissions, then read your information. Choose the date range (usually "All time"), select what you want to read (photos, messages, posts, videos), and click Request a read.
Facebook will prepare a file of your data, usually within a few hours. You will receive an email with a link to read it. The file is compressed and may be large if you have years of photos and messages. Save it to your computer or cloud storage before you delete your page, because this read will not be available after deletion.
If you only want to save photos, you can also read them individually through your photo albums without using the full data read tool. This takes longer if you have many photos, but gives you more control over which ones you keep.
What to do if you are locked out of your account
If you cannot log into Facebook because you forgot your password or lost access to your email, you cannot delete through the normal settings. Instead, 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 you set up earlier.
If you cannot recover your account through those methods, visit Facebook's Help Center and search for "account hacked" or "locked out." Facebook offers a form to request help regaining access. This process can take several days. Once you regain access, you can then delete your page using the steps above.
If your account was hacked and you want it deleted when ready without regaining access, you can report it to Facebook's support team, but they will still require you to prove your identity before processing a deletion request.
Deleting a business page or group you created
Deleting your personal Facebook page does not delete business pages or groups you manage. You must delete these separately. To delete a business page, go to the page, click Settings in the top right, scroll to the bottom, and select Remove page. Confirm the deletion. The page is permanently removed when ready — there is no grace period for business pages.
To delete a group you created, go to the group, click Settings, scroll down, and select Delete group. Facebook will ask you to confirm. The group is removed when ready. If you are a member of a group but did not create it, you can only leave the group, not delete it.
If you have a business page with active followers or customers, consider handing it over to another admin instead of deleting it. Go to Settings, select Page roles, and add another person as an admin before you delete your personal account.
What happens to your messages after deletion
When you delete your Facebook page, your messages disappear from your inbox, but they do not disappear from the inboxes of people you messaged. They will still see your old messages and your name attached to them, but they cannot reply to you or start a new conversation. Your profile will show as deleted.
If you want to remove a message you sent before deleting your account, you can delete individual messages from your inbox. Open the conversation, hover over the message, click the three dots, and select Remove. This only removes it from your view — the other person still sees it. There is no way to unsend messages in Facebook Messenger once they have been delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Facebook page from my phone?
Yes. Open the Facebook app, tap the menu icon (three lines), go to Settings and privacy, then Settings. Select Deactivation and deletion and follow the same steps as on a computer. The process is identical on mobile.
What if I delete my page but want to come back later?
If you delete within the 90-day grace period, log back in and your account reactivates with everything intact. After 90 days, deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed. If you are unsure, deactivate first instead — you can reactivate anytime without a time limit.
Will deleting my Facebook page delete my Instagram account?
No. Facebook and Instagram are separate accounts. Deleting your Facebook page does not affect Instagram. If you want to delete Instagram, you must do that separately through Instagram's settings.
Can someone else delete my Facebook page?
No. Only you can delete your own page, and only if you can log in and enter your password. If your account is hacked, change your password when ready and contact Facebook support to find it.
What happens to my Facebook friends after I delete?
Your friends will see that your profile no longer exists. They cannot message you or see your old posts. If they search for your name, they will not find your profile. After the 90-day grace period, there is no way for them to access your old information.