Whether you’ve decided to step away from social media for a while, or you’re looking to permanently part ways with Facebook, deleting your account is a straightforward process. While deactivating your account gives you the option to return at any time, deleting your account is a permanent decision. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to delete your Facebook account permanently and answer some common questions you might have along the way.
Things to Consider Before Deleting Your Facebook Account
Before you hit that delete button, here are a few things to think about:
- Permanent Loss of Data: Deleting your account means losing all your Facebook data—posts, photos, messages, and any other content you’ve shared on the platform. Facebook won’t keep your data unless you’ve downloaded a copy before deleting it.
- Access to Other Apps: Many people use Facebook to log into other apps or websites. If you delete your Facebook account, you may lose access to services that you’ve linked to it, such as Spotify, Instagram, or some games.
- Backup Your Data: If you’ve been using Facebook for years, you probably have a lot of memories stored there. Before deleting your account, you may want to download a copy of your Facebook data. This includes your posts, messages, photos, videos, and more.
How to Download a Copy of Your Facebook Data
If you’d like to keep a copy of your information before deleting your account, here’s how you can download your Facebook data:
- Log into Facebook and click the downward arrow at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Go to Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
- On the left-hand side, click Your Facebook Information.
- Click Download Your Information.
- Select the types of data you want to download, such as posts, photos, and messages. You can also choose the date range, format, and media quality.
- Click Create File. Facebook will prepare your data and notify you when it’s ready for download.
Once your data is downloaded, you’re ready to move forward with deleting your account.
How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
Now that you’re ready to delete your account, here’s how you can do it:
- Log into your Facebook account on a computer or mobile browser.
- Click the downward arrow (on desktop) or tap the three horizontal lines (on mobile) in the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings & Privacy, then select Settings.
- On the left sidebar (or in the account section on mobile), click Your Facebook Information.
- Scroll down and click Deactivation and Deletion.
- Select Permanently Delete Account and click Continue to Account Deletion.
- Facebook will show you options to deactivate your account or download your information. If you’re sure, click Delete Account.
- Enter your password to confirm, and click Continue.
Once you’ve confirmed the deletion, your account will be deactivated immediately, and the deletion process will begin. It takes up to 30 days for Facebook to permanently delete your account, during which time you can cancel the deletion if you change your mind.
What Happens After You Delete Your Account?
After you initiate the deletion process, here’s what happens:
- Account Deactivation: For the first 30 days, your account is in a deactivated state. This means it won’t be visible to other users, but it hasn’t been completely erased from Facebook’s servers yet. During this time, if you log in again, you can cancel the deletion.
- Permanent Deletion: After 30 days, Facebook will permanently delete your account and all associated data. Once this happens, you won’t be able to recover your account or any of its information.
However, some things may remain even after the account is deleted. For example, any messages you’ve sent to friends will still appear in their inbox, as they are part of their account data.
How to Cancel Your Facebook Account Deletion
If you change your mind within the 30-day period, you can stop the deletion process by simply logging back into Facebook. Here’s how:
- Log into Facebook within 30 days of initiating the deletion.
- You will see a message asking if you want to cancel the deletion.
- Click Cancel Deletion to restore your account.
After this, your account will be fully reactivated, and you can continue using Facebook as you normally would.
Deactivating vs. Deleting Your Facebook Account
Not sure if you’re ready to delete your account for good? You can always deactivate it instead. Deactivating your account hides your profile and content from others, but it doesn’t delete anything permanently. You can reactivate your account at any time by simply logging back in.
Here’s how to deactivate your Facebook account:
- Go to Settings > Your Facebook Information > Deactivation and Deletion.
- Select Deactivate Account, then click Continue to Account Deactivation.
- Follow the prompts to confirm.
Deactivating can be a great temporary option if you just need a break from social media but want the option to return later.
Wrapping Up
Deleting your Facebook account is a big decision, but it’s an option many people choose when they want to step away from social media. Just remember to download your data if you want to keep any memories or important information before making the final call. And if you’re unsure, you can always deactivate your account instead.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can either delete or deactivate your Facebook account in just a few clicks.