Facebook pages can be deleted permanently, but the process differs depending on whether you want to remove it temporarily or erase it completely

When you delete a Facebook page, you have two choices: deactivation, which hides the page for 30 days and can be undone, or permanent deletion, which removes the page and all its content after 90 days. Most people who want to cancel a page are looking for permanent deletion. The page must be deleted by someone with admin access, and the process takes a few minutes to start — though Facebook holds the page in a deletion queue for 90 days before it fully disappears.

The reason for the 90-day waiting period is to let you change your mind. If you log back in during those 90 days, you can cancel the deletion and restore the page. After 90 days, the page, all posts, comments, photos, and followers are gone for good.

Key Takeaways

  • Only someone with admin access to the page can delete it — if you are not an admin, you must ask an admin to do it or request admin rights first.
  • Permanent deletion takes 90 days to complete; during that time the page is hidden but can be restored if you change your mind.
  • Deactivation hides the page immediately but only lasts 30 days unless you choose permanent deletion instead.
  • Before you delete, download any content you want to keep — photos, posts, and follower lists disappear after the 90-day period ends.
  • If the page is linked to an Instagram business account, deleting the Facebook page does not delete the Instagram account.

How to permanently delete a Facebook page

Go to your Facebook page and click the settings icon (three horizontal lines or a gear) in the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy, then Settings. On the left menu, scroll down and click Deactivation and Deletion.

You will see two options: "Deactivate Page" and "Delete Page". Click Delete Page. Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity and may request your password. After you confirm, the page enters deletion mode — it becomes hidden from the public, but you have 90 days to restore it by logging back in and canceling the deletion. If you do nothing for 90 days, the page and all its content are permanently removed.

If you are not the page admin, you cannot delete it yourself. You must ask someone with admin access to perform these steps, or you can request admin rights from an existing admin and then delete it yourself.

What happens during the 90-day deletion period

While your page is in deletion mode, it is not visible to anyone — not to you, not to your followers, and not to the public. The page does not appear in search results, and no one can find it or post on it. However, the page still exists in Facebook's system during this window.

If you change your mind, log into Facebook, go back to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion, and click Cancel Deletion. The page will be restored immediately with all its posts, photos, followers, and settings intact. This option is only available during the 90-day period.

After 90 days pass with no action, Facebook permanently removes the page. At that point, restoration is not possible.

Deactivation versus permanent deletion

Deactivation and deletion are different actions. Deactivation hides your page for 30 days and can be undone at any time during that period — just log in and reactivate it. Permanent deletion hides the page for 90 days and then removes it completely. If you are unsure whether you want to cancel the page forever, deactivation is the safer choice because it gives you a month to reconsider without losing anything.

To deactivate instead of delete, follow the same steps but click "Deactivate Page" instead of "Delete Page". The page will be hidden, and you can reactivate it anytime within 30 days. After 30 days, a deactivated page is automatically deleted, so the end result is the same — but deactivation gives you more time to change your mind.

Saving your page content before deletion

Once the 90-day deletion period ends, everything on the page is gone — posts, photos, videos, comments, and your follower list. If you want to keep any of this content, download it before you start the deletion process.

To download your page data, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Your Information and Connections > Download Your Information. Select the date range and content types you want (photos, posts, videos, etc.), and Facebook will create a file you can download. This process can take a few hours to a few days depending on how much content you have. You will receive a notification when the file is ready.

What happens to linked Instagram and other connected accounts

If your Facebook page is connected to an Instagram business account, deleting the Facebook page does not delete the Instagram account. The two remain separate. However, if you have cross-posted content or used Facebook's tools to manage both accounts, that integration will stop working once the Facebook page is deleted.

If you want to delete the Instagram account as well, you must do that separately through Instagram's settings. Similarly, if the page is linked to a Facebook Shop or other business tools, those connections will be severed when the page is deleted.

If you cannot delete the page yourself

If you are not an admin on the page, you cannot delete it. You have two options: ask an existing admin to delete it, or request admin rights from an admin and then delete it yourself.

To request admin rights, go to the page, click Settings and Privacy > Settings, then scroll to the Roles section. Click "Add Another Admin" and search for your name or account. An existing admin must approve the request. Once you have admin access, you can follow the deletion steps above.

If the page has no active admins or you cannot reach them, you can report the page to Facebook through their Help Center. Facebook may take action if the page violates their policies, but they do not delete pages simply because an owner requests it through a report — you must have admin access to initiate deletion yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a Facebook page I do not own?

No. Only someone with admin access can delete a page. If you are not an admin, you cannot delete it. You can request admin rights from an existing admin, or you can ask an admin to delete it for you. If the page violates Facebook's policies, you can report it, but Facebook will not delete it based on a report alone.

What if I delete the page by accident?

You have 90 days to restore it. Log into Facebook, go to Settings and Privacy > Settings > Deactivation and Deletion, and click "Cancel Deletion". The page will be restored immediately with all content intact. After 90 days, restoration is not possible.

Does deleting my Facebook page delete my personal account?

No. A Facebook page and a personal account are separate. Deleting the page does not affect your personal account, your friends, or your personal posts. Only the page and its content are removed.

Can I delete a page if it has thousands of followers?

Yes. The number of followers does not prevent deletion. The page will be hidden during the 90-day deletion period, and then permanently removed. All followers will lose access to the page.

Will people be notified when I delete my page?

No. Followers will not receive a notification that the page has been deleted. They will simply notice the page is no longer visible when they try to find it or access it.