Facebook gives you two options: deactivation or deletion, and they work very differently

Deactivation hides your profile temporarily. Your name disappears from search, your posts vanish from the feed, and friends can't message you. But Facebook keeps all your data. If you log back in within 30 days, everything returns exactly as it was. After 30 days, the account is gone — but Facebook retains your information for their own records.

Deletion is permanent. You request it through your settings, then wait 30 days while Facebook processes the request. During those 30 days, you can cancel the deletion by logging back in. After 30 days pass, your account, profile, photos, posts, and messages are removed from Facebook's servers. Some data tied to third-party apps or downloaded by others before deletion may remain, but your active account is gone.

Most people who want out should choose deletion. Deactivation is useful only if you think you might return — it's a pause, not an exit.

Key Takeaways

  • Deletion is permanent after 30 days, but you can cancel it by logging in during that waiting period.
  • Deactivation only hides your profile; Facebook keeps all your data and you can reactivate anytime.
  • Before you delete, download your photos and posts if you want to keep copies — Facebook will remove them after 30 days.
  • After deletion, some data shared with apps or downloaded by others before you deleted may still exist outside Facebook's control.
  • You must use a computer or mobile browser to delete; the Facebook app does not offer a deletion option.

How to delete your account on a computer

Go to Settings & Privacy in the top right corner of Facebook. Click Settings. On the left sidebar, click Personal Information, then Deactivation and Deletion. You will see two buttons: one for deactivation and one for deletion. Click Delete Account.

Facebook will ask you to confirm your password and may ask you to solve a CAPTCHA. You'll see a message explaining that your account will be deleted after 30 days and that some information may remain on Facebook's servers. Click Delete Account again to confirm. That's it — the deletion request is submitted.

For the next 30 days, your account is in a deletion queue. If you change your mind, log back in and your account will be restored. If you do nothing, after 30 days Facebook removes your profile, posts, photos, and messages from their system.

How to delete your account on a phone

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) at the bottom right. Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy, then Settings. Tap Personal Information, then Deactivation and Deletion. Tap Delete Account.

You'll be asked to confirm your password and may need to solve a CAPTCHA. Read the confirmation message and tap Delete Account again. Your deletion request is now submitted, and the same 30-day waiting period applies.

If you're using an iPhone or Android phone and the option doesn't appear, try opening Facebook in your mobile web browser instead of the app. The browser version sometimes displays the deletion option more reliably.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

Your profile is no longer visible to anyone. Your name won't appear in search results, your friends can't see your posts or send you messages, and any groups or pages you managed revert to other admins. However, you can still log in during this window — doing so cancels the deletion and restores your account completely.

Some data may take longer to disappear from Facebook's servers, including cached versions of your profile and posts that search engines indexed before deletion. Facebook cannot remove these from third-party search engines, but your profile won't link to them anymore.

Download your data before you delete

Once your account is deleted, you lose access to your photos, videos, posts, and messages. If you want to keep copies, download them first. Go to Settings & Privacy, click Settings, then Your Information and Permissions, then Download Your Information. Choose the date range and content types you want (photos, posts, messages, etc.), then click Request a Download.

Facebook will prepare a file of your data, usually within a few hours. You'll receive a notification when it's ready. Download the file and save it to your computer or cloud storage. This is your only chance to keep this data after deletion.

What data Facebook keeps after deletion

Facebook removes your profile, posts, photos, and messages from their active systems. However, they retain some information: backup copies on their servers (kept for legal and security reasons), data you shared with third-party apps before deletion (those apps keep their own copies), and information other people downloaded or saved before you deleted (screenshots, shared posts, etc.).

If you were part of a group conversation or tagged in someone else's photo, those records may remain tied to other people's accounts. You cannot remove yourself from data that belongs to someone else.

If you want to pause instead of delete

Deactivation is the right choice if you're burned out but might return. Your profile disappears, but everything is preserved. To deactivate, go to Settings & Privacy, click Settings, then Personal Information, then Deactivation and Deletion. Click Deactivate Account. Facebook will ask why you're leaving and offer options to limit notifications or take a break instead. You can deactivate anyway if you choose.

Your deactivated account stays in that state indefinitely. Log back in anytime — even years later — and your profile, friends list, messages, and posts return unchanged. No one can see your profile while it's deactivated, but your name may still appear in old group chats or tagged photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel the deletion after I've requested it?

Yes, for 30 days. Log into your account during the waiting period and your account will be restored immediately. After 30 days pass without logging in, the deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

Will my Messenger account be deleted too?

No. Facebook Messenger is a separate service. Deleting your Facebook account does not delete Messenger. If you want to close Messenger as well, you must delete it separately through the Messenger app or settings.

What about my Instagram or WhatsApp accounts?

Deleting Facebook does not affect Instagram or WhatsApp. These are separate accounts owned by Meta but not linked to your Facebook login. You must delete each one separately if you want to close them.

Will my friends know I deleted my account?

Your profile will disappear from their view, but Facebook does not send a notification saying you deleted your account. They may notice your profile is gone if they try to visit it or message you.

Can I use the same email to create a new Facebook account later?

Yes, after your deletion is complete (30 days later), you can sign up for a new Facebook account using the same email address. The new account will be separate and will not have any data from your deleted account.