Want to take a break or quit Facebook for good? Here’s how to deactivate or delete your account—and what each option means.
Facebook Deactivation vs Deletion: What’s the Difference?
Deactivating your Facebook account is temporary—you can come back anytime. Deletion, on the other hand, is permanent. Once deleted, all your data is gone unless you act within Facebook’s 30-day recovery window.
Many users choose to deactivate first to disconnect without losing their content or Messenger access. But if you’re sure you’re done, deletion is the clean break.
How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account
When you deactivate your account:
- Your profile becomes invisible to others.
- Pages you manage will also be deactivated unless transferred to another user.
- Your messages may still be visible to friends in their inbox.
Steps to Deactivate Facebook
- Click your profile photo and go to Settings & Privacy → Settings.
- Select Your Facebook Information from the left menu.
- Click Deactivation and Deletion.
- Choose Deactivate Account and follow the instructions.
- Note: Logging in again will automatically reactivate your account.
How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account
Deleting your account means:
- Your profile, photos, posts, and everything you’ve added will be permanently erased.
- You won’t be able to retrieve anything after 30 days.
- Some log data (without personal identifiers) may remain in Facebook’s database for internal use.
Steps to Delete Facebook
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings.
- Open Your Facebook Information.
- Click Deactivation and Deletion.
- Select Delete Account and follow the steps.
You have 30 days to cancel the deletion if you log in again. Facebook says full deletion may take up to 90 days.
Before deleting, consider downloading a copy of your Facebook data, including photos, videos, and posts.
Common Questions
Will people know I deactivated my Facebook account?
No. Your profile disappears from search and your timeline becomes inaccessible, but your name may still appear in friends’ inboxes or comments.
Can I still use Messenger after deactivating?
Yes. Facebook lets you keep using Messenger even if your main account is deactivated.
What happens to my Facebook pages?
Pages you solely manage will be deactivated along with your profile. To avoid this, assign another admin before deactivating.
Can I reactivate my account later?
Yes. Just log back in using your credentials, and your account will be restored.
Does deleting Facebook remove my data from the internet?
No. While Facebook deletes your content, anything already shared publicly may still be visible on search engines or archived elsewhere.
