How to Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account
Deactivating Facebook hides your profile and leaves a route back. Deleting it starts permanent removal, with a limited window to cancel.
Before choosing either, check what depends on the profile: Messenger, Facebook Login for other services and any Page where you are the only person with full control. Leaving a personal profile can also affect a business Page.
Choose what you want to stop
According to Meta’s deactivation guidance, other people cannot see a deactivated profile. Some information can remain visible, including messages already sent and some group activity. You can return by logging in again, provided you can complete the necessary access checks.
Messenger can remain active if you keep it enabled or remain logged in there. Using Messenger does not itself reactivate the Facebook account. If your aim is to stop receiving messages, deactivating Facebook alone may not achieve that.
Permanent deletion ends the ability to use that Facebook profile and Messenger after the deletion becomes final. Meta also warns about losing Facebook Login access to other apps and services. Check those accounts before removing the login they rely on.
Prepare your content and Pages
Export the information you want to keep before submitting a deletion request. Meta links to its export tools from the permanent-deletion instructions. Decide what you need while the account is still accessible.
Pages where you are the only person with full control can be deactivated or deleted with the account. If the Page needs to continue, give another appropriate person full control first. This is more specific than saying that every Page you manage will disappear.
If someone else has taken over your account, begin with our Facebook account recovery guide. Secure access before making a permanent decision.
Find the controls shown for your account
Facebook is gradually moving people to Meta Accounts. Its current help pages warn that some people will see Accounts Center and others Meta Account settings. A single old menu path will not fit everyone.
On desktop, begin with your profile picture, then Settings & privacy and Settings. Meta’s current deactivation instructions lead through Accounts Center, Manage accounts and Manage beside the relevant profile, then Deactivation or deletion.
Its deletion instructions currently describe Meta Account, then Manage account, Manage and Deactivation or deletion. Choose the intended profile and action, then follow the confirmation prompts. Use the help page for your device if the labels differ.
Read the profile selection carefully. Meta distinguishes additional Facebook profiles under an account from other profiles in a Meta Account. Check exactly what the confirmation screen says will be affected before continuing.
Media retained from the earlier version
The following media appeared in the earlier article. Interfaces can change; use the current written guidance and linked Meta instructions for the steps that apply to your account.
Understand the cancellation and deletion periods
Meta’s deletion guidance says a request can generally be cancelled within 30 days by logging in and choosing to cancel. It also says that period can vary by region, so use the deadline shown for your request.
The company says deleting the information can take up to 90 days. It may keep backup copies longer, and retain some information for reasons including legal issues, terms violations or harm prevention. Messages already sent may remain in recipients’ inboxes.
The cancellation window and the time needed to process deletion are different. Do not assume that a longer processing period gives you extra time to change your mind.
For related platform guidance, visit our Facebook hub or the broader social media platforms hub.
