Delete or Deactivate Your Facebook Account
Leaving Facebook is a few taps in Accounts Center, but it affects more than your profile: Messenger, Pages you run, and apps you log in to with Facebook. Here's what happens, and how to do it safely.
Deactivate or delete?
- Deactivate if you want a break. Your profile is hidden, but nothing is deleted, and you can keep using Messenger. Log back in any time to return.
- Delete if you're done for good. You have 30 days to change your mind. After that, your account and everything you posted is permanently deleted, and you can't use Messenger.
Not sure? Deactivate now. You can always delete later.
CHECKWhat happens to my stuff?
HOWStep by step
Settings for Facebook, Instagram and Messenger live in Meta's Accounts Center.
- In the app: tap the menu (☰, or your profile picture), then Settings & privacy › Settings › Accounts Center.
On the web: click your profile picture at the top right, then Settings & privacy › Settings › Accounts Center. - Choose Your information and permissions › Download your information (it may say Export your information).
- Pick your Facebook profile and choose to download to your device. Select everything, or just posts, photos, messages and friends. Choose All time and High media quality.
- Facebook notifies you when the file is ready. Download it within four days, because that's how long it stays available.
- Pages: Pages that only you control are deleted with your account. Give another person full control first if the Page should live on.
- "Log in with Facebook": open each app or site you sign in to with Facebook and add an email and password, or another sign-in method. After deletion, Facebook Login stops working.
- Messenger: if you're deleting, save any chats you care about (they're included in your download) and swap phone numbers or emails with people you message.
- Meta Quest or other Meta devices: check which account they use before you delete.
- Open Accounts Center (as in step 1).
- Go to Personal details › Account ownership and control › Deactivation or deletion. If you don't see Personal details, look under Accounts and tap Manage next to your Facebook profile.
- Select your Facebook profile, choose Deactivate account, then Continue and follow the prompts.
- Facebook asks whether to keep using Messenger. Choose based on whether you still want to chat.
To come back, log in to Facebook with your email or phone and password. Everything reappears.
- Open Accounts Center › Personal details › Account ownership and control › Deactivation or deletion.
- Select your Facebook profile, choose Delete account, then Continue.
- Facebook may offer to let you download your information or deactivate instead. If you've already downloaded it, continue.
- Enter your password and confirm. Note the date. Use the calculator below to see your deadlines.
- If you log back in within 30 days, Facebook offers to cancel the deletion. To make sure it goes through, remove the Facebook and Messenger apps and sign out on every browser and device.
- Changed your mind? Log in before the 30 days are up and choose Cancel deletion.
- After 30 days, deletion starts. Facebook says it can take up to 90 days from the beginning of the process to delete everything you posted. Copies may remain in backup storage for a while, and some log records may be kept.
- Forgot your password? Use Forgot password? on the login page to reset it by email or text.
- Think your account was hacked? Use facebook.com/hacked to secure it first, then delete it.
DATESYour deletion deadlines
Dates are approximate. Facebook shows the exact date when you confirm, and in a notice if you log in.
FAQCommon questions
Can I keep Messenger without Facebook?
Only if you deactivate. You can choose to keep Messenger while your Facebook profile is hidden. If you delete your Facebook account, you can't use Messenger.
Will my friends still see messages I sent them?
Yes, they may. Messages you sent are stored in your friends' inboxes too, so they can still see them after you delete your account.
Does deleting Facebook delete Instagram?
No. They're separate accounts, even when linked in Accounts Center. Delete Instagram separately if you want it gone too.
Does uninstalling the app delete my account?
No. Your account stays live until you deactivate or delete it in Accounts Center.
Can I delete my account if I can't log in?
You need to get back in first. Reset your password, or use facebook.com/hacked if you think someone else has taken it over.
What about an account of someone who has died?
Facebook lets a family member request that it be memorialized or removed. Search Facebook's Help Center for "memorialization request".