How Do I Delete My Facebook Account?
Leaving Facebook is your right — and the process is straightforward. The main thing is to save your photos and important messages BEFORE deleting, because they can't be recovered after 30 days. This guide covers both temporary deactivation and permanent deletion.
There are two ways to leave Facebook: Deactivate (temporary, reversible anytime by logging back in) or Delete (permanent after 30 days, photos and posts gone forever). To delete: download your photos and data first via Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information. Then go to Settings → Account Center → Personal details → Account ownership and control → Deactivation or deletion → pick 'Delete account'. Facebook waits 30 days before permanent deletion in case you change your mind.
Step-by-step practice mode
Click through each step to practice. The screens look like the real Facebook app — but nothing here changes anything in your real account or device.
Step 1 — First, download your photos and data
Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information
Privacy Settings
Click Download
Skip this step and you lose every photo, post, and message permanently.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Download your photos and data first
Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information. Pick what to download (Photos, Posts, Messages, Friends list at minimum). Click 'Request a download'. Facebook prepares the file and emails you when ready (usually 1-24 hours). Download the .zip file to your computer.
⚠ Important: Don't skip this. Once deletion completes after 30 days, every photo, comment, message, and post is gone forever. - 2
Tell important contacts you're leaving
Post a message on your timeline a few days before deleting: 'I'm leaving Facebook on [date]. If we connect through Facebook only, please send me your phone number or email so we can stay in touch.' This way you don't lose contact with people you only know via Facebook.
- 3
Decide: Deactivate or Delete?
DEACTIVATE: temporary. Profile is hidden but everything is preserved. Anytime you log back in, the account fully reappears. DELETE: permanent after 30 days. After 30 days everything is gone. Pick deactivate if you might come back; delete if you're sure.
- 4
Open Settings & Privacy → Settings → Accounts Center
On a computer: top-right down arrow → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Account Center (left side). On a phone: tap menu (three lines) → Settings & Privacy → Settings → Account Center.
- 5
Click 'Personal details' → 'Account ownership and control'
Inside Account Center, click 'Personal details', then 'Account ownership and control'. Then click 'Deactivation or deletion'.
- 6
Pick the account and the action
Choose your Facebook account (if you have Instagram linked, both will show — pick just Facebook unless you want to delete both). Then choose 'Deactivate account' or 'Delete account'. Click 'Continue'.
- 7
Read what's about to happen, then confirm with your password
Facebook explains exactly what will happen — for delete, that means 30 days then permanent removal. Type your password to confirm. Click 'Continue'.
- 8
If you change your mind within 30 days
For 30 days after starting deletion, you can cancel by simply logging back in to Facebook with your password. Facebook will ask 'Are you sure?' and let you cancel deletion. After day 30, deletion is permanent and irreversible.
What if it's not working?
Problem: I deleted Facebook but Messenger still works
Likely cause: Messenger uses your Facebook account behind the scenes — deleting Facebook should remove Messenger, but sometimes the app stays installed.
How to fix: Uninstall Messenger from your phone. Sign out of Messenger on any computers. After Facebook deletion completes (day 30), Messenger access is fully gone.
Problem: I need to recover photos after deleting
Likely cause: If you didn't download data first AND it's been more than 30 days, photos are permanently gone.
How to fix: Within the first 30 days: log back in to cancel deletion, then download data, then redo deletion. After 30 days: photos are unrecoverable from Facebook itself, but check your phone's Photos app — many phones automatically saved copies.
Problem: Facebook keeps emailing me even after I deleted
Likely cause: Other services connected to your Facebook account, or email subscriptions you signed up for through Facebook.
How to fix: Click 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of each email. Also check Settings → Notifications BEFORE deleting to turn them all off.
Problem: I want to delete only specific posts/photos, not the whole account
Likely cause: You don't actually want to leave Facebook, just clean up.
How to fix: Use Settings → Activity Log to scroll through everything you've ever posted, and delete individually. There's also a 'Manage Activity' tool that lets you delete in bulk by date range or topic.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between deactivating and deleting Facebook?
Deactivating is temporary — your profile is hidden from everyone, but Facebook keeps all your photos, friends, messages, and posts. Logging back in any time fully restores everything. Deleting is permanent — after a 30-day waiting period, everything is removed forever. If you're not sure, deactivate first; you can always come back to delete later.
How long does Facebook take to actually delete my account?
30 days from when you confirm deletion. During those 30 days, your account is hidden from other users but Facebook keeps all the data so you can change your mind. On day 31, Facebook starts permanent deletion which itself takes up to 90 days to fully remove from all backup systems. After ~120 days total, the account is fully gone.
Will my Messenger work after I delete Facebook?
No. Messenger requires a Facebook account. When Facebook is deleted, Messenger stops working too. If you want to keep Messenger but leave Facebook, switch to Messenger-only mode (Settings → Account Center → Personal details → Manage info) which keeps the chat function but hides your Facebook profile.
Can I delete Facebook but keep Instagram?
Yes. If your accounts are linked in Account Center, choose carefully when deleting — you can pick Facebook only, leaving Instagram active. Just make sure to use Instagram's own login (not 'Log in with Facebook') so you can still get in after Facebook is gone.
What happens to messages I sent to friends after I delete?
Your friends keep their copies of your messages — Facebook only deletes the messages from YOUR side. Friends still see what you sent in their own message history, just with your name shown as 'Facebook User' instead of your full name.
Will my photos disappear from friends' tagged photos too?
Tags of you are removed (your name no longer appears under the photo), but the photos themselves stay on whoever uploaded them. If a friend posted a photo of you 5 years ago, that photo stays on their account; only the tag connecting it to your name disappears.
Should I delete or just deactivate if I'm scared of identity theft?
If you're worried about an immediate threat (your account is being hacked, stalker found you on Facebook), deactivate first — it instantly hides your profile. Then download your data, then proceed to delete. Deactivation is faster than the deletion process, so it's better as the immediate response.
Is there any way to leave Facebook without losing my photos?
Yes — always. Use Settings → Your Facebook Information → Download Your Information BEFORE deleting. Pick at minimum 'Posts', 'Photos and Videos', and 'Messages'. You'll get a .zip file with everything in regular formats (JPG photos, .txt messages, .html posts). Save the file before starting deletion.
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