Delete Facebook Account: Permanently or Temporarily
Introduction
More and more people are considering deleting their Facebook account. Whether it's because of privacy concerns, lack of time, or simply the wish to spend less time on social media, there are plenty of reasons to say goodbye to the platform. Facebook offers two options: temporarily deactivating your account or permanently deleting it.
The difference between deactivating and deleting
Deactivating your account (temporary)
- Your profile becomes invisible to other users
- Your posts in groups and your chat conversations are kept
- You can keep using Messenger
- Facebook keeps all your data
- You can come back at any time by logging in
Permanently deleting your account
- Your account and all your data are deleted
- You lose access to your photos, messages, posts and friends
- Your Facebook Messenger is deleted too
- After the grace period this can't be undone
Downloading your data
On desktop
- Log in and click your profile picture
- Go to Settings & privacy > Settings
- Click Your Facebook information
- Select Download your information
- Choose which data you want to download
- Click Submit request
Deactivating your account
On desktop
- Go to facebook.com and log in
- Click your profile picture
- Select Settings & privacy > Settings
- Click Accounts Center
- Go to Personal details > Account ownership and control
- Click Deactivation or deletion
- Select your Facebook account
- Choose Deactivate account and follow the instructions
Permanently deleting your account
On desktop
- Download your data first
- Go to Settings > Accounts Center
- Navigate to Personal details > Account ownership and control
- Select Deactivation or deletion
- Choose Delete account
- Click Continue to account deletion
- Enter your password and confirm
The 30-day grace period
- For 30 days you can reverse your decision
- To cancel, simply log in again
- After 30 days the deletion process starts for good
- The actual deletion can take up to 90 days
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I restore my Facebook account after deleting it?
Yes, but only during the 30-day grace period. Simply log in and choose to cancel the deletion. After 30 days it's permanent.
What happens to my Facebook Messenger?
If you permanently delete your account, Messenger is deleted too. If you deactivate it, you can keep using Messenger.
Will my comments in groups stay visible?
After permanent deletion, your posts and comments in groups are deleted as well. Your name is replaced with "Facebook user".
Can I delete only certain data?
Yes, through the activity log you can delete individual posts, photos, comments and likes without losing your whole account.
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