How to Delete Your Facebook Account: Complete Guide

7 min read

Quick Summary

To permanently delete your Facebook account, first download your data, then visit Facebook's settings menu. Choose between temporary deactivation or permanent deletion, review the consequences, and confirm your choice. Remember that permanent deletion takes 30 days to complete, during which you can still cancel the process by logging in.

Before You Delete Your Account

Essential Steps to Take First

  • Download your Facebook data (photos, messages, posts)
  • Remove Facebook login from third-party apps and services
  • Inform friends and transfer group admin roles if needed
  • Back up important business page information
  • Consider temporary deactivation as a trial run

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Download Your Facebook Data

Facebook data download page
  1. Click the down arrow in the top right
  2. Select "Settings & Privacy" > "Settings"
  3. Click "Your Facebook Information"
  4. Select "Download Your Information"
  5. Choose data range and format
  6. Click "Create File"
Pro Tip: Select "High" media quality if you want to preserve your photos in their original resolution.

2. Access Account Deletion Settings

  1. Go to Facebook.com
  2. Click the down arrow in the top right
  3. Select "Settings & Privacy" > "Settings"
  4. Click "Your Facebook Information"
  5. Select "Deactivation and Deletion"

3. Choose Your Deletion Option

Temporary Deactivation

  • Account can be reactivated anytime
  • Messages and friends are preserved
  • Profile won't be visible to others
  • Good for temporary breaks

Permanent Deletion

  • All data will be permanently erased
  • 30-day recovery window
  • Messenger will also be deleted
  • Cannot be undone after 30 days

4. Confirm Deletion

  1. Select your preferred option
  2. Click "Continue"
  3. Enter your password
  4. Click "Continue" again
  5. Confirm final warning
Important: After confirming deletion, do not log in for 30 days or the deletion process will be canceled.

What Happens After Deletion

  • Your profile becomes invisible immediately
  • Some information may remain visible to others for up to 90 days
  • Backup copies may be kept longer for legal requirements
  • Messages you've sent to others will remain in their inbox
  • Group posts and photos will remain unless manually deleted

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover my account after permanent deletion?

You can only recover your account within the first 30 days after requesting deletion. After that period, all data is permanently erased.

What happens to my Messenger account?

When you delete your Facebook account, your Messenger account is also deleted. You'll need to download the Messenger data separately if you want to keep your messages.

Will this affect my Instagram account?

Deleting Facebook doesn't automatically delete your Instagram account, but you may need to set up separate login credentials for Instagram if you previously used Facebook login.