How to Delete or Deactivate a Facebook Account Permanently

If you are done with Facebook, you have two choices: take a temporary break by deactivating your account, or close it for good by deleting it. Deletion is permanent, so it is worth understanding the difference, saving anything you want to keep, and knowing what happens during the grace window before you confirm.

Deactivation vs Deletion: Which One Do You Need?

Deactivation hides your profile from other people, but Facebook keeps your account and your data. Your friends will not see your timeline, and your name will disappear from most places, but you can come back at any time simply by logging in again. This is the right choice if you want a break, want to stop notifications for a while, or are not sure yet.

Deletion closes the account permanently. After the grace window ends, your profile, photos, posts and account data are removed, and there is no way to get the account back. Choose deletion only when you are sure you want the account gone for good.

• Deactivate if you want a break and may return later.
• Delete if you are sure you want the account closed forever.
• Download first in both cases, if you have photos or posts you want to keep.

Step 1: Download Your Data Before You Delete

Deleting an account also deletes your photos, videos, posts and messages from Facebook servers after the grace window. If any of that matters to you, download it first.

• Open the Facebook app or website and go to Settings and privacy, then Settings.
• Look for the option to download your information and choose what to include, such as posts, photos, videos and messages.
• Pick a file format and a media quality, then request the download.
• When the file is ready, download it to your phone or computer and check that your photos open correctly.

Do not skip this step if you have years of photos on the account. Once deletion is complete, Facebook cannot give that data back.

Step 2: Find the Deactivation or Deletion Setting

The setting lives in the Accounts Center, which manages your Facebook and connected accounts together. The usual path is:

• Open the menu, then go to Settings and privacy, then Settings.
• Open Accounts Center, then Personal details.
• Open Account ownership and control, then choose Deactivation or deletion.
• Select the account you want to close, then choose Deactivate account or Delete account.

Facebook may ask you to confirm your password and may show a few screens explaining what you will lose. Read them, because they also tell you about connected apps and pages. If a screen looks different from this guide, follow the labels on your screen — the order of options changes with app updates.

Step 3: Understand the 30-Day Grace Window

When you request deletion, Facebook does not remove the account at once. There is a grace window of about 30 days. During this window:

• Your profile is not visible to other people.
• You can cancel the deletion at any time by logging back in and confirming that you want to keep the account.
• If you do not log in during the window, deletion proceeds and the account cannot be recovered.

This window is a safety net, not a pause button. If you log in to check something, even briefly, be careful: logging in and confirming cancellation will stop the deletion. If you are sure you want the account gone, stay logged out until the window passes.

What Happens to Pages, Groups and Messages?

Deleting a personal account has side effects worth checking before you confirm:

• Pages you manage alone: a page with no other admin may be lost or unpublished, so add another admin or transfer ownership first.
• Groups: your posts in groups may remain, but your name will no longer link to a profile.
• Messages: copies of messages you sent stay in your friends inboxes, because a conversation belongs to everyone in it. Ask the other person to delete a conversation if you want it fully gone.
• Connected apps: apps and websites where you used "Log in with Facebook" will stop working for that account, so switch them to an email login first.
• Messenger: deleting your Facebook account also affects Messenger access tied to that account, so save any important chats first.

After Deletion: A Simple Checklist

• Stay logged out for the full grace window if you want deletion to complete.
• Remove Facebook login from other apps and switch them to email or phone login.
• Delete the Facebook app from your phone if you do not want to log back in by accident.
• Check your downloaded data file and keep it backed up somewhere safe.
• If you manage a page or business account, confirm that another admin now controls it.

If you only wanted a break, deactivation gives you the same peace of mind without the finality. You can always delete later, but you cannot undo a completed deletion.

Related tool: Facebook Video Downloader — save any videos you want to keep before you close your account.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between deactivating and deleting a Facebook account?

Deactivation is temporary. Your profile is hidden from others, but your account and data stay on Facebook, and you can reactivate by logging back in. Deletion is permanent. After the grace window ends, your profile, photos, posts and account data are removed and cannot be recovered. Choose deactivation if you want a break, and deletion only when you are sure you want the account gone.

How do I download my Facebook data before deleting my account?

Before deleting, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, and look for the option to download your information. Choose the data types you want, such as posts, photos and messages, pick a file format, and request the download. Save the file somewhere safe, because once deletion is complete you cannot download that data again.

What happens during the 30-day grace window after I request deletion?

When you request deletion, Facebook gives a grace window of about 30 days before the account is permanently removed. During this window you can cancel the deletion by logging back into your account and confirming that you want to keep it. If you do not log in during the window, deletion proceeds and the account cannot be recovered afterwards.

Where is the delete account setting in the Facebook app?

In the Facebook app, open the menu, go to Settings and privacy, then Settings, then Accounts Center. From there, open Personal details, then Account ownership and control, and choose Deactivation or deletion. The exact screens may differ slightly depending on your app version, so follow the on-screen labels if a step looks different from this guide.

What happens to messages I sent to friends after I delete my account?

Messages you sent to friends stay in their inboxes even after your account is deleted, because copies of a conversation belong to the conversation itself, not only to your account. Your name may appear as a removed or unavailable user in those chats. If you want a specific conversation gone, ask the other person to delete it from their side before you delete your account.