Table of contents
- Difference between deactivation and permanent deletion
- How to temporarily deactivate your Facebook profile
- How to permanently delete your Facebook profile
- How to download a copy of your data before deletion
- What happens after you delete your account
- Managing multiple Facebook profiles
- Deleting Facebook but keeping Messenger
- Tips before permanently deleting Facebook
In recent years, more and more users have chosen to reduce their digital presence motivated by privacy concerns, information overload, or simply the desire to disconnect. However, deleting Facebook is not as straightforward as it seems. You need to understand the difference between deactivation and permanent deletion, know where to find the right settings, and be aware of what happens to your data after deletion.
In this detailed guide, I’ll explain how to delete your Facebook profile step by step both from your computer and your smartphone showing you the available options and the technical deletion times.
I’ll also show you how to download a copy of your data and manage the content linked to your account before permanently deleting it.
Difference between deactivation and permanent deletion
Before proceeding, it’s important to understand that deactivating and deleting a Facebook account are two very different actions.
- Deactivating an account means “pausing” your profile. People won’t be able to find or see your content, but you can reactivate your account anytime by logging in again.
- Permanently deleting an account, on the other hand, means the permanent removal of all data photos, posts, and everything you’ve shared. After the 30-day grace period, the account cannot be recovered.
Facebook offers both options through the Accounts Center, which lets you manage not only Facebook but also connected services like Instagram or Messenger.
How to temporarily deactivate your Facebook profile
If you just want to take a break, you can deactivate your account without losing your content. Here’s how:
From Computer (Desktop Browser)
- Log in to Facebook with your credentials.
- Click your profile icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings & Privacy”, then “Settings.”
- In the left column, click “Personal Details, Account Ownership and Control.”
- Click “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Choose “Deactivate Account”, then click “Continue to Account Deactivation.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.
During deactivation:
- Your profile will not be visible to others.
- Your Messenger messages will remain active (unless you choose to deactivate Messenger too).
- You can reactivate your account anytime by logging back in with your email and password.
From smartphone (Facebook App)
- Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines in the top right corner).
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings.”
- Scroll to “Accounts Center” → “Personal Details, Account Ownership and Control.”
- Tap “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Choose “Deactivate Account,” then “Continue to Account Deactivation.”
You can also select a reason for deactivation or choose to receive email notifications during your break.
Remember: you can return to Facebook anytime by simply logging back in.
How to permanently delete your Facebook profile
If you’ve decided to delete your Facebook profile permanently, follow the steps carefully.
Once the process is complete, you’ll have 30 days to change your mind. After that, your account and all related data will be gone for good.
From computer
- Log in to Facebook from your browser.
- Click the icon in the top right corner → “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings.”
- Open the Accounts Center.
- Go to “Personal Details, Account Ownership and Control.”
- Click “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Select “Delete Account” → “Continue to Account Deletion.”
- Facebook will give you the option to download a copy of your data before proceeding.
It’s strongly recommended: photos, videos, posts, messages, and other personal data will be lost forever otherwise. - After downloading your data, click “Delete Account.”
- Enter your password to confirm your identity.
After confirmation, your account enters a scheduled deletion phase.
If you change your mind, you can cancel the deletion within 30 days by logging back in and clicking “Cancel Deletion.”
From smartphone
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
- Go to “Settings & Privacy” → “Settings.”
- Tap “Accounts Center” → “Personal Details, Account Ownership and Control.”
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion.”
- Tap “Delete Account” → “Continue to Account Deletion.”
- Follow the instructions to permanently delete your account.
As before, you can download a copy of your data first.
Complete deletion may take up to 90 days, during which your data will be gradually removed from Facebook’s servers.
How to download a copy of your data before deletion
Before deleting your Facebook profile, it’s highly recommended to save a copy of everything you’ve posted over the years.
Facebook provides an integrated tool to do this easily.
From computer
- Go to Settings & Privacy → Settings.
- Click “Your Facebook Information.”
- Select “Download Your Information.”
- Choose which data to export posts, photos, videos, messages, friends, reactions, events, etc.
- Set the format (HTML or JSON) and media quality.
- Click “Create File.”
You’ll get a notification when the archive is ready for download.
From smartphone
- Open the Facebook app → Menu → Settings & Privacy → Settings.
- Tap “Your Facebook Information” → “Download Your Information.”
- Choose what to export and confirm.
What happens after you delete your account
Once the deletion process begins:
- Your profile becomes invisible to other users.
- All your content (photos, posts, videos, comments, reactions, messages) will be permanently deleted after 30 days.
- Some system logs or backups may be retained for technical or legal reasons, but they will no longer be linked to your identity.
- The full removal process can take up to 90 days to complete.
During the 30-day window, you can still log in to cancel deletion if you change your mind.
Managing multiple Facebook profiles
If you have multiple Facebook profiles connected to the same Accounts Center, you can delete or deactivate only the one you want, without affecting the others.
Simply select the correct profile before going to Settings & Privacy → Deactivation and Deletion.
Deleting Facebook but keeping Messenger
Many users want to delete Facebook while keeping Messenger active.
This is possible only if you deactivate your account not if you delete it permanently.
This way, you can continue chatting with your contacts even if your Facebook profile is deactivated.
To do this:
- Go to Account Deactivation.
- During the process, keep the option “Keep Messenger active” checked.
Tips before permanently deleting Facebook
Before saying goodbye to your Facebook profile, consider these steps:
- Download a copy of your data, photos, and important messages.
- Check any apps or websites linked to your Facebook login once deleted, you’ll lose access through “Login with Facebook.”
- Inform your contacts if you use Messenger to communicate.
- Update your contact info on other services that might rely on your Facebook credentials.
Questions and answers
- Can I reactivate my profile after deactivation?
Yes. Just log in again with your email and password. - What happens if I permanently delete my account?
Your profile, posts, and data will be deleted after 30 days and cannot be recovered. - Can I download a copy of my data before deletion?
Yes, through the “Download Your Information” section in Settings. - Where can I find the delete option?
Go to Settings & Privacy → Accounts Center → Deactivation and Deletion. - Is deletion immediate?
No. Facebook keeps your data for 30 days before permanent removal. - How long does full deletion take?
It can take up to 90 days for all data to be erased from Facebook’s servers. - Can I keep Messenger if I deactivate Facebook?
Yes. You can deactivate your profile but still use Messenger. - Can I delete only one of my Facebook profiles?
Yes, through the Accounts Center, select which profile to delete. - Can I delete my account from the mobile app?
Yes, the steps are the same as on desktop. - Will my photos be deleted too?
Yes. All photos and videos will be permanently removed after 30 days.
