How to Delete a Facebook Account: Complete Guide 2026

Discover the official methods to permanently delete or temporarily deactivate your Facebook account. Step-by-step guide with all available options.

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Deleting Your Facebook Account: What You Need to Know

Understand the differences between permanent deletion and temporary deactivation.

IMPORTANT: Choose Between Deletion and Deactivation

Before deleting your Facebook account, note that there are two distinct options: permanent deletion and temporary deactivation. Choose the one that matches your situation.



Temporary Deactivation

  • Duration: As long as you wish
  • Visibility: Your profile disappears, but your data is retained
  • Recovery: You can reactivate at any time by logging back in
  • Ideal for: Taking a break or testing life without Facebook

Permanent Deletion

  • Duration: Permanent after a 30-day grace period
  • Visibility: All your data is permanently removed
  • Recovery: Impossible after 30 days
  • Ideal for: Leaving Facebook permanently


PASS FINDER: Regain Access Before Deletion

To delete a Facebook account, you must first be able to log in. If you’ve lost access to your account, PASS FINDER can help you recover your credentials.


1. Download the app from the official website: https://www.passwordrevelator.net/en/passfinder


2. After installation, enter the username, email address, or phone number associated with the Facebook account.


3. Start the analysis. PASS FINDER will help you regain account access within minutes.


Ethical Use: This tool should only be used to access your own accounts or with the explicit permission of the account owner.

Regain access to a Facebook account

Methods to Delete Your Facebook Account

Detailed procedures based on your device and choice (deactivation or deletion).

Method 1: Temporarily Deactivate Your Account (Via Web Browser)

Temporary deactivation is only possible via Facebook’s website—not through the mobile app.

Step-by-step deactivation instructions:

  1. Log in to your account on facebook.com
  2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then click "Settings & Privacy"
  3. Select "Settings"
  4. In the left menu, click "Your Facebook Information"
  5. Click "Deactivation and Deletion"
  6. Choose "Deactivate Account" and then "Continue to Account Deactivation"
  7. Select a reason and enter your password
  8. Click "Deactivate" to confirm

What happens after deactivation:

  • Your profile becomes invisible to other users
  • Some information (e.g., messages you sent) may remain visible
  • You can reactivate anytime by logging back in
  • Your name may still appear in friends' memories or tagged photos
  • Apps connected to Facebook may retain some data

Method 2: Permanently Delete Your Account (Via Web Browser)

Permanent deletion can be initiated via Facebook’s website. Warning: this action is irreversible after 30 days.

IMPORTANT WARNING

Once your account is permanently deleted, you cannot recover your photos, videos, messages, friends list, or any other data. This action becomes permanent after 30 days.

Permanent deletion procedure:

  1. Go to Facebook’s account deletion page: facebook.com/help/delete_account
  2. Log in if prompted
  3. Click "Delete My Account"
  4. Confirm your decision by clicking "Delete My Account" again
  5. Enter your password to verify your identity
  6. Click "Continue"
  7. Your account will be deactivated immediately and permanently deleted after 30 days

Method 3: From the Mobile App (Android/iOS)

On mobile, the process is similar, but the interface differs slightly.

On Android:

  1. Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (☰)
  2. Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy"
  3. Then tap "Settings"
  4. Under "Your Facebook Information," tap "Deactivation and Deletion"
  5. Select "Permanently Delete Account"
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm deletion

On iPhone/iPad:

  1. Open the Facebook app and tap the menu icon (☰) in the bottom-right corner
  2. Scroll down to "Settings & Privacy"
  3. Tap "Settings"
  4. Under "Your Facebook Information," select "Deactivation and Deletion"
  5. Choose "Permanently Delete Account"
  6. Confirm by following the on-screen steps

What Happens After You Request Deletion

Understand the deletion process and timeline for your Facebook account.

Permanent Deletion Timeline

30-Day Grace Period

  • Days 1–30: Your account is deactivated but not yet deleted
  • During this period: You can cancel deletion by logging back in
  • Visibility: Your profile is invisible to others
  • Data: All your data is temporarily retained
  • Messenger: You can no longer use Facebook Messenger

After 30 Days: Permanent Deletion

  • Day 31: Permanent deletion process begins
  • Deleted data: Photos, videos, posts, comments, likes
  • Profile: Your profile and all associated info are erased
  • Messages: Your messages may remain visible to recipients
  • Recovery: Impossible to recover your account after this date

How to Cancel Deletion (Within 30 Days)

Recovery Procedure:

  1. Attempt to log in to your Facebook account as usual
  2. If within the 30-day window, Facebook will prompt you to cancel deletion
  3. Click "Cancel Deletion" or "Recover Account"
  4. Your account will be immediately reactivated with all data intact
  5. Everything returns to normal as if nothing happened

Good to Know:

  • You can cancel the deletion as many times as you wish
  • The 30-day period resets if you request deletion again
  • After reactivation, review your privacy settings
  • Some data (e.g., friend suggestions) may take time to reappear

Alternatives to Permanent Deletion

Less drastic solutions to manage your Facebook presence.

Intermediate Options Before Deletion

Account Cleanup & Optimization:

  • Mass unfollow: Remove liked pages and reduce subscriptions
  • Friend cleanup: Keep only real friends and close contacts
  • Delete old posts: Use the "Manage Activity" tool to remove old content
  • Review privacy settings: Limit who can see your information
  • Disable notifications: Reduce distractions without deleting your account

Reduce Activity and Visibility:

  • Inactive account: Simply stop using it without deletion
  • Use a pseudonym: Enhance anonymity with a nickname
  • Limit interactions: Stop posting but keep Messenger access
  • Archive content: Archive posts instead of deleting them
  • Tag review: Require approval before tags appear on your profile

Back Up Your Data Before Deletion

How to back up your Facebook data:

  1. Go to "Settings" > "Your Facebook Information"
  2. Click "Download Your Information"
  3. Select a date range and format (HTML recommended)
  4. Choose the data categories to include
  5. Click "Create File"
  6. Facebook will email you a download link (within 24–48 hours)
  7. Download and securely store the archive

What’s included in the backup:

  • Posts: All your photos, videos, and publications
  • Messages: Your Facebook Messenger conversations
  • Friends: Your friends list with basic info
  • Events: Events you participated in
  • Profile info: Personal details and preferences
  • Activity history: Search and activity logs

Facebook Account Deletion FAQ

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about deleting a Facebook account

Can I delete my Facebook account without deleting Messenger?

No. Deleting your Facebook account automatically deletes your Messenger account. However:

  • Sent messages: Remain visible to recipients
  • Alternative: You can temporarily deactivate Facebook while keeping Messenger active
  • Messenger-only: It’s not possible to use Messenger without a Facebook account
  • Messenger Lite: The basic Messenger app allows login by phone number only
How long does Facebook keep my data after deletion?

Facebook follows a specific data retention schedule:

  • First 30 days: All data retained (grace period)
  • After 30 days: Permanent deletion process begins
  • Up to 90 days: Most data removed from active servers
  • Up to 1 year: Some data may remain in backups
  • Long-term data: Certain logs (e.g., access records) may be kept longer for legal reasons
What happens to pages I created if I delete my account?

Deleting your personal account affects pages you administer:

  • Pages with no other admins: Will be permanently deleted
  • Pages with other admins: Remain active, but you lose access
  • Recommendation: Before deletion, transfer page ownership to another admin
  • Procedure: Page Settings > Page Roles > Assign a new admin
  • Important: Once deleted, you cannot regain access to your pages
Can I create a new account with the same email after deletion?

Yes, but with some limitations:

  • Email: You can reuse the same email immediately
  • Username: Your old username may be reassigned to someone else
  • Friends: You must rebuild your friends list from scratch
  • Data: No data from your old account will be transferred
  • Restrictions: Facebook may limit new account creation if done too frequently
  • Recommendation: Wait at least 48 hours after permanent deletion before creating a new account
Should I uninstall the Facebook app after deleting my account?

It’s not required, but strongly recommended:

  • Local data: The app may retain cached data on your device
  • Notifications: You might still get login prompts
  • Recommended steps:
    1. Uninstall the Facebook app
    2. Uninstall Messenger
    3. Clear browser cache if you used Facebook via web
    4. Delete saved passwords from your password manager
  • Benefit: Reduces temptation to quickly recreate an account
Can I delete the account of a deceased person?

Yes, Facebook offers a dedicated process for deceased users:

  • Option 1: Memorialize the account — Adds "Remembering" before the name
  • Option 2: Delete the account — Permanent removal after verification
  • Required documents:
    • Death certificate
    • Proof of relationship
    • Legal authority documentation (if applicable)
  • Procedure: Visit Facebook's deceased account request page
  • Processing time: May take several weeks