If you’re looking to delete your Facebook account permanently or just deactivate it temporarily, this guide walks you through every step, including downloading your data and what happens after deletion.

# 1. Before You Delete: Key Things to Know

Deleting your Facebook account is a permanent action (after a short grace period). Here’s what you should know:

  • You cannot recover your account after the permanent deletion period ends.
  • Your profile, photos, posts, messages, and pages you control may be removed.
  • You can download a copy of your data (photos, posts, messages, etc.) before deleting.
  • Some information (like messages you sent to friends) may remain visible to them even after deletion.

Official Facebook help pages:

# 2. How to Download Your Facebook Data (Recommended)

Before deleting your account, it’s smart to back up your data.

  1. Log into Facebook on a browser: https://www.facebook.com/
  2. Click your profile picture (top right).
  3. Go to Settings & privacy → Settings.
    Direct link: https://www.facebook.com/settings
  4. In the left sidebar, choose Your Facebook information.
    Direct link: https://www.facebook.com/your_information
  5. Click Download your information.
  6. Choose:
    • Date range: All time or a specific period.
    • Format: HTML (easy to view) or JSON (for technical use).
    • Media quality: High if you want best-quality photos/videos.
  7. Select the data types you want (Posts, Photos, Messages, etc.).
  8. Click Create file.

Facebook will prepare your file and notify you when it’s ready to download.

More details: https://www.facebook.com/help/212802592074644

# 3. How to Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account

You can delete your account from settings or directly via the deletion link.

# Option A: Delete from Facebook Settings

  1. Go to Settings & privacy → Settings.
    https://www.facebook.com/settings
  2. Click Your Facebook information in the left menu.
    https://www.facebook.com/your_information
  3. Find Deactivation and deletion and click View.
  4. Select Delete account.
  5. Click Continue to account deletion.
  6. Follow the prompts:
    • Optionally download your information.
    • Decide if you want to keep using Messenger (only possible if you deactivate, not fully delete).
  7. Enter your password when asked.
  8. Confirm Delete account.

# Option B: Direct Account Deletion Link

You can also go straight here (when logged in):

Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm deletion.

# 4. What Happens After You Request Deletion?

Once you start deletion:

  • Facebook usually gives you a short grace period (often up to 30 days, but check their current policy on the help page).
  • During this period:
    • Your account is deactivated, not fully erased.
    • You can cancel the deletion by logging in and clicking Cancel deletion.
  • After the grace period:
    • Your Facebook account and most associated data are permanently deleted.
    • It may take up to 90 days to remove everything from backups and logs, though your account is not visible to others during that time.

More info from Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/help/356107851084108

# 5. How to Cancel Facebook Account Deletion

If you change your mind within the grace period:

  1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/ and log in with your usual credentials.
  2. You’ll see a message that your account is scheduled for deletion.
  3. Click Cancel deletion to restore your account.

If the grace period has passed, the deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed.

# 6. How to Deactivate Facebook Instead of Deleting (Temporary Option)

If you’re not sure you want to quit Facebook forever, you can deactivate your account instead. Deactivation means:

  • Your profile is hidden, but your data is kept.
  • You can reactivate anytime by logging in.
  • You can often still use Messenger if you choose to.

# Steps to Deactivate Your Facebook Account

  1. Go to Settings & privacy → Settings:
    https://www.facebook.com/settings
  2. Click Your Facebook information:
    https://www.facebook.com/your_information
  3. Choose Deactivation and deletion.
  4. Select Deactivate account.
  5. Click Continue to account deactivation and follow the instructions.
  6. Enter your password to confirm.

Official guide: https://www.facebook.com/help/214376678584711

# 7. Deleting Facebook from Mobile Apps (Android & iOS)

You can delete your account using the Facebook app as well.

# On the Facebook App

  1. Open the Facebook app.
  2. Tap your profile picture (top right on Android, bottom right on iOS).
  3. Tap Settings & privacy → Settings.
  4. Go to Access and control (or Account ownership and control, depends on app version).
  5. Tap Deactivation and deletion.
  6. Choose Delete account.
  7. Tap Continue to account deletion.
  8. Follow the prompts and confirm with your password.

For in-app instructions, see Facebook’s mobile help:
https://www.facebook.com/help/1612355968988250

# 8. What About Facebook Messenger?

If you delete your Facebook account:

  • You lose access to Messenger with that account.
  • Existing conversations may still be visible to other people, but you won’t be able to log in.

If you deactivate your Facebook account:

  • You may be able to keep using Messenger if you choose that option during deactivation.
  • Your Facebook profile stays hidden, but Messenger stays active.

More details: https://www.facebook.com/help/messenger-app/250563911970368

# 9. What Happens to Your Facebook Pages and Groups?

  • If you’re the only admin of a Facebook Page and you delete your account, that Page may be unpublished or deleted.
  • If there are other admins, the Page will remain, but you’ll be removed as an admin.
  • For groups, your admin role will be removed; group ownership will pass to other admins if available.

To prevent losing control of business or community pages:

# 10. Privacy Alternatives if You Don’t Want to Fully Delete

If your main concern is privacy, but you’re not ready to delete:

These steps can significantly reduce your data exposure without completely losing your account.

# 11. Quick Summary

By following the steps above, you can safely delete your Facebook account or deactivate it temporarily, while keeping control of your data and privacy.