How to Deactivate Your Facebook Account or Delete It for Good

Are you done with Facebook and trying to find out how to delete it? This tutorial shows how to do that, but it also shows how to deactivate it if you just want to take a break. For the unaware, deactivation is a temporary process that lets you hide your account from others. Deletion, on the other hand, is a permanent process where your Facebook account is completely removed.

How to Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account on Desktop

When you deactivate your profile, your profile and pages are temporarily hidden from other people’s view, but your posts and other data on Facebook will remain as it is. You can use it again after you reactivate your account. On the other hand, when you delete your Facebook profile, all your Facebook data gets deleted. That means your posts, friends, pages, etc. You cannot retrieve them.

If you want, you can download your Facebook information before deleting it. Go to Facebook Settings -> Your Facebook information, click on the View button next to Download your information, then select the type of data that you want to download.

Whether you’re just looking to deactivate your Facebook account or go all in and delete your account on your desktop, you have two options, dependent on whether you have access to Account Center.

1. Account Center Settings

Once you have logged in to the Facebook website, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner, select Settings & privacy, then select Settings.

Note: if the Accounts Center section appears at the top, use this method. If it appears at the bottom, use the Settings method mentioned below.

Click on the Accounts Center section, then click on “Personal details in the left sidebar. Select Account ownership and control on the right side.

Click on Deactivation or Deletion.

Select the Facebook profile that you want to delete or deactivate.

Choose whether you want to deactivate your account or delete it. You may be asked to enter your Facebook account’s password to proceed.

Enter your password to continue, select the reason for deactivating or deleting your account, then click on Continue.

If you wish to reactivate your account after a certain number of days, select the preferred time period, and click on Continue. You can also opt for Don’t reactivate automatically.

If you are deleting your account, Facebook will give you options to protect your information. Click on Continue when after you have considered these options.

In the final step, decide whether you want to keep Messenger active or not. Select Continue using Messenger if you don’t want Messenger to be deactivated, then click on Deactivate my account.

If you are deleting your account, you will see a confirmation screen. Click on Delete account.

Tip: learn how to change your email ID on Facebook.

2. Settings

On the Facebook website, click on the small downward-facing arrow (or your profile picture) in the top-right corner on the Facebook website when signed in. Select Settings & privacy -> Settings.

Click on Your Facebook information in the left sidebar, then click on View next to Deactivation and deletion in the right sidebar.

Choose either the Deactivate account or Delete account option, then click the blue Continue to … button at the bottom. Follow the on-screen instructions, which are similar to those in the above section, as you will be asked the reason and given other ways to protect your account.

Tip: learn how to delete comments, likes, or reactions on Facebook.

How to Deactivate or Delete Your Facebook Account on iPhone or Android

Similar to the directions for desktop, there are two ways to deactivate or delete a Facebook account on mobile. If you have access to Account Center settings, which will be the case for most users, use the first method, otherwise, check the other method.

1. Account Center Settings

In the Facebook app on your mobile device, tap on your profile picture at the top.

Scroll down and expand Settings & privacy, and tap on Settings, then tap on Accounts Center at the top. If you don’t see it, use the other method.

Tap on Personal details, followed by Account ownership and control.

Press the Deactivation or deletion option, then select your Facebook profile.

Choose to deactivate or delete your account, then press the Continue button.

Enter your account’s password, and select the reason for deleting/deactivating your account, then press the Continue button.

You will be asked if you want to reactivate automatically after a certain number of days. Select the time or Don’t reactivate automatically, then tap on Continue.

If you are deactivating the account, you will be asked if you want to continue using Messenger. If not, it will be deactivated as well. Select Continue using Messenger if you want to keep using it, then Deactivate my account.

Similarly, Facebook will give you options to save your account if you indicate you want to delete it. Press the Continue if you still wish to go through with it.

Tip: learn how to unfriend people on Facebook.

2. Settings

This method can be used to delete or deactivate your account from the Facebook apps, Facebook Lite, or m.facebook.com on your phone’s browser.

Log in to your Facebook account, then tap on the three-bar icon at the top. Tap on Settings & privacy → Settings.

Tap on Personal and Account Information -> Account Ownership and Control.

Note: if you can’t find the Personal and Account Information option, tap on Profile Access and Control -> Deactivation and deletion -> Deactivate or Delete.

Tap on Deactivation and Deletion, choose the Delete or Deactivate option on the next screen, then hit the blue Continue to … button toward the bottom. Follow along with the rest of the instructions as mentioned in the above method.

Tip: learn how to hide your Facebook friends list.

Make Facebook Private

If you have the willpower, you can simply log out of Facebook to avoid using it. You can even deactivate Facebook Messenger separately. Regardless of the options you choose, it’s important to remember that it’s simply that: your choice. You control your account and information. If you’re more interested in keeping your information out of the wrong hands, learn how to make your Facebook account private and secure your Facebook account.

All screenshots and images by Mehvish Mushtaq